Four Hills Tournament begins: Prevc and Kobayashi set for Golden Eagle showdown

Dec 27, 2025·Ski Jumping

Domen Prevc (SLO) - FIS/ActionPress/Julia Piatkowskav

The Four Hills tournament, one of ski jumping’s greatest traditions, commences on 28 December with the world’s leading male ski jumpers chasing one of the sport’s most prestigious prizes. World Cup leader Domen Prevc (SLO) and three-time Four Hills champion Ryoyu Kobayashi (JPN) are among those poised for sensational showdowns.

Action in the 74th edition of the Four Hills Tournament begins with qualifying in Oberstdorf (GER) on 28 December and concludes with the finale in Bischofshofen (AUT) on 6 January.

The tournament sees athletes compete across four different venues: two in Germany (Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen) as well as two in Austria (Innsbruck and Bischofshofen). The ski jumper with the best cumulative results across the four respective hills will be crowned the winner and claim the prestigious 2025/26 Golden Eagle trophy.

Based on results so far this season, World Cup leader Prevc (SLO) and runner-up Kobayashi (JPN), who is chasing a fourth Four Hills title, are among the men in form, alongside Stefan Kraft (AUT), Anze Lanisek (SLO), Philipp Raimund (GER) and Felix Hoffmann (GER).

Domen Prevc in the footsteps of his brother?

Prevc, who has won five World Cup events so far this season, could become the third Slovenian ski jumper to win the Four Hills tournament, following Primoz Peterka (1996/97) and his brother Peter Prevc (2015/16).

Domen Prevc has yet to reach a podium at a Four Hills event. His best result was a fourth place in Bischofshofen in 2016/17, the year he also entered the Four Hills tournament as the yellow bib wearer.

The Slovenian hopes he can rely on his strong results from the last weeks. “I am trying to stay focused, but I have to tame my nerves,” Prevc said.

“I do not feel any euphoria, because I know that the season is still very long. It will have to be carried out as smartly as possible. From this perspective, you have to look at the long term", he added. "I know very well that things can turn around quickly. Last year, for example, we saw this with Pius Paschke (GER), who was very strong at the beginning of the season, and then suddenly the story completely turned around. You also learn from your competitors. You watch and observe what you can do better."

Can Kobayashi do it again?

Kobayashi, meanwhile, has three Four Hills titles (2019, 2022 and 2024). The Japanese jumper ended Prevc’s winning streak last weekend when he claimed victory in Engelberg on Sunday, setting the tone for what will likely be an exciting battle between the two over the course of the next few days. Kobayashi admitted to “getting nervous” ahead of the Four Hills Tournament.

Hosts Austria and Germany looking for success

Daniel Tschofenig (AUT), last year’s Four Hills winner who ended a ten-year wait for Austria, has had a difficult start to the season and will need to rediscover his form to challenge for victory again.

Austria boast a record 17 Four Hills titles and dominated last year's podium with Tschofenig, Jan Hörl and Stefan Kraft.

Tschofenig and Kraft each have recorded one World Cup win so far this season. Last week in Engelberg, Tschofenig even failed to qualify for the second round on Sunday, underlining the challenge ahead.

Germany, the other host of the Four Hills tour, has not won the event since Sven Hannawald's triumph in 2002.

With Raimund and Hoffman currently in strong form, the Germans are optimistic ahead of the Four Hills event. "I've never been able to complete a full Tour until now”, Hoffmann said. “The Tour is very prestigious and, with the many spectators in the stadiums, an incredible experience. The complexity of four competitions on four different hills is extremely high. The head-to-head format adds even more excitement, and I’m especially looking forward to that.”

Raimund echoed that sentiment. “Experiencing a roaring stadium is one of the best things you can have as a ski jumper”, Raimund said. “Being counted among the contenders feels like a great privilege. My focus, however, is on my jumps. The most important thing for me is that they continue to flow the way they have so far this season. If I manage that, I’ll be within striking distance. Results come when the jumps are right."

How to win the Four Hills tournament

Like other World Cup events, the Four Hills events all begin with a qualification round, from which the top 50 athletes progress to the first round. However, that is where symmetry ends.

Rather than take on another jump in an attempt to reach the top-30 for a place in the second and final round, the qualified athletes are instead divided into pairs 25 who face-off in duels.

The winners, together with five ‘lucky losers’ - who attained the highest points-score despite defeat - will then make up a top-30, who will then line-up for the final round of jumps.

In order to be eligible for the ‘golden eagle’ crown, athletes must reach the second round in each of the contests.

Their points total achieved across each of the four hills will then be combined to discover the overall winner.