Kamil Stoch’s confident words before winter: mental reset, suit changes, and belief in a big season

Poland’s triple Olympic ski jumping champion Kamil Stoch told Eurosport that, at this point in his preseason, he hasn’t felt this confident in a long time. While he isn’t declaring instant victories, he says he is calm and eager to keep jumping, having done everything he could in preparation and feeling he now has the whole winter to perform at a high level.

Stoch acknowledged how difficult the past seasons were and how heavily he took poor results—sometimes failing to reach second rounds or even main competitions. He described slipping into a mindset where his self‑worth depended on results, which amplified negative emotions and made it hard to focus on the task at hand. Mental coaching helped him reframe his approach, returning focus to process and execution rather than outcome, quieting the “chaos” of too many thoughts on the start bar.

He also shared an insight about equipment changes. Referencing current suit regulations and cuts that resemble successful years earlier in his career, he said he has long felt that a lower suit crotch reduced his speed in flight and made it harder to accelerate through the air. Tighter, more precise controls and a cut that is not overly large feel more compatible with his strengths and “flying” capabilities.

Despite calling 2017/18 his best season so far, Stoch believes his very best could still be ahead. With only days until the season opener—a mixed team competition—he projects quiet confidence built on mental work and equipment alignment.