SKI JUMPING. The numbers show just another victory of Thomas Morgenstern. But the competition in Courchevel was the best event that the fans got to see this summer. In a breathtaking final, in which one highlight followed the next, the Austrian highflyer won with a total of 283.8 points and celebrated his fifth victory in the fifth FIS GP competition.

Showdown of the best

It was a great showdown: One athlete after the other landed close to the hill record held by Gregor Schlierenzauer (134.5 m), one top jump followed the next. It started with Robert Kranjec who landed on 130 m. But at the end that was only good enough for the seventh place. Because Taku Takeuchi (6th) from Japan, Russian Denis Kornilov (5th) and the currently strongest Norwegian Tom Hilde (4th) did not show any weakness.

And then came Kamil Stoch and set an amazing new hill record. The Pole jumped on 137 m and received standing ovations of the spectators for this outstanding jump. Stoch came in third at the end. Because Morgenstern, who started from a shorter inrun, jumped on 132 m. Now only Richard Freitag could prevent another victory of the Austrian. The German surprisingly was in the lead after the first round and he also showed another strong performance in the final with 131 m, but without a telemark. At the end Freitag reached 280.6 points and finished second. Morgi ahead of Freitag and Stoch - these athletes were already on the podium in Hinterzarten.

Morgenstern: "Jury did a great job"

"Today I'm extremely satisfied. I managed to improve continuously from training to the competition. This hill is great and very selective. You never really know what effect a little wind or a change of the gate will have. I can say that the jury made a great job. For a brief moment I maybe think about if it might be possible to win for the sixth time in a row in Einsiedeln, but that’s not what it’s about. Simon will compete again there and I just want to show my best jumps in Einsiedlen", said this summer's dominator.

"It feels good. I was able to show two good jumps today even if it’s a bit annoying that the landing in the second round was not perfect. But basically I’m satisfied. I hope that it will continue that well in Einsiedeln. I don’t know the hill there, but I’ll try to show a good performance there and I’m looking forward to the competition", Freitag said after his second podium result in a row.

Eight nations could achieve a Top 10 result. Behind Maciej Kot from Poland (8th) and Andreas Wank (9th), the winner of the qualification, Bulgarian talent Vladimir Zografski (10th) completed the Top 10. Canadian Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes achieved an almost sensational result as 13th.

This competition once again showed that the Finnish team is having problems. Anssi Koivuranta was their best as 35th. The Finns could not score points again. And that after Kalle Keituri raised hopes with his second place in the qualification. Matti Hautamaeki was only 50th in his first appearance this summer.

Also Jurij Tepes from Slovenia had to experience that competition and qualification are two different things: Fifth in the qualification - in the competition not in the final. Surprisingly also Russian Pavel Karelin could not make the cut for the final round. He was only 38th. If one of the Russians has a bad day, another fills the gap, this time Kornilov. It's not going bad for the Sbornaja.

Two French score points - Strong Slovenian team

In their only home competition in the FIS GP the French team placed two athletes in the Top 30. Emmanuel Chedal finished 26th, Vincent Descombes Sevoie was 29th.

Besides the top result of Robert Kranjec, also other Slovenian jumpers could show a good performance. Five jumpers reached the second round and they will now travel to Einsiedeln with a lot of extra motivation. There the qualification will take place on Saturday, the competition follows on Sunday.

With his fifth victory, Morgenstern (500 points) is the clear leader of the FIS GP overall ranking. Stoch is second with 289 points, followed by Freitag (241 points).

FISskijumping.com
12.08.2011 20:10

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