Prevc landed with a telemark at 246 metres, which was the best distance reached in Planica so far this year and another cherry on top for the already sweet Planica 2016 round of competitions. The team victory went to Norway, however. Tande, Fannemel, Gangnes and Forfang were simply unbeatable and re-confirmed their supremacy in the Nations Cup. Slovenia beat Austria (3rd place) by mere tenth of a point, even though Slovenia’s Robi Kranjec had had some troubles in the air and couldn’t squeeze out more than 208 metres in his final jump.

Still in the game for 1st place after 1st series
The Slovenian team did not made any serious mistakes in the first series. Jurij Tepeš laid good foundations by landing at 225 metres, with only Austria ahead of Slovenia. In the second group of ski jumpers, world champion Fannemel led Norway into the lead with 234 metres. Anže Semenič jumped 210 metres, while his next colleague Robi Kranjec returned Slovenia into the game for the first place with a flight of 231.5 metres. Good performances of the Slovenian team were wrapped up by Peter Prevc (229.5), leaving Slovenia only nine points behind Norway.

Prevc - the best individual competitor
When Jurij Tepeš landed at the 234.5-metre mark, drawing Slovenia very near (-0.4 points) to the leading Norway, it seemed that a very dramatic finish and three-team competition (Norway-Slovenia-Austria) would ensue, yet the Norwegians managed to break free from Slovenia owing to Anders Fannemel (233.5 metres), and after a failed jump by Robi Kranjec it became clear Norway would win. But the battle for second place was very attractive, and the hero coming to the rescue yet again proved to be Prevc, Saturday’s best individual competitor, who flew 12.5 metres farther than Michael Hayböck and obliterated Austria’s advantage of 14.8 points.

Prevc: “Let’s just go home”
“Very much like yesterday, I had a great flight in the second series – when even in the second half of the flight, you’re still gaining height as well as speed, and only the bottom radius can stop you. It’s been incredible here since Thursday, so many people, so many flags. It’s such a pleasure to reach the landing strip, stop and look at this crowd of people,” said Prevc in a statement for TV Slovenija, adding as a joke that he might not compete on Sunday, at the last match: “I don’t even know if I’ll still be here, We’ve achieved all we could, we’ve secured second place in Nations Cup as well, and we’re going home today.” But will he be able to stay relaxed on Sunday? “I can’t be relaxed, since this is still a giant flying hill and there are 30 thousand fans below who expect something from you. It’s difficult to be relaxed, a stupid mistake may occur very fast. However, if I make a tiny mistake, there’s not much that would go wrong.”

Last competition on Sunday, Large Chrystal Globe for Prevc
Slovenia has gained a 222-point advantage to Germany in Nations Cup, which should suffice. Saturday’s spectacle in the sunny valley under Ponce hosted 32,500 visitors, who were able to witness longer flights than the day before due to buoyant wind. But many thought the jury could have been a little braver, allowing for even longer flights. The Saturday was, as usually, the most well visited day of the World Cup final competition round in Planica. The Planica event will end on Sunday with an elite competition of this season’s top 30 ski jumpers, and the closing ceremony where the season’s overall winner, Peter Prevc, will receive the Large Crystal Globe.

T. O., MMC; translated by K. Z.