Volavsek and Mach take Summer Grand Prix crowns

Ten competitions, three venues and two overall champions: Ema Volavsek (SLO) and David Mach (GER) came out on top of the FIS Nordic Combined Summer Grand Prix 2026 after ten days of competition in Bischofshofen, Oberstdorf and Chaux-Neuve.

While Volavsek built her success around two podium finishes and two victories, Mach steadily improved throughout the series before delivering his strongest performances when it mattered most in Chaux-Neuve.

Ema Volavsek: With consistency to the title

Volavsek started her Summer Grand Prix campaign in Bischofshofen (AUT), where the women competed on the Paul-Ausserleitner hill HS 142 for the first time.

After ranking eighth in the jumping round of the opening Individual Gundersen, the Slovenian produced the fastest roller ski time of the entire field and moved up to fourth place, finishing 1:02.1 minutes behind winner Ida Marie Hagen (NOR).

One day later, she made the next step. Starting the Individual Compact from fourth position, Volavsek quickly joined the fight at the front and battled Hagen all the way to the finish. In a thrilling final sprint, she edged the Norwegian by just 0.3 seconds to celebrate her first victory of the summer.

The tour continued with Oberstdorf’s famous Night Race. Volavsek once again used her strength on the roller skis, moving from seventh after jumping onto the podium.

She finished third behind Hagen and Nathalie Armbruster (GER), 56.5 seconds behind the winner.

Her consistency continued in Chaux-Neuve (FRA). Fifth after jumping in the Individual Gundersen, Volavsek worked her way up to third place and finished only 17.8 seconds behind winner Katharina Gruber (AUT).

Everything was then decided in the final Individual Compact. Starting six seconds behind Gruber, Volavsek closed the gap already on the first uphill before pulling clear. She brought a comfortable lead to the finish, winning 26.5 seconds ahead of Armbruster and securing the overall title in style.

With results of 4th, 1st, 3rd, 3rd and 1st, Volavsek collected 430 points and won the Summer Grand Prix by 20 points over Gruber. It marked the third overall Summer Grand Prix title of her career. She also completed the summer as winner of the Best Skier Trophy.

David Mach: With progress to the trophy

David Mach’s road to the Men’s Overall title followed a different path.

The German opened the series in Bischofshofen with 11th place in the Individual Gundersen. Starting the roller ski race from 16th after jumping, Mach gained five positions on the 10 km course to begin his campaign with 40 points.

His progress was already visible one day later. Mach ranked fifth after jumping in the Individual Compact and finished the race in sixth place, 45.3 seconds behind winner Jens Luraas Oftebro (NOR).

In Oberstdorf, he moved another step closer to the front. During the Night Race, Mach finished fifth behind Stefan Rettenegger (AUT), Jens Luraas Oftebro, Vinzenz Geiger (GER) and Manuel Faisst (GER).

But Chaux-Neuve became the decisive venue of his Summer Grand Prix.

Mach started the Individual Gundersen from third position after jumping and quickly joined the fight for victory. After 2.5 km, he had already taken over the lead, before spending the majority of the race in a four-man leading group with Fabio Obermeyr (AUT), Richard Stenzel (GER) and his brother Simon Mach (GER).

Obermeyr eventually pulled away on the final lap, but Mach won the battle for second place, finishing just 2.2 seconds behind the Austrian.

One day later, Mach finished the job. Together with Faisst and Stenzel, he was part of the German group controlling the final Individual Compact. His third place, 16.4 seconds behind winner Faisst, completed an all-German podium and secured the Overall title.

Mach’s results improved with every stop of the tour: 11th and 6th in Bischofshofen, 5th in Oberstdorf, followed by 2nd and 3rd in Chaux-Neuve.

With 325 points, he finished 19 points ahead of Faisst and 22 ahead of Obermeyr to be crowned the Men’s Summer Grand Prix 2026 champion.