The first FIS Grand Prix in Wisla (POL) on Saturday brought some unexpected results and a thrilling competition in surprisingly favorable conditions. Despite forecasts of heavy rain and strong winds, the weather held up nicely, keeping both competitors and spectators dry and in high spirits.
Norwegian Olympic champion Marius Lindvik, who won gold at Beijing 2022, claimed victory with an impressive 14.3-point lead. Lindvik, who had been in great shape during training and recent jumps, was thrilled with his performance. “I was in good shape in training and had good jumps recently, but I didn’t know how well I’d do on the international stage. I’m very happy with the result and looking forward to tomorrow’s competition,” Lindvik said after his win.
The real surprise of the day was Estonian Artti Aigro. Training alongside Norwegian and American skiers, Aigro delivered an outstanding performance, with his final jump being particularly remarkable. This was Aigro’s first Grand Prix podium finish, and the 25-year-old was ecstatic about his achievement.
Swiss athlete Gregor Deschwanden showcased his summer skills once again. After finishing second in last year’s overall Grand Prix rankings, Deschwanden is currently in fourth place, trailing behind Austria’s Stefan Kraft, who didn’t compete in Wisla. Italy’s Alex Insam, who finished fifth, is now second in the overall standings, with Frenchman Valentin Foubert in third, also absent from Wisla.
Norwegian Johann Andre Forfang was just 0.1 points behind Deschwanden, placing fourth in the Wisla competition. American Tate Frantz celebrated his best result so far with a sixth-place finish, and his teammates Erik Belshaw and Kevin Bickner also made their mark, finishing 18th and 21st respectively. The Americans seem to be benefiting from their collaboration with the Norwegians, much like Aigro with his training group.
Polish skiers had a strong showing as well, with Aleksander Zniszczol finishing eighth and Dawid Kubacki close behind in ninth. No German athletes participated in this event.
The second Grand Prix competition in Wisla is set to begin on Sunday at 15:00.
