Names, facts and figures of last winter

Faces of the winter:
It was a very successful 2018/19 World Cup season for the ski jumpers. There were 11 different winners at 19 venues, but still, Ryoyu Kobayashi, who won 13 World Cups, was the outstanding athlete.
This winter wrote numerous stories for the ski jumpers We have chosen some names and facts worth mentioning after this past season.

The winners of the 2018/2019 World Cup

1 Evgeniy Klimov (Wisla / Poland)
2 Ryoyu Kobayashi (2 x Ruka / Finland) 1+2
3 Johann Andre Forfang (Nizhny Tagil / Russia)
Ryoyu Kobayashi (Nizhny Tagil / Russia) 3
4 Karl Geiger (Engelberg / Switzerland)
Ryoyu Kobayashi (Engelberg / Switzerland) 4
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4-Hills-Tournament / Overall winner = Ryoyu Kobayashi
Ryoyu Kobayashi (Oberstdorf / Germany) 5
Ryoyu Kobayashi (Garmisch-Partenkirchen / Germany) 6
Ryoyu Kobayashi (Innsbruck / Austria) 7
Ryoyu Kobayashi (Bischofshofen / Austria) 8
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Ryoyu Kobayashi (Predazzo / Italy) 9
5 Dawid Kubacki (Predazzo (Italy)
6 Stefan Kraft (Zakopane / Poland)
Stefan Kraft (Sapporo / Japan)
Stefan Kraft (Sapporo / Japan)
7 Timi Zajc (Oberstdorf / Germany)
Ryoyu Kobayashi (Oberstdorf / Germany) 10
8 Kamil Stoch (Oberstdorf / Germany)
Kamil Stoch (Lahti / Finland)

Willingen 5 / Overall winner = Ryoyu Kobayashi
Karl Geiger (Willingen / Germany)
Ryoyu Kobayashi (Willingen / Germany) 11
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Nordic World Ski Championships in Seefeld/ Innsbruck
Markus Eisenbichler (Innsbruck / Austria)
Dawid Kubacki (Seefeld / Austria)

RAW AIR / Overal winner = Ryoyu Kobayashi
9 Robert Johansson (Oslo / Norway)
Stefan Kraft ( Lillehammer / Norway)
Ryoyu  Kobayashi (Trondheim / Norway) 12
10 Domen Prevc (Vikersund / Norway)
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Planica 7 / Overall winner = Ryoyu Kobayashi
11 Markus Eisenbichler (Planica / Slovenia)
Ryoyu Kobayashi ( Planica / Slovenia) 13

Domen Prevc:
After his Ski Flying win in Vikersund it seemed that Domen Prevc surprised himself the most with this success. Two and half years after his short winning streak at the beginning of the season 2016, that made him the top favorite for the 4-Hills-Tournament, Domen Prevc is back among the world's elite. The second place at the season final in Planica confirmed the top shape of the 19-year-old.

Timi Zajc:
First World Cup win (of course, for a Slovene, in Ski Flying) and the sensational ninth place in the overall World Cup for the 18-year-old. Timi Zajc came to the World Cup as the biggest Slovenian talent, he won everything there is to win when it comes to junior's competitions, and he met all the expectations.

Evgeniy Klimov:
The Russian provided a surprise right in the first competition of the season with his win in Wisla (POL). Then he couldn't win again, but with 592 points and the 12th place in the overall World Cup it was a strong winter for him.

Stephan Leyhe:
Towards the end of the season, it didn't go that well for him anymore, but it was a great winter for Leyhe. With the 11th place in the overall World Cup, the Willingen-native showed that he can compete with the very best. The first World Cup win is only a matter of time.

Hideharu Miyahira:
Success returned to the Japanese team with Hideharu Miyahira. He plays a decisive role in the outstanding success of Ryoyu Kobayashi, this also applies for Janne Vaeaettaeinen, the club coach of Ryoyu Kobayashi. Miyahira changed a lot after he started the job 2018 and with Junshiro Kobayashi and Yukiya Sato he has two more top athletes. During the competitions, Miyahira often - almost unnoticed - lowered the gate for Ryoyu Kobayashi to protect his athlete from jumping too far, always risking the possible win or a top result - a strategic masterpiece.

Ryoyu Kobayashi: 
The consistency of the 22-year-old during the course of the season, from Wisla to Planica, was impressive. He always remained calm, despite the pressure before the 4-Hills-Tournament, or the possible Grand Slam before the final event in Bischofshofen. And it seemed that Kobayashi was jumping especially well when there was pressure (for example in the final event of the Raw Air). He is an exceptional athlete who broke more records during just one winter than most others can during an entire career.

Karl Geiger:
Two World Cup wins and 10th in the overall World Cup. It was a great season for the Oberstdorf-native, who you just have to be happy for whenever he wins. You are happy when it goes well for him, and you feel bad for him when it doesn't - Karl Geiger is just a great guy.

Markus Eisenbichler: 
Good, better, Eisenbichler. The titles at the WSC in Seefeld and Innsbruck and the Ski Flying win in Planica were the highlights for Markus Eisenbichler, who showed amazing performances last season. Eisenbichler's way to success was hard and long. The way he now celebrates his well-deserved successes at the hills can also be considered a highlight of the season - great.

Killian Peier:
Third at the Nordic WSC in Seefeld: The bronze medal on the large hill is the highlight of Killian Peier's career - so far. He didn't do that well in the World Cup yet, a seventh place is his career-best, but during last summer and at the WSC, Peier showed what he is capable of.

Simon Ammann:
Right in time for the season's final events, Simon Ammann got in a really good shape again. The four-time Olympic champion from Switzerland has a unique way to celebrate a good jump. Ammann had so much fun at the end of the season that one thing seems obvious: He can't retire, because nowhere else Simon Ammann will have as much fun as at the hill after a good jump - Here's to another year, Simon!

Jakub Wolny:
The 24-year-old was the up-and-comer in the strong Polish team. Especially in the Ski Flying events in Vikersund and Planica, Wolny could impress with strong performances. Wolny can follow in the footsteps of Stoch, Kubacki, and Zyla.

Antti Aalto:
Sixth in Nizhny Tagil and seventh in Wisla were the best results this season for the Finn. Aalto has the potential to be among the world's best. But more important than these individual results is the fact that the team showed an upward trend, the athletes around Aalto, Maatta and Nousiainen seem to really enjoy Ski Jumping again and want to make progress. The Finns are on the way back.

Philipp Aschenwald:
He was the rising star of the Austrian team. The 23-year-old won two silver medals at the WSC in Seefeld (Team and mixed team) and was fourth on the Holmenkollen. Great potential, Phillip Aschenwald has a great future.

David Siegel:
He was on his way back after a long, hard fight. David Siegel returned to the team after an injury and showed why he is considered the big talent of German Ski Jumping. Then he crashed in the team event in Zakopane. What a tough winter for David Siegel.

Noriaki Kasai:
Statistically, it didn't go very well for Noriaki Kasai last winter. The 37th place in the overall World Cup is his worst result in the past six years. But the word "weak" just can't be used in when it comes to Noriaki Kasai. The 46-year-old was seventh in Sapporo and 11th in the Ski Flying event in Oberstdorf. He was also second with the Japanese team in Oslo and fourth with the team in Planica. This man is and remains amazing.

Andreas Stjernen:
Goosebumps during the final competition of Andreas Stjernen in Trondheim. Only Ryoyu Kobayashi prevents Stjernen's win in his very last competition on his home hill. The decision to retire - probably also made due to the crash in Lahti - was right for Stjernen. His daughter and his girlfriend will be grateful for this decision of last winter's Ski Flying World Cup winner.

Robert Kranjec:
Kranjec could show a glimpse of his outstanding skills during the weekend in Planica. It was not enough for a top result, but nobody could fly down the hill that low and still go far like Robert "Robi" Kranjec. Due to these skills, he won World Cups and the Ski Flying World Championship title. We will miss him. All the best, Robi.

Constantin Schmid:
What the youngster showed, especially towards the end of the season, was great. When are already looking forward to seeing him compete in the Grand Prix and next winter.

Dawid Kubacki:
Amazing winter for Dawid Kubacki. Fourth in the 4-Hills-Tournament, fifth in the overall World Cup. First World Cup win in Predazzo and the title at the WSC in Seefeld. Kubacki is one of the best and has the potential for the very top. It will be exciting to see him perform next winter.