COC-M: First win for Fredrik Bjerkeengen
The next two Continental Cup competitions of the winter are taking place in Titisee-Neustadt (GER) this weekend. On the large "Hochfirstschanze" (HS 142) in the Black Forest Fredrik Bjerkeengen celebrated his first win in the COC on Saturday.
The 24-year-old Norwegian was second after the first round with a jump on 135 m. In the final who could then further improve his performance with 136.5 m and stood on top of the podium in the COC for the first time with his total of 271.2 points.
"It was my first win ever in the COC so I'm very happy. I'll try to do well again tomorrow", said Bjerkeengen.
Austrian Manuel Fettner, who dominated the last two competitions in Bischofshofen, finished second this time with 134 m and 136.5 m (267.9 points). "I'm only 50 % satisfied. My first jump was not good. In my opinion the inrun was too long and I was afraid I might jump too far. But the hill was perfectly prepared", told Fettner.
Nick Alexander of the USA was surprisingly in the lead after the first round with 136 m. In the final the 24-year-old of New Hampshire showed another strong jump on 134.5 m (266.9 points) and took the third place. This was the best result of his career for the American. "I'm very happy, relaxed and have a good rhythm. I'm on the podium for the first time. I think this is my hill, I love it."
The Norwegian team showed a top performance today. Besides the winner Bjerkeengen, also Ole Marius Ingvaldsen (4th), Vegard Swensen (5th) and Atle Pedersen Roensen (10th) finished in the Top 10.
The best German in front of the home crowd was Jan Maylaender of the ski club in Degenfeld as sixth.
Ziga Mandl moved up many places with a great performance in the second round. The Slovene showed the third-best jump in the final and moved up from 27th to seventh overall.
Stefan Hula was the best of the Polish team as eighth, followed by the next Slovene, Andraz Pograjc (9th).