Midtskogen and Lindvik lead Norway's dominance of Klingenthal Grand Prix finale

Norwegian pair Ingvild Synnøve Midtskogen and Marius Lindvik were the star performers as the Ski Jumping’s Summer Grand Prix reached its climax in Klingenthal (GER) this weekend.

On Saturday, 18-year-old Midtskogen jumped a new hill record on her way to a first career Grand Prix win in a star-studded field. Reigning World Cup champion Nika Prevc (SLO) was second with double Olympic champion Anna Odine Strøm (NOR) sixth.

Despite finished tied for 14th, Ema Klinec (SLO) did enough to clinch the overall title with nearest rival Anna Twardosz (POL) 13th.

World and Olympic gold medalist Lindvik then made it a double on the day for Norway, coming close to his own hill record as he took victory ahead of Japan’s Ren Nikaido. Domen Prevc was only 13th in his sole individual Grand Prix appearance of the campaign.

Midtskogen and Lindvik joined forces with Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal and Eirin Maria Kvandal on Sunday as Norway won the Mixed Team event from Slovenia with Japan in third.

Rising star Midtskogen secures statement win

World and Olympic champions galore competed in the final Grand Prix round in Klingenthal, but it was a young talent who upstaged the big names in spectacular fashion.

Ingvild Synnøve Midtskogen went out to a massive 142.5m in the first round, beating the old hill record jointly held by Marita Kramer (AUT) and Nika Kriznar (SLO) by one meter. That was at least eight meters further than anyone else and, despite attracting only average style marks, gave her a lead of almost 10 points from Nika Prevc.

The Slovenian star, who will bid for a fourth consecutive World Cup crown this season, had the best score of the second round but it was only marginally better than Midtskogen who achieved a better landing this time as she leapt 133.5m. Only half a point separated the pair in round two with Midtskogen finishing 9.2 points ahead.

Kvandal retained her third place from the first round with last year’s Grand Prix winner Nozomi Maruyama (JPN), making her only appearance of this series, moving up a place to fourth. Nika Vodan (SLO) fell behind Maruyama to take fifth with Anna Odine Strøm in sixth after posting the fifth best score of the second round.

Three-time Nordic Combined world champion Gyda Westvold Hansen was seventh to underline the strength of the Norwegian team, with Josephine Pagnier (FRA) rounding out the top eight. Japanese legend Sara Takanashi, who won eight consecutive overall Grand Prix titles from 2013-2020, was 12th.

Ema Klinec, who was runner-up to Takanashi in 2019, took the title after tying for 14th. Klinec won the opening round in Wisła and backed that up with five top-five finishes before the Klingenthal finale.

Lindvik lays down marker for new World Cup season

Marius Lindvik was just outside of the top five in his two competitions in Courchevel (FRA) in August, but returned to his best on a hill he knows so well.

The reigning Normal Hill world champion was victorious two years ago, and set the hill record back in 2019 when lackluster style marks saw him finish second to Anze Lanisek (SLO) in a one-round event.

In the first round this time, Lindvik jumped 140.5m to take a narrow lead over Ren Nikaido with Klemens Joniak (POL) in third. The longest jump of the first round came from American teenager Henry Loher who leapt 141.5m to go fourth.

Loher, after Jason Colby’s heroics in Râșnov (ROU) last month, would go on to finish sixth having secured his first FIS Cup victory in Einsiedeln (SUI) in September. He was one place ahead of double Olympic medalist Kacper Tomasiak (POL) with some huge names further back.

Ryoyu Kobayashi (JPN) was 10th ahead of Jan Hoerl (AUT) and overall Grand Prix winner Naomi Nakamura. Defending World Cup champion Domen Prevc was 13th having been only 27th after the first round. Previous World Cup winner Daniel Tschofenig (AUT), who won both events in Courchevel in August, was 15th while Stefan Kraft (AUT) and Karl Geiger (GER) were among those who failed to make the second round.

Artti Aigro (EST) was 12th after the first round, but an excellent second jump of 144.0m saw him move up a number of places. He was not overtaken until Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal, sixth in round one, sailed out to 145.0m.

Maximilian Ortner (AUT) was the big disappointment of the second round, plunging from fifth place all the way down to 24th. Then came Loher, who slipped behind Aigro and Sundal, followed by the top three.

Joniak jumped 142.5m, but significant wind compensation saw him receive a bigger score than Sundal to keep him ahead. The gate was then moved down for the last two competitors with Nikaido jumping 140.0m to take the lead.

That left just Lindvik who flew out to 147.0m, one meter down on his hill record, although some of that was offset by a wind compensation deduction. It was still the best jump of the second round, and clinched him victory from Nikaido by 5.7 points.

"My jumping has been good lately, and I'm happy with my performance today,” said Lindvik. "Hopefully, I can maintain this level heading into the winter. We'll see what happens when the season starts."

Nakamura, who had sealed the title in Râșnov, explained why he competed again in Klingenthal.

"Originally, I wasn't planning to compete in Râșnov. But after discussing it with the coaches, we decided to continue competing until the end of the series," he said. "Simon Ammann also encouraged me to take every opportunity to compete and build confidence for the winter.

"My preparation for the World Cup will continue as usual. Physically, there is still work to do, but technically I don't think I need to change very much. I'm looking forward to the start of the winter season."

There was disappointment for the majority of the fans in Klingenthal with Pius Paschke the best of the Germans in 18th. Philipp Raimund was one place behind in 19th with Andreas Wellinger 22nd.

Norway end Grand Prix season with Mixed Team win

The top two on Saturday from each nation went forward to the Mixed Team, meaning Strøm missed out for Norway. Her absence mattered not as Midtskogen put her country into an lead that they would not relinquish.

Lindvik starred again with the best jump in each round to put the seal on a comfortable victory. Nika Vodan led off for Slovenia and Timi Zajc closed the gap with a superb first jump. But Nika Prevc could not make up points on Kvandal, and Domen Prevc was a long way behind Lindvik as Slovenia had to settle for second.

Japan were third largely thanks to Nikaido who again found only Lindvik too good on the day. Maruyama was disappointing with her first jump, but she was the best of the athletes going first in the second round. Ryoyu Kobayashi and Ringo Miyajima completed the quartet as Takanashi sat out the event. Austria took fourth with Germany - who were missing Raimund due to a hip injury - in fifth place.

Norway’s depth, especially with their women, was clear to see across the weekend. Kvandal admitted their extra practice on the hill may have given them an edge on their rivals, but is expecting big things for the World Cup season-opener on home snow.

“We have worked hard and had the opportunity to train here in Klingenthal before the competitions, which helped us get familiar with the hill," she said. "I think we are working really well together as a team at the moment.

"We have high expectations for the winter. I believe it could be an exciting season, and hopefully we'll see some long jumps and great flights in Lillehammer."

The World Cup curtain raiser in Lillehammer takes place from November 20-22.