SKI JUMPING. Norwegian Anders Bardal won the first World Cup competition in Wisla, Poland. Last season's overall World Cup winner celebrated his first win this season. Richard Freitag of Germany and Bardal's teamamte Rune Velta came in second and third in front of 10 000 enthusiastic Polish fans. 4-Hills-Tournament winner and overall World Cup leader Gregor Schlierenzauer could not take part because of a cold.

Anders Bardal dominated the competition in Wisla on Wednesday. The Norwegian, who celebrated also his first World Cup win in Poland, in Zakopane, was already in the lead after the first round with a jump on 130 m. He then took the win with 128 m in the final and 264.4 points. "The wind conditions were difficult today, but I tried to concentrate on making two good jumps and now I'm happy with the result", said Bardal.

Richard Freitag, second twice last year in Zakopane, was second also this winter in Wisla. The German was third after the first round with the longest jump of today’s competition – 131.5 m. He could move up to the second place after his 126.5 m in the final. The 22-year reached a total of 252.2 points. "It was a bid windy today and I had some luck. but I'm also happy with my jumps."

The third place went to another Norwegian, Rune Velta. The Silver medalist of the last Ski Flying World Championships could achieve his first ever podium result in the World Cup with a consistent performance of 127 and 126 m and 251 points. "I'm very happy about my jumps and also that my shape seems to be stable now", said Velta.

Sensationally the fourth place went to Robert Kranjec. The Slovene showed his best jumps this winter and proved the improvement made since the beginning of the current World Cup season. Another Ski Flying World Champion, Simon Ammann, was fifth.

Career best for Zyla

Piotr Zyla was the best Polish athlete on Wednesday. With his final jump on 123 m and 240.5 points he moved up from twelfth to sixth. Today’s result is career best for the 26-year old of Wisla. He was followed by his teammate, Kamil Stoch (122m and 124.5 m; 238.3 points) who shared seventh place with Dimitry Vassiliev of Russia.

The winner of the yesterday’s qualification, Maciej Kot, came in 13th. Also Stefan Hula scored World Cup points in front of his home crowd. He was 27th. Five of the nine competitors of Poland could not reach the final round. Dawid Kubacki, strong on Tuesday, came in 44th with his 111 m and 91.7 points. Also Lukasz Rutkowski (36th), Krzysztof Mietus (37th), Bartlomiej Klusek (46th) and Aleksander Zniszczol, who showed the longest jump in the trial round, shared his fate.

Dangerous moment for Schmitt

Martin Schmitt will not have positive memories of the competition in Wisla. The German veteran had big problems after the take-off and had to make an "emergency landing" after 66 m. He will already have a chance for improvement tomorrow in the qualification for Saturday's individual competition in Zakopane.

No 46th win yet for Schlierenzauer

Due to his illness Gregor Schlierenzauer could not take part in today’s competition. The 4-Hills-Tournament winner suffers from an infection and fever and so the Austrian coaches decided that he should stay in hotel and recover for the competitions in Zakopane. Therefore Schlierenzauer will have to wait at least until Saturday to catch up with the record of Matti Nykaenen.

The teammates of Schlierenzauer did not show a good performance at the Adam Malysz Hill in Wisla. Wolfgang Loitzl (117.5 m and 125.5 m; 234.2 points) was the best of the team of Alexander Pointner as 12th. Andreas Kofler, who was fifth after the first jump on 125 m, landed at 117.5 m in the second round, earned 229.3 points and finished 17th. Thomas Morgenstern (110 m and 121 m; 223 points) was 23rd. Michael Hayboeck was the only Austrian who could not qualify for the final round after his jump on 115.5 m (99.7 points). Stefan Kraft, who set a fantastic hill record yesterday, could not repeat this performance. The newcomer finished 28th with a total score of 211.7 points and his 126 and 107 m.

Despite his absence, Gregor Schlierenzauer remains the overall World Cup leader with his 808 points. The winner of the today’s event, Anders Bardal (575 points), overtook Severin Freund (556 points), who will be back in the game in Zakopane.

FISskijumping.com
09.01.2013 22:24

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