Record number of Slovenian ski flyers qualified for Planica competition

Peter Prevc with 238.5 metres managed the longest flight of the day

Peter Prevc with 238.5 metres managed the longest flight of the day. Foto: Reuters

After the problems with the in-run were solved, the qualifications for the Friday competition in ski flights could finally be completed. Out of 13 Slovenian ski flyers 9 qualified, which is the Slovenian record in the world cup.

The winner of the qualifications was Anže Semenič who landed at 225 metres (190.4 points). The second place took Michael Hayböck from Austria (226.5 m; 187 points), and the third Kamil Stoch (217 m; 184.4 points). Besides Semenič, Tomaž Naglič qualified as eighth (210 m), Robert Kranjec as 11th (208), Jernej Damjan as 22nd (205), Nejc Dežman as 25th (203.5), Matjaž Pungertar as 26th (198), and Anže Lanišek (193.5) as 30th.

Jurij Tepeš (233.5 m) and Peter Prevc were prequalified; Prevc jumped the length of the day with 238.5 metres, which is only half a metre less than the flying hill record, with support of approximately 12,000 spectators. Severin Freund did not jump in qualifications.

The festival in the valley below Mt. Ponce will be even more interesting because of the on-going duel between Severin Freund and Peter Prevc for the large crystal globe. The German ski jumper is ahead by 94 points.

S. J.