Oberstdorf, Germany 22 Jan – 25 jan 2026
Source: https://www.fis-ski.com/ https://www.skifliegen-oberstdorf.com/
The 2026 FIS Ski Flying World Championships are currently taking place in Oberstdorf, Germany, at the Heini Klopfer Ski Flying Hill (1$HS235$).2 This prestigious event is the 29th edition of the championships and marks the seventh time Oberstdorf has hosted the world’s best “airmen.”3
The competition is held from January 22 to January 25, 2026.4
Event Schedule
The championships are divided into an individual competition (consisting of four rounds over two days) and a team event.5
| Date | Time (CET) | Event |
| Thursday, Jan 22 | 17:00 | Qualification (Men’s HS235) |
| Friday, Jan 23 | 16:00 | Individual Competition (Rounds 1 & 2) |
| Saturday, Jan 24 | 16:30 | Individual Competition (Rounds 3 & 4 – Final) |
| Sunday, Jan 25 | 16:15 | Team Competition (Two rounds) |
Key Storylines
- The Favorites: Current World Cup leader Domen Prevc (SLO) enters as a top favorite, having won the Ski Flying Crystal Globe in the previous season.6 He aims to join his brother Peter Prevc as a World Ski Flying Champion.
- Title Defense: Stefan Kraft (AUT) is the defending individual champion from the 2024 event in Bad Mitterndorf.7 He is also looking to lead Austria to a team gold, a title he has never won.8
- The Venue: The Heini Klopfer hill is one of the only five ski flying hills in the world, allowing for jumps well beyond 230 meters.
Historical Context
Oberstdorf last hosted the Ski Flying World Championships in 2018 (won by Daniel-André Tande) and 2008 (won by Gregor Schlierenzauer). The venue is known for its passionate crowds and the “Flight Show” atmosphere in the Allgäu region.
Thursday, January 22, 2026: Qualification
1:00 p.m. Stadium admission
2:30 p.m. Official training (2 rounds)
5:00 p.m. Qualification
8:00 p.m. Opening of the FIS Ski Flying World Championships in the spa gardens
Friday, January 23, 2026: Individual competition day 1
1:00 p.m. Stadium admission
3:00 p.m. Trial round
4:00 p.m. 1st scoring round
followed by 2nd scoring round
Saturday, January 24, 2026: Individual competition day 2
1:00 p.m. Stadium admission
3:30 p.m. Rehearsal run
4:30 p.m. 3rd scoring run
followed by 4th scoring run
followed by Winners’ presentation in the stadium
7:30 p.m. Official award ceremony in the spa gardens
Sunday, January 25, 2026: Team competition
1:00 p.m. Stadium admission
3:15 p.m. Rehearsal run
4:15 p.m. 1st scoring run
followed by Final run
followed by Official award ceremony in the stadium
The schedule is subject to change.
Men’s Flying Hill HS235 Qualification
January 22, 2026
- 1st Run: 17:00
Men’s Flying Hill HS235
January 23, 2026
- 1st Run: 16:00
Men’s Flying Hill HS235
January 24, 2026
- 1st Run: 16:00
Men’s Team Flying Hill HS235
January 25, 2026
- 1st Run: 16:15
The transition from ski jumping to ski flying is fluid, but for the athletes, there is a massive difference in both physics and feeling. Simply put: Ski flying is the “extreme version” of ski jumping.
Here are the key differences at a glance:
1. Hill Size (HS)
The most technical difference is the size of the facility. This is measured by the Hillsize (HS), which indicates the usable length of the landing slope.
| Feature | Ski Jumping (Large Hill) | Ski Flying |
| Hillsize (HS) | Usually 120 m to 147 m | 185 m and above (now often 235–240 m) |
| K-Point | Approx. 120–125 m | Approx. 185–200 m |
| Number of Hills | Hundreds worldwide | Only 5 active worldwide* |
*The active flying hills are located in Oberstdorf (GER), Planica (SLO), Vikersund (NOR), Bad Mitterndorf/Kulm (AUT), and Harrachov (CZE – currently in need of renovation).
2. Aerodynamics and Speed
In ski jumping, the focus is on a powerful explosive takeoff. In ski flying, however, the air becomes the primary supporting element:
- Speed: In ski flying, athletes hit the takeoff table at approx. 100 km/h (compared to approx. 90 km/h in jumping).
- The “Cushion”: Due to the higher speed and the specific hill design, a “cushion of air” builds up under the skis. The athletes literally sail on the wind.
- Flight Time: While a jump on a large hill lasts about 5 seconds, athletes are in the air for up to 8 seconds during ski flying.
3. Scoring Rules
Because the distances in flying are much greater, the point calculation is adjusted:
- Meter Value: In ski jumping (Large Hill), athletes get 1.8 points per meter. In ski flying, a meter is only worth 1.2 points to ensure that distance doesn’t completely overshadow the style marks.
- Participants: In the World Cup, usually only the top 40 athletes qualify for the main competition in ski flying (compared to 50 in ski jumping).
4. The Feeling: “Love and a Car Crash”
Former World Champion Dieter Thoma once described the difference like this: Ski jumping is like jumping off a 10-meter diving board; ski flying is like jumping off a cliff. He called it a mix of the feeling of “being freshly in love and having just narrowly escaped a car accident.”
