Jurij Tepes first in the qualification at Vikersundbakken

Jurij Tepes first in the qualification at Vikersundbakken

26/01/2013 17:54

(Jurij Tepes) SkiJumpingItaly 2013 - (c) Kathrin Müller

The Slovenian ski-jumper Jurij Tepes won the qualification at the world’s largest ski-flying hill in Vikersund, Norway on Friday.With a flight of 215.0 meters, good points from the judges (three times 19.0 and 18.5 and18.0 each) and +3.3 points due to tailwind, the 23-year old could win the qualification curtly with 203.8 points ahead of Andreas Stjernen, who reached 203.1 points. The 24-year old Norwegian indeed landed his jump at 220.0 meters but his judge’s points weren’t that good (three times 18.0 and 19.0 and 18.5 each). Additionally he got a point deduction due to slight upwind.

Third in this qualification round became the Polish jumper Piotr Zyla with a flight of 214.0 meters. Despite a plus of +1.3 wind points caused by tailwind, the 26-year old ski jumper had to be satisfied with the third place (198.6 points) because of the judge’s points (three times 18.0, twice 18.5).

Jan Matura, who achieved his first two world-cup victories last weekend in Sapporo, finished the qualification with 204.0 meters and +5.9 wind points as fourth (192.2 points) curtly in front of Michael Neumayer (190.8 points). Although the German jumped eight meters further, it was only sufficient for the fifth place. The reason for this were really bad points from the judges (between 15.5 and 16.0 points).

(Andreas Stjernen) SkiJumpingItaly 2013 - (c) Kathrin Müller

Six Norwegian will take part in competition

The Norwegian ski jumpers really can look forward to a successful ‘home game’. All of their athletes managed to come through the qualification. With Andreas Stjernen as second, Tom Hilde as seventh and the second of the Four-Hill-Tournament as eleventh, the chances for a Norwegian victory on the world’s largest ski-flying hill are pretty good. Not to mention that Anders Bardal, Anders Fannemel and Rune Velta belong to the ten jumpers, who are already pre-qualified. Additionally, the overall world cup winner of the previous season, Anders Bardal, achieved the third largest width of the qualification round with 223.0 meters.

The largest width of the day was jumped by the winner of the Four-Hill-Tournament, Gregor Schlierenzauer, who only needs one more world-cup victory to catch up with the former Finnish ski jumper Matti Nykänen (46 victories). The 23-year old Austrian landed his flight at 226.5 meters.

Two-Men-Team of the Finns also qualified

Also the Finns can be happy about good results in the qualification round. Olli Muotka and the current Finnish Champion Lauri Asikainen could qualify themselves for today’s competition. With jumps on 182.0 meters (156.5 points) from Muotka and 169.5 meters (145.8 points) from Asikainen they managed to end up as 15th and 22nd.

New world record?

Of course, there are some important questions when the world best ski-jumpers compete on the world’s largest ski-flying hill, also known as Vikersundbakken. For example: When will there be a new world record? Could the 250 meters be reached? Who will be the first to jump so far?

In Norway the number one favorite is the second of the 61st Four-Hill-Tournament, Anders Jacobsen. Obviously, the Norwegians want to keep up their ‘world record series’. After Bjoern Einar Romoeren (239.0 meters, Planica 20th of March 2005) and the current world record holder Johan Remen Evensen (246,5 meters, Vikersund 11th of February 2011) would it be best to have another Norwegian, who achieves a new world record in their home country.

But there is at least one ski jumper, who also could reach this goal: the Austrian Gregor Schlierenzauer, who became ski-flying world champion already twice in 2008/09 and 2010/11.

But howsoever, it is going to be an exciting competition.

• Peggy Kierstan

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