SKI JUMPING. What a triumph for Gregor Schlierenzauer. The Austrian not only celebrated his second victory in the second competition of the 4-Hills-Tournament, he also achieved his 38th victory in the World Cup, the same number of victories than the great Adam Malysz. Now only Matti Nykaenen has won more.

Gregor Schlierenzauer of Austria takes 1st place during the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup event at the 60th Four Hills ski jumping tournament at Olympiaschanze on January 1, 2011 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

Sven Hannawald, the only jumper in the 60 year long history of the 4-Hills-Tournament who could win all four competitions in one winter, has to worry that he might not be the only one anymore soon. Schlierenzauer still has the chance to win the Grand Slam at the 4-Hills 2011/12 and win the prize money of one million Swiss Francs.

Under fair conditions at the Olympic hill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen Schlierenzauer won with a total of 274.5 points, close ahead of his teammate Andreas Kofler who reached 270.4 points. "Unbelievable. A great day for me. I didn't show my best jumps, but it's even better when you can still win. I was not looking on the points that much, the jump was not as I wanted it to be. But now I'm looking forward to a full stadium in Innsbruck", he said with a few towards his home events in Tyrol.

Kofler from ten to two

World Cup leader Andreas Kofler moved up from tenth to second in the final. "In the first jump my take-off was not good and the conditions were not good either. That was not enough. In the final I was able to show a good jump. I know that I can do well. Of course it's great when it works. The most important thing is that I show my jumps", he said.

The 27-year-old Kofler was followed by Japanese Daiki Ito, who finished third. Ito showed the longest jump in both rounds but he had problems with the landing and so lost his chance to possibly even win the competition. The 26-year-old, who never won a World Cup so far, landed at 141.5 m in the final, only 2 meters short of the hill record. Ito is now on a great third place in the 4-Hills-Tournament ranking. Of course I want to win, but I was afraid that I would fall in the final and that’s why I didn’t do a telemark. The Austrians are very strong. I can keep up with them, but I probably won’t be able to win the 4-Hills-Tournament. Gregor is very good. We could relax at home over Christmas, maybe that makes us strong now.”

Takeuchi and Stoch narrowly missed the podium

Another Japanese showed a great competition and achieved his career-best as fourth: Taku Takeuchi. Poland's Kamil Stoch shared the third place with Takeuchi. They only missed the podium by 1.6 points.

Thomas Morgenstern from Austria finished sixth, follwed by the best German Severin Freund. Roman Koudelka achieved a Top 10 result for the Czech team. Anders Bardal was the best Norwegian as ninth. This is a good result, but it will probably be not good enough to still fight for the overall victory. Simon Ammann recovered from the flu and was tenth.

Sinkovec with career-best

After a step forward in Oberstdorf, in was another step back for the Finns in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Only Anssi Koivuranta could score points as 27th. The Slovenian team had four jumpers in the final, just as much as Austria. The best of the team of head coach Goran Janus was 26-year-old Jure Sinkoves as 14th. A career-best for him. The best Slovenian jumper, Robert Kranjec, was 18th today.

The four veterans Wolfgang Loitzl, Martin Schmitt, Matti Hautamaeki and Bjoern Einar Romoeren lost their K.O. duels and could not qualify for the final. The same fate was shared by David Zauner and Manuel Fettner. Young Canadian Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes, Poland's Aleksander Zniszczol, the youngest competitor, and Bulgarian Junior World Champion Vladimir Zografski could also not score points. Martin Schmitt will not compete in Innsbruck and Bischofshofen, the 4-Hills-Tournament is over for him.

Schlierenzauer with a good lead

In the 4-Hills ranking Schlierenzauer is already far ahead of the competition. With 557.8 points he leads ahead of Kofler (535.6 points). Ito (532.3 points) is third, followed by Morgenstern (532.2 points) and Freund (526.2 points).

Kofler still leads in the overall World Cup ranking, even if Schlierenzauer is slowly getting closer. Kofler leads iwth 668 points, Schlierenzauer has 576 points, Bardal follows with 459 points.

FISskijumping.com
01.01.2012 16:27

Tom Hilde smiling again: It's not that bad

Tom Hilde was in a good mood and surprisingly fit at a press conference in Garmisch-Partenkirchen two days after his fall in the opening event of the 4-Hills-Tournament. After the Norwegian spent a night in the hospital he could even take part in the New Year's dinner together with his teammates. "Actually I'm doing pretty well because I got only good news concerning my injury. Surgery is not necessary and I can move without any pain and help. Breaking your spine doesn't hurt as much as you think it would", said the 24-year-old.

Team captain Clas Brede Brathen was also relieved. "Of course we are very happy. It was extremely important for the rest of the team that Tom is now here again and it also tells a lot about Tom's character as a teamplayer that he wanted to be there for the dinner." His teammates were more worried than himself, told Tom Hilde. He received a lot of calls and text messages and was welcomed by his teammates with enthusiastic high-fives when he returned to the hotel.

Hilde is also aware of the fact that the fall was his fault. "In ski jumping you always try to get a few meters more. I'm 24 years old and I ski since I'm four. I should have been able to stand this jump. That's almost as if you miss a penalty in soccer... and break your spine doing that."

He can remember almost every detail of the fall, he told. "At first I couldn't breath because there was snow much snow in my face and in my mouth. I realized right away that something is not okay but I couldn't tell where it hurts. At least I was able to move everything and was relieved that there was no danger of a paralysis." In the ambulance mainly his face hurt and then also the back. "But then they gave me painkillers and nothing hurt anymore", he smiles. 

Despite all the good news, the season is probably over for the 24-year-old. He will return home to Norway on Monday and then discuss the next steps after additional x-ray examinations of his badk and his knee. "I will always remember this fall but I don't think that it will be a problem mentally", Hilde remains optimistic.

FISskijumping.com
01.01.2012 12:47