2023-2024 Four-Chance Tour: A Review of Notable Events and Current Standings
The 72nd Vierschanzentournee (Four Hills Tournament) is currently reaching its thrilling climax, with the final jump in Bischofshofen deciding the overall winner. As of January 8, 2024, the tournament is nearing its end, and it is Norway's Halvor Egner Granerud who has emerged victorious.
The competition has been fierce, with Ryoyu Kobayashi from Japan and Andreas Wellinger from Germany battling it out for the top spot. Kobayashi, who leads the overall standings with 857.6 points, secured second place in the final jump in Bischofshofen, ensuring his place as the overall winner of the tournament. Wellinger, who is in second place in the overall standings with 852.8 points, narrowly escaped potential disqualification due to a hole in his ski jumping suit during the tournament, as photos proved it occurred after his jump in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
The tournament kicked off in Oberstdorf, where Wellinger won the first jump with 309.3 points, followed closely by Kobayashi in second place with 306.3 points. The third place was taken by Michael Hayböck, who also impressed in the Innsbruck competition, where he secured third place. Jan Hörl, 25, from Austria, won the jump in Innsbruck with 267.5 points, pushing Kobayashi into second place with 258.7 points.
Stefan Kraft, another strong contender, won the jump in Bischofshofen with 288.9 points, but it was not enough for the overall victory. Kraft currently holds third place in the overall ranking with 834 points, while Hörl is in fourth place with 834 points. Michael Hayböck is in fifth place with 809 points.
The 72nd Vierschanzentournee has been a rollercoaster of excitement, with the final jump in Bischofshofen setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion. The tournament, which began on December 29, 2023, will end on January 6, 2024, with Halvor Egner Granerud, Ryoyu Kobayashi, and Andreas Wellinger as the top favourites to claim victory.
What about the sports of hockey? In the midst of the Vierschanzentournee tournament, a question arises: Could any of the top ski jumpers, such as Halvor Egner Granerud, Ryoyu Kobayashi, or Andreas Wellinger, also excel in ice hockey?
