Peter Riedel

Today, Saturday, the fourth stop and thus the final of the Kindervierschanzentournee took place in Hinzenbach, Upper Austria. 106 enthusiastic children from 4 nations made their way to Hinzenbach to jump for the tour victory in the best autumn weather.

Reason to celebrate were primarily the tourney winners: Florentina Moder (Girls 1), Meghann Wadsak (Girls 2), Zeno Rumpfinger (K7), Jakob Stieninger (K8), David Gruber (K9), Tymoteusz Cienciala (K10) and Jonas Gruber (K11) who each secured the overall victory in their class. Notably, the performance of Polish Tymoteusz Cienciala, who won the overall standings for the fourth consecutive time.

With stops in Berchtesgaden, Reit im Winkl, Bischofshofen and Hinzenbach, there are, like the real Four Hills Tournament, four stations, after which the overall winner of the event series is finally crowned. Participants were children aged 7 to 11, competing on mat hills up to HS48.

The organizers also had every reason to celebrate. Europe’s largest ski jumping youth event is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. In 20 years, many current world-class ski jumpers took the path via the Kindervierschanzentournee. Notably, Severin Freund, Markus Eisenbichler, Andreas Wellinger, Stefan Kraft, Gregor Schlierenzauer and Michael Hayböck are among the most famous former participants.

And Michael Hayböck and DSV jumper Markus Eisenbichler did not miss the chance to personally present the prize awards to the many motivated children on the occasion of the 20-year anniversary. After handing out prizes to the winners and signing countless autographs and selfies, Michael Hayböck beamed from ear to ear: “Kindervierschanzentournee was already something special for me back then. We felt a bit like the real Four Hills Tournament starters, and at this age there are relatively few international competitions. I think it’s great that the final is now on the same weekend as our Summer Grand Prix. That’s something special for the kids and motivates them even more when there are world Cup athletes in the audience. A great event and very important for the ski jumping Nachwuchs.”

The Mayor of Hinzenbach, Wolfgang Kreinecker, also personally witnessed the young eagles’ skills: “Youth work is of great importance to Hinzenbach. That is why we are proud to have been a partner and host for 20 years. The future successes of our young ladies and gentlemen as well as the enthusiasm of the youth for ski jumping give back what is invested two, three and fourfold,” he says, waxing poetic about the already traditional youth project.

Peter Riedel GmbH has been the main sponsor of the event series for 7 years. Peter Riedel also regards youth engagement as a major concern. “This year’s event series was really great and perfectly organized. I want to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to the host venues and the many helpers. The youth sector is the foundation for the future, and when you look at the well-known former participants of the Kindervierschanzentournee, you see that it pays to invest in the youth. I would also like to mention the many parents who enable this for their children. Without their support such an event would never be possible. Our goal for the coming years must be to inspire even more nations to participate in the Kindervierschanzentournee,” says the entrepreneur from the Erzgebirge.