
Great flights in qualifying

With perfect external conditions, the qualification for the first competition of the FIS Ski Flying World Cup 2018 at the Kulm took place today. At the end the Norwegian Daniel Andre Tande was happy about the winner check of 2000 Euro. Stefan Kraft, as the best Austrian, finished fourth.
With a jump on 216.5 meters, he prevailed just ahead of his compatriot Andreas Stjernen, which started one meter earlier to land. Third place went to Slovenia's Jernej Damjan, who scored the same distance as Tande. In addition to the Norwegians, with Robert Johansson (5th) and Johann Andre Forfang (8th) brought two other athletes in the top ten, also showed the ÖSV Eagles a strong team performance. Stefan Kraft, who sailed 216 meters today, finished fourth and teammate Michael Hayböck (215 m) finished sixth. With Clemens Aigner, who set a new personal record with 208.5 meters, Manuel Poppinger and Gregor Schlierenzauer managed a total of five ÖSV Eagles in the 40-strong starting field for the first competition.
Numerous spectators were already in the qualification for great atmosphere and offered a first taste of the beginning of tomorrow's ski flying competitions. The biggest jump of the day was seen today by the Slovenian Domen Prevc, who put his skis in the first run of the training only at 233 meters in the outlet of the Kulms. He missed only 11 meters on the current hill record (244 meters) of his brother Peter Prevc.
Voices after the qualification:
Stefan Kraft: "Today I was able to improve from flight to flight and realize that I still have reserves. It was really cool today to fly once again at the Kulm. The hill is just great for me and I have already won two World Cup medals and a World Cup podium here. Of course I like coming here. I can imagine that tomorrow it can go to the 240 meters. I hope they let us fly far. "
Manuel Poppinger: "Flying has always been mine. After my injury break today it felt really good to jump here on the home hill at the Kulm. The conditions were just fantastic. I do not have any result expectations, but tomorrow I want to have fun above all, the ski flying is pure fun. "








