Sara Takanashi wins twice in Nishny Tagil

Sara Takanashi wins twice in Nishny Tagil

15/09/2013 12:00

As often, the 16-year old Japanese is jumping in her own league, so also in Nishny Tagil, Russia, this weekend.

Once

On Friday, the 37 ladies, who came to the first ever Summer-Grand-Prix in Nishny Tagil, which is a 360.000- inhabitant city in the mid-Ural, absolved three successful training rounds before starting an interesting competition. The favorites of the day have been Chiara Hölzl, Atsuko Tanaka, Coline Mattel and –of course- the Takanashi according to their amazing jumps during training (Hölzl: 3rd, 3rd; Tanaka: 4th, 5th, 3rd; Mattel: 2nd, 2nd, 1st; Takanashi: 1st, 1st). Also Eva Logar and Svenja Würth showed a good form, while Katja Pozun couldn’t become better than average. But in the competition itself, it became clear that none of them was able to make head against the young Japanese lady that jumped 96.5 and 98.5m (263.7pts). Coline Mattel came in second with a gap of 20.3 points (94.5 and 94m). Katja Pozun showed that getting used to a hill only takes three tries. Her competition jumps catapulted her to the third rank (92/90m; 234.6pts).

German youngster Katharina Althaus kept her fourth place with good 89 and 91m, while Irina Avvakumova lost her fifth place and ended up on rank six (230.5pts). Her place was occupied by 18-year old Ursa Bogataj, who’s jumping like a rocket since the beginning of this year (230.7pts). Julia Clair, who got rank seven is fighting hard to beat Lea Lemare (9th) as second best in the team. It seems like she managed this summer so far.

Although Canada lost Alexandra Pretorius due to an injury, new blood Taylor Henrich and Atsuko Tanaka are giving their best to fit into her place. Both finished top ten (8th and 10th). Chiara Hölzl, the only Austrian in the field, shared the tenth place with Tanaka.

Nice to mention is that Evelyn Insam used the second round to climb from the 24th to the 16th rank. Her teammate Elena Runggaldier did the same from place 29 to 20.

Not able to get points in this competition have been Sabrina Windmüller, Roberta D’Agostina, Manuela Malsiner and Vladena Pustkova.

Twice

The second competition, which set place on Saturday, showed a similar result. This time, Katharina Althaus was able to jump on the third place (96/94m; 234.3pts), while Sara Takanashi (94/99m; 262.7pts) sent Coline Mattel of to the second place again (94.5/100m; 249pts). This time, her advantage towards the French girl was “shrinking” to 13.7points. Chiara Hölzl and Atsuko Tanaka could improve. The first one became fourth with 95.5 and 94m (229.3pts), while the latter showed jumps of 93.5 and 88.5m (227.6pts). Katja Pozun had to be content with the sixth place. The following of the top ten are well-known faces: Irina Avvakumova (7th), Ursa Bogataj (8th). Only Julia Kykkänen, who grabbed place nine and Anastasiya Gladysheva on place ten aren’t guests of the top ten all the time.

Also nice to mention is that Evelyn Insam went straight to the eleventh rank with 91 and 93m. Her colleague Lisa Demetz finished 14th, Elena Runggaldier became 18th, Manuela Malsiner landed on rank 21 and Roberta D’Agostina got points as well for finishing 26th.

Ulrike Grässler, who became 19th on Friday because she didn’t feel well, had to undergo surgery because of an appendicitis.

Vladena Pustkova, Sabrina Windmüller and Lucie Mikova do not seem to cope well with the jumping as they again haven’t been able to reach the final round. Same happened to Slovenian sunshine Spela Rogelj. Although Daria Grushina was disqualified because of a wrong ski length, the Russian ladies can be satisfied with two top ten places for their team.

A look on the standings tells us that Sara Takanashi is -as expected- first with 325 points. She is followed by Coline Mattel (209pts), Katja Pozun (166pts) and Katharina Althaus (156pts). Irina Avvakumova and Atsuko Tanaka can be found on the following places. The nations cup standings say that Japan is followed by Slovenia and Germany, while France only takes rank four. Canada is fifth, Italy grabbed place six.

The next and last Summer-Grand-Prix for the ladies follows next weekend in Almaty.

• By Peggy Kierstan (@pikayartist)