SKI JUMPING. The first FIS Grand Prix on the new facility in Hinzenbach was held in perfect weather and in front of a great crowd of about 10 000 spectators. And the Austrian fans could celebrate a home victory. Gregor Schlierenzauer won his first competition this summer. After a third and two second places in the FIS GP 2011 the Tyrolean finished first this time with 248.5 points ahead of the strong Japanese Daiki Ito (245.5 points), who showed the longest jump of the day with 94 m in the final. This place on the podium was well-deserved after very good performances already in training.

"It's good when you are in shape also on a normal hill. That gives me additional motivation, even if the focus lies on the winter. The victory was a great step for me and it shows that I was training well", said today's winner. "The hill is relatively small and good for the ladies, who are jumping on a good level already", said Ito. "I didn't take part in so many competitions this summer because I was testing new equipment at home."

To the joy of the Czech, for whom the trip to Upper Austria was not long, Roman Koudelka was also on the podium as third (240.3 points). The last time the 22-year-old was in the Top 3 of an FIS GP was 2009 in Courchevel. Last winter he was also on the podium at the ski flying World Cup at home in Harrachov. Koudelka is for sure the man of the future for the Czech team. "This competition was fantastic. There were so many spectators and we never have that in the Czech Republic in summer. The hill is very modern, I had a good feeling and of course I'm satisfied", told Koudelka.

Morgenstern overall winner

The fourth place went to Germany: In his comeback after an injury, Severin Freund missed the podium by only 1.3 points and will be very satisfied with his performance before the FIS GP final in Klingenthal. It was also a great competition for Michael Hayboeck. The local hero knows the hill like nobody else, used this home-ground advantage and achieved a top result as fifth - a career best.

The Austrians could not only celebrate today's victory, but also the overall victory of the FIS GP. In spite of his worst result in the summer's series, Thomas Morgenstern captured the overall title before the final event. The triple-World Champion moved up from 13th to 6th in the final round and is the clear overall winner. His main rival Tom Hilde from Norway did not jump very well on this hill and was only 22nd. Morgenstern has scored a total of 620 points, Hilde 438.

Norwegians not really satisfied

It showed that some of this summer's top jumpers had problems in Hinzenbach. Besides Hilde, also Kamil Stoch from Poland (15th) and the German shooting star Richard Freitag (31st) could not achieve top results.

So the Germans had to cope with the fact that Freitag missed the cut for the second round as 31st. In the last competitions he was on the podium twice and expected more. But Freitag still has one more chance when the final will take place on his home hill in Klingenthal on Monday. Martin Schmitt and Stephan Hocke could also not qualify for the final round. On the other hand Maximilian Mechler achieved a very good result for the German team as ninth.

Italians strong

Best of the Polish team was Maciej Kot as tenth, the athletes of head coach Lukasz Kruczek are used to more. The Italian team attracted some attention this afternoon. Sebastian Colloredo was eleventh and a bit better than his teammate Andrea Morassi (13th). A strong performance of both of them. Also Russian Anton Kalinitschenko, who already jumped good in the qualification, achieved a very good result as 12th. With that, the 29-year-old was by far the best Russian. But their top athletes Pavel Karelin and Denis Kornilov did not participate.

The trip to Hinzenbach was not that successful for the Norwegians. In the home country of their new head coach Alexander Stoeckl, Bjoern Einar Romoeren was their best as 16th. With Rune Velta, Johan Remen Evensen and Anders Fannemel three Norwegians could not qualify for the final.

Hinzenbach is definitely a spectacular location in the ski jumping calendar. The audience was huge, the athletes were enthusiastic about the new hill close to the Danube river.

Hinzenbach is located only 270 m above sea level and from the top of the hill the athletes can enjoy a nice view over the Danube valley. The next highlight in Hinzenbach will be the Ladies' World Cup in December. Local hero Jacqueline Seifriedsberger is especially looking forward to this event.

But first the FIS GP continues with the final. The qualification in the "Vogtland-Arena" will take place on Sunday, October 02, (6:30 pm CET), the competition will be held Monday, October 03, at 3:30 pm CET (live on FISskijumping.com).

FISskikumping.com
01.10.2011 15:41

Скандално дисквалифицираха Зографски от лятното Гран При на ФИС в Хинценбах, Австрия

СКИ СКОК. Съдия се изгаври с Владимир Зографски на старта от лятната верига Гран При по ски скок в Хинценбах (Австрия). Преди да се качи на шанцата, световният шампион за младежи минал на задължителната проверка на екипировката. Без да премери, съдията отсякъл: "Гащеризонът ти е по-голям, дисквалифициран си!"

Бащата треньор Емил Зографски коментира ситуацията за "Стандарт": "Това е напълно тенденциозно. Дисквалифицираха Владимир, без да премерят гащеризона му. Ясно е, че го правят, за да не влезе сред първите десет в генералното класиране. Но няма да оставим нещата така. Още в понеделник ще подадем контестация пред комисията към ФИС."

Това е трети случай на дисквалификация в кариерата на Зографски заради нестандартна екипировка.

В генералното класиране преди последния старт в Клингентал (Германия) Владимир Зографски е 13-и със 181 точки. Води Томас Моргенщерн (Ав) с 620.

Пламен Вълков
в-к Стандарт
01.10.2011, 18:00

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