Women’s Four Hills Tournament – “A big step on the way to equality”
Last Thursday, the German and Austrian Ski Associations announced that there would soon be a Four Hills Tournament for women. However, it has not yet been finally confirmed whether Innsbruck and Bischofshofen will be the venues.
Nevertheless, the joy among the ski jumpers is great. Also with Silje Opseth. The 22-year-old Norwegian has been one of the best ski jumpers in the world for the past two years and is the team’s vice world champion.
Matthew Freibe: The Four Hills Tournament is now also available for women. what are your thoughts Finally?
Silje Opseth: Yes, finally! I’ve always dreamed of jumping the Four Hills Tournament because it’s the biggest competition we have in ski jumping. And I’m very happy that we can finally be a part of it. I think it will be so much fun.
Friebe: What does that mean for women’s ski jumping?
opset: I think it’s a big step in the right direction towards full equality. My big dream for women’s ski jumping is that we travel around the world with the men and jump with them on the same dates on the same hills. And the fact that we are now also getting a Four Hills Tournament is a big step on the way there.
Friebe: Why is this only coming up now, why so late?
opset: That’s really hard to say. I honestly do not know. Of course, I would have wished it had come much sooner. But some didn’t want that. And that’s something we’ve had to deal with. And that’s why I’m very happy now.
Friebe: You just said that the tour is the most common competition. How important is the Four Hills Tournament to you personally?
opset: She is really important. I watched the Four Hills Tournament on TV as a small child, even before I jumped. Being able to compete in the tour myself will motivate me even more. It’s like a dream to be part of it now.
Friebe: What are you hoping for from this? How do you imagine that going?
opset: In my fantasy we are in the same place as the men and jump the tour just like them. Start in Oberstdorf, then Garmisch-Partenkirchen. But I don’t know if that WILL be possible. You hear different opinions and thoughts about it. That’s why I hope first of all that we can jump on the same hills as the men and that we’ll have as many fans as they do.
Friebe: Germany has now announced that it started in Garmisch and that Oberstdorf will be the New Year’s competition.
opset: That’s a lot better than nothing. First of all, I am very satisfied that they found a solution at all. But I hope that in the future we can also start in Oberstdorf and then come to Garmisch, because then we will have more fans and it will be good for the development of women’s ski jumping.
Friebe: Austria has not yet confirmed that Innsbruck and Bischofshofen will also be there. Would that even be the tour if it took place in Villach, Seefeld and Hinzenbach instead?
opset: It’s a bit difficult to say, but I hope that we can also jump in Innsbruck and Bischofshofen. Those are big jumps. When I think of the Four Hills Tournament, I think of big hills and lots of fun. For me it would certainly not be the same if we jumped in Villach or Seefeld or other small hills.
Friebe: The winner of the men’s tour gets 100,000 Swiss francs. Do you expect the same for your tour?
opset: Oh, I don’t think about prize money. For me it’s much more important to jump and have fun. The prize money is a bonus. I have no idea, in a few years we might be able to get prize money like that. But it’s all about the popularity of our sport. It has to get better and we have to develop before we can think about bigger prize money.
Friebe: A few days ago, the World Ski Association also came out in favor of ski flying. Is that equality or are they at least on the way there?
opset: It’s on the way, after all. The War of Time. We’ve really been waiting for it, it’s been a big goal for us in recent years. This is definitely a big step in the right direction.