German ski jumper Philipp Raimund has withdrawn from this weekend’s competition in Planica, Slovenia. The twenty-four-year-old cited a fear of heights as the reason for his withdrawal.

Raimund explained in a social media post that the 240-meter jump in Slovenia presents too much of a risk. He stated that while he can manage his fear of heights during most jumps, the larger ski jump used for ski flights exacerbates the issue.

Ski flights, which occur on larger jumps, involve higher speeds and longer flight times. This enables athletes to achieve greater distances but also increases the risk.

Raimund said that his body sometimes reacts uncontrollably during ski flights and that he prefers not to take the risk involved. He emphasized that this issue does not usually occur during standard ski jumping.