SKI JUMPING WORLD CUP. There was only one competition in the 2010/11 season so far, and to result is everything but a surprise. The Austrians showed their strength already in the opening event and made clear that they are still the ones to beat. In Kuusamo Thomas Morgenstern, Wolfgang Loitzl, Andreas Kofler and Gregor Schlierenzauer were once again unbeatable.

Winners: Thomas Morgenstern, Wolfgang Loitzl, Andreas Kofler and Gregor Schlierenzauer

Under typical windy conditions 60 km south of the polar circle the Austrians were weatherproof. Nor wind neither the temperatures of about -20° C could affect them.

Ski Jumping Hill, Kuusamo, Finland

With 1231.4 points they clearly beat the Norwegians Bjoern Einar Romoeren, Anders Bardal, Tom Hilde and Anders Jacobsen (1163.4 points) and the strong Japanese (1121.3 points) where especially Summer Grand Prix winner Daiki Ito showed a strong performance. But also Shohei Tochimoto, Noriaki Kasai and Taku Takeuchi presented themselves in a good form, just like in summer, and the podium finish was well deserved.

Taku Takeuchi (JPN)

"It was very cold and I'm tired now. The start of very good for us and now we are looking forward to the next competitions", told 38-year-old Noriaki Kasai. "Last year we were only seventh, so it went great for us today. We knew that the Austrians are the favorites", said Norwegian Anders Bardal.

"We all did a great job. Now we are looking forward to the individual competition", said Thomas Morgenstern and his teammate Gregor Schlierenzauer added: "We have a good team spirit. This victory pushes us for the next competitions and also makes everything easier."

Koivuranta made debut for Finland

Finland came in fourth in front of the home crowd and nordic combined skier Anssi Koivuranta made his winter-debut in ski jumping. Harri Olli was not nominated for the team by head coach Pekka Niemelae. Ville Larinto, who showed a sensational 150.5 m jump in training on Friday, Matti Hautamaeki and Janne Ahonen were on the team besides Koivuranta. Larinto showed the best jumps of the "Finn Air".

Germany only seventh

Poland finished fifth and could not meet the high expactations after their great summer. Krzysztof Mietus could not do as well as his teammates and Adam Malysz was once again their best. Slovenia was sixth, followed by Germany and Russia. "Under difficult conditions little mistakes have a huge impact", Michael Neumayer explained the disappointing result. "And all of us made little mistakes."

Almost all jumpers used the new bindings, although Martin Schmitt puts it into perspective: "Everyone adjusted to the new bindings. The difference is not that huge", he told.

Czech have problems with new bindings

Simon Ammann's goal of winning a medal with the Swiss team in Oslo is far away. Remi Francais was their weak point and Switzerland couldn't qualify for the final round although Marco Grigoli showed a good jump.

Also the Czech team had its problems on the hill in Ruka. Due to a broken piece of his bindings Roman Koudelka could not jump although the jury allowed him to start after his group. But it could not be repared that fast. Because Koudelka did not jump only three athletes remained for the team of head coach David Jiroutek - Lukas Hlava, Jakub Janda and Antonin Hajek, who also already had some bad luck with the new bindings.

FISskijumping.com
27.11.2010 17:20

Qualification cancelled due to wind turbulences

Once again it was windy in Kuusamo. The first qualification of the season was scheduled to take place at 6:00 pm CET at the Rukatunturi, but at that time the second training round was still in progress.

The wind showed no mercy this Friday evening in northern Finland. After 28 jumpers - Russian Denis Kornilov was in the lead after a 138.5 m jump - a jury meeting was held and it was decided to interrupt the the qualification round and the weather forecast then lead to the cancellation.

Good decision

It was a good decision, the conditions were not fair. Many athletes who came to Kuusamo in a good form could not show jumps according to their current level of performances.

Right after the cancellation there was no decision made concerning the new schedule. "The later we decide, the more exact is the weather forecast. That's why we wait until Saturday", said FIS race director Walter Hofer.

New schedule: Qualification on Sunday

In the team captain's meeting on Saturday it was then decided that the qualification round will now take place on Sunday, 9:00 am CET. There will be no trial round before the individual competition.

FISskijumping.com
26.11.2010 19:29