. world ski news : Anders Jacobsen flies to the top of the ski-flying competition in Oberstdorf - 31 January 2010 - 19:53
Gregor Schlierenzauer was beaten. The dominating skiflyer of the last years finished only seventh at the Heini-Klopfer-Hill in Oberstdorf. The victory was captured by Anders Jacobsen. The Norwegian (426.7 points) showed two jumps over the 200 m-mark and celebrated his first World Cup victory since February 2008 in Liberec.
The form of the Norwegians, last season's winners of the FIS Team Tour, is improving just in time for the Olympic Games in February. With Johan Remen Evensen (416.2 points) as third, another athlete of head coach Mika Kojonkoski was on the podium. With 217.5 m Evensen showed the longest jump of the day. The second place went to Robert Kranjec from Slovenia - winner of a skiflying competition at the Kulm - with 418.1 points. "A perfect day with two Norwegians on the podium", Jacobsen said. So there was no Austrian in the Top 3 for the first time in 2010. "That's not dramatic. I had some problems in the inrun during the whole weekend", said Schlierenzauer.
Koch best Austrian
In absence of Thomas Morgenstern and Andreas Kofler, Martin Koch was the best Austrian as fifth, right behind overall World Cup leader Simon Ammann. Poland's top jumper Adam Malysz was sixth. Czech Antonin Hajek, known to be a good skiflyer, was eighth and the best German, Michael Uhrmann, also landed in the Top 10 as ninth.
"It didn't go as well as on the past days, but all-in-all I'm satisfied", said Michael Neumayer, second-best of his team as 13th. Best Finn was once again Janne Ahonen, but as eleventh he was already more than 50 points behind the winner. Denis Kornilov scored some World Cup points for Russia as 18th.
Olli out of sorts
Harri Olli is light-years away of his top shape. He landed already after 95 m in the first round and finished last. World record holder Bjoern Einar Romoeren didn't do much better and also missed to qualify for the final.
Positive feedback for the new rules
Like the day before, the new skijumping rules applied. And again the jury used them to react to the changing wind conditions. In general, the feedback of the athletes is positive. "That makes the competition fairer", said Uhrmann and added that "it has to level off. A constant changing of the gates is, of course, confusing."
Also Koch is satisfied with the new rules and feels safer now. "Only little things have to be adjusted." Jacobsen said that the competition is more fun. "It also good for the fans, they get to see a lot of long flights. The new rule is a step to take", the Norwegian told Berkutschi.
With this great result, the Norwegians took the lead in the FIS Team Tour that continues on Tuesday and Wednesday in Klingenthal. The winning team will earn a prize money of 100 000 Euro.
Fall of Kofler
Andreas Kofler suffered a heavy fall in the trial round of the skiflying on Sunday in Oberstdorf. The 4-Hills-Tournament winner fell after the landing.
The Austrians feared the worst, but it seems as if he will be able to compete at the Olympic Games. At first it was said he might have fractured his fibula, but later only bruises were diagnozed. "He didn't suffer any fractures. So that's good news", said Austrian head coach Alexander Pointner.
Kofler was taken from the stadium to the hospital by helicopter.
FISskijumping.com
31.01.2010 15:55