Bischofshofen, Austria - Janne Ahonen of Finland used all his experience in extreme conditions to claim a historic fifth title at the ski-jumping Four Hills tournament on Sunday. Ahonen, 30, soared 126 and 136 metres to win the tournament finale marred by rain and wind, and the overall crown. Ahonen's earlier titles came in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2006 as he broke a tie on four titles with German Jens Weisflog.

World Cup leader Thomas Morgenstern of Austria was third on the day and second overall while German Michael Neumayer came third on the overall podium.

Gregor Schlierenzauer, Tom Hilde and Simon Ammann - ranked third, fourth and fifth, respectively, in the tour standings ahead of Sunday's event - failed to make the second round as the weather played havoc with the competition in the first round.

"Of course I feel good right now. It will be easier to understand in a few years when I am a little older. The conditions were difficult but I simply feel good," said Ahonen.

Weissflog, in Bischofshofen as German TV analyst, said that Ahonen deserved the milestone.

"He showed his class to every one, including myself. You simply have to congratulate him. He had great jumps, he really deserves it."

The Austrian hero Schlierenzauer said "It was not to be" and also lamented a faulty binding the day before his 18th birthday. His coach Alexander Pointner spoke of "extreme conditions" but also said that "Janne Ahonen had a fast ski again."

The crowd held its breath when many contenders failed to make the second round, with unheralded Norwegian Anders Bardal leading with 132.5m early on.

Only Ahonen braved a slow approach with 126m for third place and Morgenstern also at least made the cut in ninth position with 121m, the best he could do given the conditions.

"It was a very very difficult day. The first jump was simply too much. But I still have 10 years left to win the tournament," said the 22-year-old double Olympic champion Morgenstern.

Morgenstern showed his class in the second round with 135m as the pecking order was at least partly restored, the Austrian placing third on the day with 242.7 points behind Ahonen (251.6) and Bardal (243.6).

Ahonen won the tournament with 1,085.8 points, with Morgenstern on 1,066.0 and Neumayer swept to third with 994.9 points.

The Finn came third in Oberstdorf on December 30 and second in Garmisch-Partenkirchen before winning in Bischofshofen on Saturday and Sunday to capture the title.

For the first time in the 55-year history of the Four Hills event the competition took place on just three hills as the Innsbruck event scheduled for Friday fell victim to wind and was moved to Bischofshofen Saturday.

The fifth Four Hills crown in his 16th participation in the event is Ahonen's latest milestone. Ahonen also has five world titles (three with the team), two Olympic team silvers and two World Cup titles. There is speculation that he will retire after the season.

Morgenstern leads the World Cup with 940 points from Schlierenzauer (654) and Ahonen (615) into the next weekend's events in Val di Fiemme, Italy.

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 18:00:04
Earthtimes.org

56th Four-Hills-Tournament on the new Partenkirchen hill

The 2007/08 Jack Wolfskin Four-Hills-Tournament will start on 30th December, 2007, in Oberstdorf (GER), followed by the traditional New Year's Ski Jumping in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER) on New Year's Day. The new Olympic Hill in Partenkirchen (GER) was inaugurated last Friday, 21st December, during the FIS Continental Cup competitions there and this year's Tournament competition will be the first World Cup competition on the new hill. The Austrian competitions in Innsbruck and Bischofshofen on 4th and 6th January, 2008, respectively, will conclude the 56th edition of the traditional competition series.

As usual, the Tournament will be organized using the Knock-Out system. In the qualification round, the athletes fight for start positions in the first round. Then the first round is contested by 25 pairs of jumpers. Only the 25 winners and 5 of the losers as the so-called lucky losers will reach the final round.

The dominance of the Austrian eagles has been impressive during the early season. Last year's Tournament winner Anders Jacobsen, along with the entire Norwegian team, are poised for a challenge, however, and one should not forget the veterans Adam Malysz (POL) or Janne Ahonen (FIN), currently 6th in the overall World Cup rankings, let alone the Swiss duo of Andreas Kuettel and Simon Ammann. There are also several young talents ready for exploits so excitement and adrenaline can be guaranteed!

56th Four-Hills-Tournament in red and white domination

02/01/2008. At the half-way point of the 56th Four-Hills-Tournament, Team Austria continues to dominate as it has done during the e.on Ruhrgas FIS World Cup Ski Jumping season so far. Following another imposing victory in the opening competition in Oberstdorf (GER) Thomas Morgenstern now has seven of the nine season victories in his name. In front of 22'000 spectators, Morgenstern delivered a bomb of a jump, landing at 141.5 meters in the final round. In the second competition, held on the new hill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, his teammate Gregor Schlierenzauer ensured that the top of the podium remained in Austrian control. Leading after the first round, the 33-year-old veteran Janne Ahonen of Finland missed his first World Cup victory in two years, but finished 2nd, his 100th career World Cup podium. Schlierenzauer's second jump was not only the day's longest jump (141 m) but also a new hill record. Germany's Michael Neumayer surprised in front of a home audience in 3rd, his first career podium.

In the Tournament rankings, Schlierenzauer now leads with 555.1 points just 3.2 and 3.4 points, respectively, ahead of Morgenstern and Ahonen. 4th placed Tom Hilde is already 22 points behind them. Ahonen's chances at sixth Tournament win are still intact; he currently shares the record of five Tournament wins with Jens Weissflog (GER).

After nine of the 28 World Cup competitions, Morgenstern now leads the overall rankings with 800 points, 191 points ahead of Schlierenzauer and 385 points ahead of Ahonen.

Ahonen first ever to take 5 wins in the Four-Hills

08/01/2008. Janne Ahonen from Finland won the fourth and last competition of the 56th Jack Wolfskin Four-Hills Tournament in Bischofshofen (AUT). With his second win in this year's Tournament Ahonen achieved his 5th overall win in the Four-Hills Tournament. No athlete has ever before realized 5 overall wins in the history of the Four-Hills-Tournament.

Ahonen won after a dramatic final round in Bischofshofen ahead of Anders Bardal of Norway and Austrian Thomas Morgenstern.

Thomas Morgenstern is still in a clear lead in the e.on Ruhrgas FIS World Cup Ski Jumping overall with 940 points, 286 points ahead of his teammate Gregor Schlierenzauer (654 points) and now Janne Ahonen (615 points).

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