Good conditions finally graced competitors at the women's event in Zao today as Germany topped the podium.

Amid blue skies and light winds in the Japanese resort, their team of Juliane Seyfarth, Ramona Straub, Carina Vogt and Katharina Althaus finished with 838.6 points to beat Austria in second and the hosts Japan in third, who scored 811.2 and 768.3 points respectively.

The German team led by more than 40 points over Austria’s foursome of Jacqueline Seifredsberger, Eva Pinkelnig, Chiara Hoelzl at and yesterday’s individual winner Daniela Iraschko-Stolz at the halfway stage.

With just one jump to go Germany’s lead was down to nine points, but the overall World Cup leader Althaus was able to extend it once again in the last round, scoring more points than Austria’s Iraschko-Stolz with both her jumps.

“I’m very happy about our result today,” 22-year-old Althaus said.

“We have a great team and a great team spirit.

"I’m happy that I could show such great jumps today and I hope it will be similar tomorrow.

“Today was a great day, the sun was shining, and the wind was not that strong.

“It wasn’t easy, but I think it was a fair competition.”

The event will end tomorrow with a second individual competition.

Germany also earned the team title at the men's event over in Zakopane in Poland.

Their team of Karl Geiger, Markus Eisenbichler, David Siegel and Stephan Leyhe finished top with a total score of 1157.5 points, just ahead of Austria in second, with hosts Poland in third.

The Germans and Austrians went toe-to-toe throughout, but in the end Austria’s team of Daniel Huber, Jan Hoerl, Michael Hayboeck and Stefan Kraft fell just short, finishing 0.1 points behind their rivals.

Poland secured the third spot on the podium with a total score of 1117.2, thanks to their team of Piotr Zyla, Maciej Kot, Kamil Stoch and Dawid Kubacki.

The men’s event will continue tomorrow with an individual contest.