In the double interview Stefan Kraft and Michael Hayböck talk about their target at the Four Hills Tournament and the reasons for the current dominance of the German team. They also provide an insight into how they live together in the hotel.

Four Hills: How has the season gone so far for you? As an unfortunate result of the injury the start for Michi wasn’t that good, was it?

 

Hayböck: No, the first part of the season didn't go as planned, because the start was very difficult due to the injury. Therefore, the preparation didn’t proceed according to the schedule. I was hoping that I could find my way in the first competitions a bit better, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case. Even in Engelberg I had a hard time. Nevertheless, I don't let myself get lost and try to get in good shape before the Four Hills.

 

Kraft: I'm actually very happy. My goal was to be back at the top again this season and I have already been able to do so in some aspects. A few single jumps have been really great but I haven’t had the perfect competition yet. Sometimes I had a bit of bad luck with the wind, sometimes the jump was not ideal. It just hasn’t collectively worked as of yet. But I’m very optimistic that we will be back at the Four Hills.

 

What is your schedule until the Four Hills like?

 

Hayböck: We are now here in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to train on the hill, and after that we’ll do some physical training at home. But over the days around Christmas we try not to think about ski jumping. After that there is a lot of trouble anyway, so you can spend some time at home in peace and quiet.

 

Kraft: For me it’s really quite the same.

 

After that, the time has come. What are your goals for the Four Hills?

 

Hayböck: Of course, it's a bit difficult for me at the moment. I don't have a feeling of success yet and therefore I don’t have the confidence that I’m able to jump to the best of my ability. This has been different in the last few years, because I always managed to achieve the podium before the Four Hills. Therefore, the expectations are a little bit lower this time. It would be too much to expect finishing on the podium or even achieving a victory. If I would be able to jump consistently into the top 15 or top 10, then that would be great for me.

 

Kraft: Of course, I want to be one of the top jumpers. I want to put myself in a good position there and fight for the podium. That's the big target. But I’m also looking forward to it, when there is a big crowd on the hills, lots of spectators and everyone is a bit more tense.

 

The podium after the second competition in Engelberg was: Freitag, Stoch and Kraft. Are these guys the big favourites for the Four Hills overall victory?

 

Hayböck: Yes, Krafti for sure (laughs)! But of course, the Norwegians as well. Tande and Forfang were constantly strong. I think it's the same as every year: It can also happen that someone wins who wasn’t thought to be one of the favourites. Only after Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen you can say who will fight for the overall victory. But these three will certainly be among them.

 

Kraft: Of course, Andreas Wellinger is very strong as well. He already has some experience and has shown that he can jump very far this season. At the moment, however, there are probably 15 jumpers who are able to be at the forefront.

 

The biggest favourite is Richard Freitag, of course. Stefan, you already mentioned Wellinger.  What are the Germans doing better at the moment?

 

Hayböck: There is no question that Richard is the top favourite. He wears the yellow bib and has the most victories so far. Of course, it’s difficult to say what the Germans are doing differently at the moment, because otherwise we would be doing the same. I think it's a perfect balance for them right now. It will certainly not be easy for the guys to confirm this in front of their home audience and a full house.

 

Kraft: In this form that Richard finds himself at the moment, he is very difficult to beat. In a situation like this, everything can happen and you’ll still jump very well. We will continue to work hard until the Four Hills now, so that we might be able to create such a swing as well. I'm curious to see what happens.

 

Is there an experience at the Four Hills that you have a special memory of?

 

Hayböck: I think for both of us it’s the same day: January 6th, 2015. On that day Krafti won the Four Hills, I won my first World Cup and finished second in the overall standings. That was a day that went exactly as we had wished.

 

Kraft: For me the whole Four Hills Tournament in 2014/15 was such a moment. For example, I have a special memory of the competition in Oberstdorf. At that time, we both had a very good feeling ahead of the competition and were able to do the double victory. It was a feeling like my first World Cup victory.

 

How do you spend New Year's Eve in Garmisch-Partenkirchen?

 

Hayböck: It is quite normal for us to celebrate with the team. Of course, we're in the team hotel that evening, usually the girlfriends come along and that's how it is every year. We always have a nice dinner and don't go to bed before midnight. I don't know how the other teams handle it, but in my experience we’re allowed to drink a glass.

 

Kraft: Exactly. We always wait until midnight, then we dance a short waltz, fireworks and chink the glasses. At about one or two o' clock we go to bed.

 

You're always together in the hotel room. What are you guys doing there? Who is the more untidy one?

 

Hayböck: He has improved already (laughs). We are always very relaxed. We have a lot of common interests. This also means, for example, that we are always in agreement with the television programme. Also, the time we go to bed or get up. It's usually my alarm clock that rings first, but that’s ok for both of us. Basically we agree on everything and it’s a very homogeneous living together.

 

Kraft: We really get along great and have a lot of fun - it is also important to switch off a bit. We are more often together in the room than with our girlfriends... (laughs).

 

One final question: What was your strangest fan mail you've ever received?

 

Hayböck: For my birthday, I once received a whole box full of sweets from a fan, roughly 50 by 30 centimetres in size. I still have a lot of that at home, and that was a year and a half ago.

 

Kraft: Sometimes you get some very funny things. Once I received an eagle mask from a fan. I then posted a photo of it immediately. That was very funny.

 

Thanks for your time! We are looking forward to an exciting Four Hills, and enjoy the remaining days at home.

 

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