Norway won Saturday's World Cup ski flying team event on the giant hill at Planica with 1,715.1 points, ahead of Finland (1,615.1) and Austria (1,482.1). Slovenia, who were third after the first round, placed fourth.
All four members of the Norwegian team - Tom Hilde, Anders Jakobsen, Anders Bardal and Bjoern Einar Romoeren - jumped over 210 metres. Bardal made it farthest at 232.5 metres, although he touched the ground.
"This is a really good day for Norway. We knew we have a good team, we enjoyed the flights. The atmosphere here is excellent and the weather conditions nearly perfect," Jacobsen said.
Slovenians made very good jumps in the first round, but Jernej Damjan's last jump was short at 181.5 metres, which cost Slovenia a podium result.
"I'm very disappointed...before the meet we said fourth spot would be a success, but when you have such a chance of a medal, it is very difficult when you blow it," said Damjan, Slovenia's best jumper this season.
Some 25,000 spectators gathered at the foot of the hill in a sunny weather to see some of the world's best flying.
Austria's Gregor Schlierenzauer flew furthest, landing at 233.5 metres in the first round of jumps, thus breaking Austria's national record.
It was the 18-year-old world flying champion, who also won Friday's World Cup event at Planica, that actually secured Austria bronze. He jumped 225.5 meters in the second round, scoring a 4.7-point lead ahead of Slovenia.
The Austrian team was only sixth after the first series because of Martin Koch's failed, 105.5-metre jump. Speaking to reporters after the second round, Koch was relieved that his compatriot saved Austria the podium.
On Sunday, Planica will host the last event of the World Cup season. Austria's Thomas Morgenstern has secured himself the overall victory a while ago, while Schlierenzauer rounded off Austria's tally on top after he won Friday's event.
More articles from this issue:
Archive
|