The comeback of the oldies!

The comeback of the oldies!

14/12/2013 19:55

It was a long time now since last i had the pleasure to watch and enjoy a bit of ski jumping, since due to my work I’m never free at weekends, but i have been lucky enough to be this time, and it was worth it!

Everybody in front of their TV’s or Pc’s or better live at the hills had the chance to finally witness a proper, but most of all, fair ski jumping race today.

After all the bad decisions taken since the start of the 2013/14 winter season, mostly caused by the weather conditions, today it was an enjoyable event to assist.

Also, i was very impressed by the hill in Titisee-Neustadt which i have to admit, judging by the Pc it look a very good place to jump, in fact i wonder why the World Cup races, are never scheduled there as it happened this year. There are so many things running in my mind at the moment, no sorry, no things but names.

Where to start? Let us start with someone that could have make history today if reached the podium today.

Noriaki Kasai: What can we say about this man,(42) and still showing his passion and desire to do well.

After the 1st round the legendary ski jumper was 4th in table, but managed to end the day “only” at 6th place, not usual to see an “old” athlete to be still so competitive at his age, but if you ask me, i think this is just a matter of willing to at the very best what we like, and that is probably what is doing Kasai, also having lots of fun and enjoy what he is doing. The signs were there also in the summer for the Japanese during the sgp, but now he simply showing it wasn’t just a moment, this is constancy.

Ok i don’t want to take anything away from the “youngsters” but the athletes over 30’s are showing to have more guts inside them compared to the under 30’s ones, except for the usual names, which of course I’m not even going to mention, because these are champions (big C needed here).

Simon Ammann: Simon “Harry” Ammann as someone called him today (clear reference to Harry Potter) on Twitter, has shown today he is slowly coming back. Last season, wasn’t the best for Simi, which have struggled a lot to compete at his very best. This season is seems to be different, the Swiss champion is slowly coming back at his best level, and today showed it off, with a first amazing jump of 144 meters.

Is not just the jump but mostly the hunger he displaying in these jumps. Let’s not forget that today’s winner is another of these athletes that the past season haven’t managed to do well as he used to.

Thomas Morgenstern has had his first victory in a while today. The Austrian champion as already mentioned above haven’t got the best of the season last year, under a sport profile. So to see him winning again has surely made his fans and not just his fans as happy as possible. In the past years the whole media attention have all been focused on Gregor Schlierenzauer, almost like to say that Morgi was already the past, things that for my own point of view is totally untrue.

One of the things that made me laugh today, was seeing Kamil Stoch in the leader corner during the final round, making all these funny and cute faces, like if he was hoping for a victory, which he probably knew that wouldn’t come, at least not today.

The polish ski jumper just like Morgenstern, in the past season had his issues to find the right balance, but he did managed to win the gold medal in Predazzo at World Championships, on the LH, 10 years after Adam Malysz gold medal on the same hill. He did also managed a couple of races as well.

Many good results today for everyone, in small and big measures, like for Finland for example which have placed Ahonen and Muotka at 21st and 22nd place of the table.

Disappointed of the day, definitely it is Jurij Tepes, second after the first round, after a controversial decision by the jury, - they did let him jump in the not so great wind conditions, well not as fair as for the rest of the jumpers- ended at the 13th place of the table.

A pity in my opinion because he could have reach a better spot in the table today. Disappointment also for the Italians, especially for Davide Bresadola which didn’t make it into the final round.

So yes today, it was a good day to enjoy watching ski jumping, because is that kind of sport which doesn’t make you want to watch something else, - unless there is the 15 minutes break!- not boring, always catching, and despite when your favorites are not on the winning list, it still does a good day.

Consuelo Conte [@KokkaMufc] You can follow us on our Facebook page as well as on Twitter! But since we know you also like taking a look at the various photos we started also an Instagram account, so don’t miss your chance to stay up to date with us!

On another note, we would like to remind to all the fans that from this summer and winter season we will have contests where you have the chance to win flyers signed by your favorite ski jumper, we started with #GregorSchlierenzauer#TomHilde#JernejDamjan and plenty more, so always keep an eye, you might be the next winner!