The final test for the WSC in Bella Italia
Nine years ago the World Champions in ski jumping were crowned in Predazzo in Val di Fiemme. Now the world's best ski jumpers return to Italy for the final tests for the next World Championships that will be held thre next year.
And what do Andreas Kofler, Matti Hautamaeki, Robert Kranjec, Noriaki Kasai, Bjoern Einar Romoeren and Simon Ammann have in common? They all participated back then. Hautamaeki even returned to Finland 2003 with a Gold medal he won in the team competition, Kasai won three medals in the three competitions.
The Trampolino dal Ben in Predazzo »
And the Austrians and Germans have especially high goals for this year, and also for the WSC next winter. Both teams could not win a medal in 2003.
Austrians compete with top team
This weekend the Austrians will participate with their best jumpers. Gregor Schlierenzauer returns and also Martin Koch will be competing again. His personal highlight, the ski flying World Championships, are yet to come this season. Also Hautamaeki and Romoeren will return to the World Cup after a competition break.
Martin Schmitt in the Hall of fame »
German veteran Martin Schmitt will not take part and it will not be easy for him to return to the team this season. He still hasn't recovered from his knee problems and also the performances of the 34-year-old so far this winter were also not good enough to earn a place on the team.
Italians looking forward to home events
The Italians are especially excited before their home competitions. Andrea Morassi and Sebastian Colloredo show what they are capable of from time to time, but they are not consistent yet. But still they want to win a medal at the World Championships next year. In the mixed competition that will have its premiere in 2013.
At the last World Cup in Predazzo - in the year 2008 - Tom Hilde won twice. Unfortunately he will not be able to take part this year because of his fall in Oberstdorf.