The 22-year-old finished 0.1 points ahead of German Katharina Schmid after she landed at 116.5 metres. The German girl did indeed jump six meters further, but from four ledges at a higher speed.
It is normal procedure for the Norwegian team management to request a lower speed for Kvandal.
Slovenian Nika Kriznar was third in the qualification, 0.9 points behind the Mosjøen girl.
Silje Opseth also delivered a solid qualification, where she finished sixth. Thea Minyan Bjørseth (20th place), Heidi Dyhre Tråserud (31st) and Ingvild Synnøve Midtskogen (34th) also progressed from the qualification.
Kjersti Græsli, on the other hand, quit after being number 42 with a soar of 103 metres.
Before Sunday’s qualification, Kvandal leads the overall competition with 3.8 points down to Opseth in 2nd place. Schmid is in third place, 9.4 points behind Kvandal.
The Raw Air race started at 5 p.m.
Read also: Sunday’s live TV sport: Niskanen against Norwegians in Kollen-femmila