44 minutes to happiness: that's exactly how long it took the world's 30 best ski pilots to finish their last big air show. That Andreas Wellinger together with Stefan Kraft There were good reasons why everyone was beaming afterwards. Thanks to a fantastic flight, Germany's best ski jumper managed to move from fourth to second place.

Silver in the World Cup for Wellinger, who was “extremely happy and relieved.” His last flight at 229 meters seemed like something out of an illustrated ski flight book. “Andi was the best on the entire field,” said Stefan Horngacher. In his analysis in the interview area of ​​the Bad Mitterndorf ski slope, which had a large attendance of 18,500 spectators, the national coach stressed that “it is always very good when you are the next winner behind Stefan Kraft.

Krafti is the man who always jumps the green line, no matter where he is.” Kraft has been the reference in ski jumping for many years. He holds the world ski flying record since his 253.5 meter flight seven years ago on the Norwegian Riesenbakken in Vikersund. And now finally world champions. “Today was the most emotional day of my career,” said the 30-year-old Austrian. “I have never heard so many people sing the national anthem. “That's really comforting.”

“Long and difficult day”

What happened hours earlier at the ski jump in Kulm got on my nerves. The jury had to repeatedly postpone the third round due to strong and changing winds. There was no longer enough time for a quarter, as normally provided for in the regulations. There are no floodlights in the Kulm, so the 30 finishers crossed the Bakken in record time, two hours after the original start time.

It was “a long, difficult day,” said Oberstdorfer, who finished 19th. Karl Geiger he said later. With a happy ending for the German flying artists. The fact that Wellinger was only 1.83 meters short of overtaking Kraft in the overall standings after his 229-meter flight still filled him with great satisfaction.

“Until an hour ago, with a clean sheet and 0.5 points behind, I could return home in third place. I won the silver and did not lose the gold,” he told FAZ. I started the race in fourth place.” National coach Horngacher was sure: “Andi's medal can help others.” A statement that became true on Sunday.

In the final team competition, which was witnessed by 11,250 visitors at the Kulm ski jumping facility, prepared for the World Championship, in magnificent weather conditions for a long time, the German quartet of Wellinger, Geiger, Stephan Leyhe and Pius Paschke Third place. The title went to Slovenia, the dominant skiing nation.

Hosts Austria came in second place. The German team was even in the lead at one point. But since each of the eight jumps counts, there weren't enough in the final count. Leyhe's first flight at 198.5 meters saw Horngacher's team drop back to third place. The second only took Leyhe to 164.5 meters.

Great respect for Wellinger

That things are not always 100% fair in ski flying was evident at the World Championships held on Friday and Saturday in Bad Mitterndorf, which was accompanied by rain and wind. Slovenian Timi Zajc, who was leading after the first two races, had the worst wind conditions compared to Wellinger and Kraft. The supportive air cushion he had at the time of the flight allowed him to land at 209.5 meters and in third place.

There was great joy in the German camp for Wellinger's silver. “I'm very, very happy,” said Horst Hüttel, sports director of the German Ski Federation. The way the 28-year-old Wellinger managed to deliver his best performance in a moment of maximum tension earned Horngacher the utmost respect. “I'm very excited,” said the national coach, who was even trying to maintain his composure. Horngacher was one of the first members of the German team to embrace the athletes, coaches and supervisors.

Ski flying: the Champions League of ski jumpers. World champion Kraft is right in his assessment of him. “Today my heart beats even faster,” said the man from Pongau. Kraft was almost overwhelmed at having managed to pull away from Zajc, who was in the lead. “I celebrated my first home win here in Kulm and now I won gold here. Incredible”. And Wellinger took the silver. “This is what ski flying must feel like,” said the enthusiastic Olympic champion.