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60th Four-Hills-Tournament about to start
From 29th December, Ski Jumping fans will be focused on the traditional New Year's highlight: the 60th edition of the international Four-Hills-Tournament. Everything is ready in the German and Austrian Alps where winter has arrived just in time, the hills are well-prepared and anticipation growing among the athletes.
The eyes of the fans will be mainly set on the duel between Austria and Germany, where Team Austria is clearly in the leading position. With Andreas Kofler they have the dominator of the early season on their team, although Kofler is not the only Austrian who can win the Tournament. Gregor Schlierenzauer, too, is still missing this title in his palmares. Yet the 21-year-old doesn't feel any pressure. "I can also win next year. But it's no secret that I want to win the Four-Hills-Tournament."
Whether last year's winner Thomas Morgenstern is strong enough to defend his title remains to be seen, as so far he could not win this season. But he was close to the best again in the Tournament rehearsal, the last Ski Jumping World Cup in Engelberg, recently.
Meanwhile, the Germans rely on "F&F", or Richard Freitag and Severin Freund. Especially Richard Freitag, the shooting star of the season, is considered to be one of the favorites. Sven Hannawald, who won the only Grand Slam so far, i.e. all four Tournament competitions, exactly ten years ago, is still proud that he is the only one to deliver that feat. "I hope to still be the only one 50 years from now," he said in an interview recently.
The question is whether Freitag can handle the pressure. So far the athlete from Saxonia was very cool. Severin Freund, the second German top jumper, is a bit more experienced. But it would be a surprise if the Bavarian would make it to the top.
There are various other athletes in competition for the top spot. Especially Anders Bardal, the 29-year-old Norwegian and the oldest of the other favorites. "I think that I can handle the pressure and am looking forward to the Four-Hills," he said. Kamil Stoch of Poland is another jumper who may be successful at the Four-Hills. Simon Ammann has to be reckoned with as well even though he did not do as well as usual this winter so far, but is always good for a surprise. The Swiss has a special motivation because he has not yet won the Four-Hills-Tournament, either, despite his lengthy career.
Among the rest, Martin Schmitt will take part in the Four-Hills for the 16th time. He still believes in himself even if his level will not be enough for the top any more. Another veteran and crowd favorite Noriaki Kasai will participate at age of 39 and if everything goes well he will compete in his 400th World Cup competition at the final event in Bischofshofen - a record! Kasai first competed in the World Cup on 3rd December, 1989! For your reference, Schlierenzauer and Freitag were not even born then...
The myth of the Four-Hills-Tournament is still very much alive - the recent race for the tickets proves that. Why? The German icon Christof Duffner knows the answer: "The Four-Hills-Tournament is the Four-Hills-Tournament." So simple.
Contributed by FISSkiJumping.com