. world ski news : Schlierenzauer unbeatable in Zakopane - 23 January 2010 - 18:48
Gregor Schlierenzauer also won the second competition in Zakopane. In a new edition of the clash of skijumping-titans Schliernzauer and Simon Ammann the Austrian was better again. This time he won with 295.6 points, rather clear ahead of Ammann (288.1 points).
And what a show it was! Ahead of 30 000 fans at the extremly loud World Cup party (Ammann: "The music is too loud sometimes"), Schlierenzauer equalled the hill record of 140 m in the first round, only a few moments later Simon Ammann jumped 140.5 m. But Schlierenzauer was in the lead after the first round due to the judges' marks. In the final he defended the lead with all his coolness and celebrated his 31st World Cup victory, the seventh this season. For Ammann this was already the eleventh podium-finish of the season - and that in the 16th competition. "Two victories on one weekend are a perfect result. It was a great fight with Simi. I'm very proud that I could do a telemark and win because of that", said Schlierenzauer.
Adam Malysz showed his fans a great competition. There were bengal lights in the stadium when he was about to jump in the final and the 33-year-old did not disappoint the crowd, he jumped 134 m. But this was not enough for the podium - the Polish skijumping icon was fourth. Thomas Morgenstern had two points more and the Carinthian was third again, like the day before. "I showed good performance the whole weekend. It was important for me that all jumps were good. But I still have a lot of potential and I'm working to improve", said Morgenstern.
Andreas Kofler could improve compared to Friday and finished fifth. The event yesterday was the first competition of the season in which Kofler was not in the Top 10.
The Austrian coaches will have to make a difficult decision next week: Who can go to Vancouver? Like Friday, David Zauner was sixth again and jumped great. Every association would like to take him to Canada, but in the Austrian team Top 10 results might not be enough. Martin Koch is training in Austria and had to watch how Zauner fights for the ticket to the Olympics that he already considered his. If Koch would have to stay at home, the team would have to do without someone who was on the podium twice this season. That's luxury.
Bright and dark sides for Poland
The Polish team could not show convincing performances on the home turf. This started already in the qualification where six Polish jumpers couldn't make the cut. Also surprising: Antonin Hajek could also not qualify. The little Czech could not handle the tailwind conditions.
The second string of the Polish team, behind Malysz, could not show the fans what they are capable of. Besides Malysz, only Kamil Stoch reached the final and he was only 29th. A couple of weeks before the Olympic Games the potential successors of Malysz could not present themselves in a good shape. Also Krzysztof Mietus, one of the insider tips for the Junior World Championships next week suffered a set-back: The 18-year-old could not qualify.
Five Germans in the final - but no top result
Five German jumpers reached the final round today - a very good result, considering the fact that Michael Neumayer and Martin Schmitt were not in Zakopane. But there was no top result. Michael Uhrmann was the best German as 13th. "There are some mistakes, but I still think that it's going good for me", said Andreas Wank, who finished 15th. Pascal Bodmer did better than Friday and was 23rd. "Actually I'm not tired. Now I'll take part in the Junior World Championships and I'll get my shape back there", told Bodmer, who wants to win Gold in Hinterzarten. (The individual competition takes place on January 28th, the team event on the 30th.)
Olli still a mystery
Anders Jacobsen achieved a good result for the Norwegian team as seventh. Bjoern Einar Romoeren and Johan Remen Evensen also landed in the Top 20. Janne Ahonen (9th)once again pulled the chestnuts out of the fire for the Finns. Matti Hautamaeki improved as eleventh. Harri Olli could not reach the final round and will remain a mystery to his coaches.
The whole Russian team was out after the first round and they will really have to improve their shape for Vancouver.
Ammann remains in the lead of the overall World Cup with 1 099 points, followed by Schlierenzauer (996).
FISskijumping.com
23.01.2010 18:04