Andreas Wellinger Reflects on Summer Grand Prix as German Ski Stars Receive Vehicles

German ski jumper Andreas Wellinger has addressed his recent performance after finishing 22nd on the large hill at the Summer Grand Prix finale in Klingenthal. Marius Lindvik claimed the victory at the event, followed by Ren Nikaido in second and Klemens Joniak in third, while Pius Paschke finished as the top German competitor in 18th place.

Reflecting on the competition, Wellinger acknowledged that the weekend brought both disappointment and important lessons. Despite challenging conditions involving heavy rain and occasional track issues, the athlete focused primarily on his own shortcomings rather than the weather.

"Now we know where we stand, at least I know where I stand. I still have quite a bit of work ahead of me," Wellinger stated in an interview with the Polish portal skijumping.pl after the event. He emphasized that the global competitive standard is exceptionally high and leaves no room for errors.

Looking ahead to the upcoming World Cup season opener in Lillehammer at the end of November, Wellinger noted that significant preparation remains. He also commented on the leadership changes within the coaching staff, addressing the promotion of new head coach Andreas Mitter. Having worked with the team for three years, Mitter transitioned to the leading role, which Wellinger described as a continuation rather than a drastic revolution due to his familiarity with the squad.

While Wellinger prepares for the winter season, other prominent German winter sports figures gathered at the Audi Forum in Ingolstadt to receive their new sponsorship vehicles. A total of 40 athletes from the German Ski Association traveled to the facility as part of an official vehicle handover event.

The vehicle delivery coincided with the announcement that Audi has extended its sponsorship agreement with the German Ski Association through 2030. The automaker has expanded its financial commitment within winter sports to include biathletes starting this year, maintaining a partnership that originally began in 1984.

During the event, several athletes selected their new vehicles, with alpine skier Emma Aicher choosing a Q8 model and Nordic combined athlete Natalie Armbruster opting for a hybrid A6 Avant. The ongoing collaboration also incorporates athletic training elements, including aerodynamic testing in the company's wind tunnel facilities in Ingolstadt, despite broader financial restructuring challenges facing the wider automotive group.