After a great summer for Germany’s Johannes Rydzek, the winter is now almost upon us. Perfect timing to check in with the undisputed king of the summer. For TUESDAY TALK, Rydzek revealed who he sees as main opponents for the winter, how his own shape has developed and what he has been up to since the Summer Grand Prix ended.

You have won everything that was to win this summer, stood on top of the Summer Grand Prix podiums every single time and also kept on winning during national competitions later on in the year. Do we have to prepare for the winter of Johannes Rydzek?

Johannes Rydzek: That’s right, the summer went perfectly for me but as it is in sports, this is in the past now and nobody is interested in the successes of summer anymore, as harsh as that might sound. Unfortunately, I have quite some „construction sites“ this close to the season start, especially regarding the jumping part. So, I’ll just have to see how the season starts. I’ll be giving my best, for sure.

One of the keys to your success in the summertime was your incredible jumping shape. How would you judge your jumping performance at the moment?

Rydzek: As I said, it is not going that well… yet! Unfortunately, I was not able stay on the same level which I had in summer. Everybody who is following ski jumping knows these phases. Now I have to work really hard in these last weeks, trust in my strengths and have confidence.

The rivals never rest and especially in your own team, there are quite many strong athletes to contend with. To mention a few: World Champion Eric Frenzel or international athletes like your favourite opponent Joergen Graabak from Norway. Who is on your „to watch“-list for the winter?

Rydzek: That is definitely true! The German team alone is in an exceptionally great shape. Next to Eric, there are Fabian (Rießle), Jakob (Lange) and Manuel (Faißt) who are on a great level right now. Internationally speaking, we will have to watch out for the usual suspects, especially the Norwegian team with Joergen but also the French guys and the Austrians as well as Akito Watabe and his Japanese team.

The World Championships in Falun probably are your main goal for the winter. What else is on your to-do-list?

Rydzek: Yes, the World Champs are the main goal. But in a strong team as Germany, I will have to qualify for them first and then I have to be in top shape when we go there. To have a second highlight with the Nordic Combined TRIPLE is something that the whole Nordic Combined world, including me, is delighted about. With Seefeld, we have found a perfect place for it. A third thing is the overall World Cup but this is not something you can plan to do, this is something that happens… or not! (laughs)

During the summer, we have seen many great pictures and videos of you doing various outdoor activities around your hometown of Oberstdorf. Tell us a little bit more about how you unwound since the Summer Grand Prix.

Rydzek: I am in the great position to be able to combine my hobby with training. I just love being outdoors and up in the mountains, even more so with friends. That’s why I have invited my friend and fellow athlete Samuel Costa to spend some time in the Allgäu-region after the Summer Grand Prix. He slept on my couch and we had a fantastic, funny week together.

Now in November, the mustaches start to grow again. Will you also take part in the „Movember“ campaign or will we meet a beardless Johannes Rydzek in Ruka?

Rydzek: (laughs) Yes, it definitely is a challenge with my beard growth and also for my girlfriend (laughs) but, yes, I am taking part, too. It’s for a good cause and supposed to raise awareness for prostate and testicle cancer.