"Not Taking Part in All Stops": Kraft and Co. Absent in Wisla

The Ski Jumping Summer Grand Prix is set to begin in Wisla (Poland) without Austria's top athletes.

Preparation for the upcoming winter season has been underway since April. According to head coach Widhölzl, everyone is highly motivated.

Following their successes last season, the Austrians are among the co-favorites. "Everyone wants to unseat us from the throne. We need to push hard and stay creative," the coach is quoted as saying by the "Kronen Zeitung".

Jan Hörl had to end his season early in March due to back problems (more on this >>>). He is now fit and pain-free again, but he started training a little later.

Junior Ski Jumpers to Compete in Wisla

In Poland, a group of junior athletes will now compete. "We have so few starting spots. It's a good opportunity for the youngsters to present themselves on the big stage," the 49-year-old is quoted as saying by the media outlet.

He adds: "We are not taking part in all stops because the Summer GP doesn't count for the winter. And the guys generally don't like Wisla that much."

The second stop of the Summer Grand Prix is Courchevel (FRA). The ÖSV eagles will be back in action there. "We feel very comfortable there. It's also the Olympic hill. That's why we're doing a training camp there beforehand. And it's also good training under competition conditions," Widhölzl concludes.

The Austrians will have to forgo their home stop in Hinzenbach this summer. The coach states he doesn't know the reasons, but it's a great pity that the venue is missing from the calendar for the first time since 2013.