Sudden change of plans for Polish ski jumpers: “We don’t want to risk it now”

According to TVP Sport, Poland’s national ski jumping teams have decided to cancel their autumn training camp in Predazzo, where next year’s Olympic competitions will take place. The women’s team had already made the same decision, and now the men will also not travel. The reason is safety.

Nearly two weeks have passed since the Olympic test events, yet debate around the rebuilt Predazzo hills continues to intensify. Many athletes have spoken about the hill’s unusual flight parabola, and the dangers were underscored by the torn‑ligament injuries suffered by Eva Pinkelnig, Alexandria Loutitt, and Haruka Kasai, who are now out for the season.

The nonstandard profile of the normal hill has raised significant concern in the jumping community. During the test event weekend, several teams requested a meeting with FIS officials, which did take place. FIS ski jumping race director Sandro Pertile told Skijumping.pl that the normal hill profile probably requires adjustments and that they would discuss this promptly with the organizing committee of next year’s Olympic Games.

On the large hill, Pinkelnig’s and Loutitt’s teammates did not start; the Austrian and Canadian teams withdrew from the competition.

Poland follows suit by cancelling its Predazzo camp. “The jumpers already know these hills, and there are big loads — you fall from height. It’s a risk, and we don’t want to risk it now,” explained Stefan Hula, assistant coach of the women’s national team, on the “Podskok” podcast.

Coach Maciej Maciusiak added to TVP Sport: “As long as there’s steady tailwind, it’s not as big a problem. But during the day it often turns into headwind. Then jumpers are carried high and suddenly land from a great height. The situation is indeed not very safe.”

With FIS considering modifications and teams prioritizing athlete safety, the Polish squads will stay away from Predazzo for the time being.