Near-disaster in Oberstdorf: Ski jump training halted after sponsor wall crashes onto start bar

An unusual and potentially dangerous incident occurred during the official ski‑jumping training in Oberstdorf on Sunday, shortly before the Four Hills Tournament qualifying scheduled for 16:30. After Timi Zajc’s jump—he reached 140 m—spectators noticed an extended pause. It soon emerged that a sponsor backdrop had slid down and crashed onto the start bar, apparently during a platform change, forcing organizers to stop the series.

The timing was particularly worrying because it happened right before Norway’s Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal was to take his turn. This recalled a similar episode at the start of last season in Lillehammer, when a sponsor wall struck the bar while Sundal was seated waiting for the start signal. On that occasion he reacted instantly and escaped harm. In Oberstdorf, fortunately, he had not yet sat down, averting a serious accident on the eve of the Four Hills Tournament.

Once the situation was resolved, the first training standings saw Germany’s Felix Hoffmann in the lead, followed by Slovenia’s Timi Zajc and Domen Prevc.