Kobayashi secures double victory at home

On Saturday, the challenging Okurayama hill lived up to its reputation. In variable conditions, Japanese jumper Ryoyu Kobayashi showcased his skill with impressive jumps of 137 and 136.5 meters, securing his first win of the season with a comfortable lead. Austria's Jan Hörl claimed second place, while Slovenia's Domen Prevc narrowly edged out Daniel Tschofenig for third.

Beyond the top spots, the field was widely spread. Many athletes struggled with tricky wind conditions and the unique characteristics of the hill. The German team faced significant challenges, managing only one athlete in the top 25.

Sunday saw Kobayashi continue his winning streak. After trailing Norwegian Marius Lindvik in the first round, he delivered a clutch performance in the final with a 137-meter jump to claim his second consecutive victory. Lindvik settled for second place, while his compatriot Johann Andre Forfang completed the podium in third.

The Austrian team, which had performed strongly on Saturday, occupied positions four through seven. The German jumpers showed slight improvement but still fell short of expectations, with Andreas Wellinger achieving the team's best result in ninth place.

A new age record was also set: Japan's Noriaki Kasai, at 52 years old, became the oldest athlete to compete in a World Cup event.