2006–07 FIS Ski Jumping World Cup

The Ski Jumping World Cup 2006/2007 ( Official Sponsor Name: e-on Ruhrgas FIS Ski Jumping World Cup 2006/ 07) was discharged from the International Ski Federation FIS between 24 November 2006 and 25 March 2007, 18 different locations in Europe race series in ski jumping. Originally, the implementation of 27 individual and two team events was planned. Had six individual competitions cancels or be canceled. Three of which were deleted without replacement and three other rescheduled at a later date, so that 24 individual competitions were included in the ranking. The victory in the overall standings could win Poland's Adam Malysz, on the second and third place followed Anders Jacobsen of Norway and the Swiss Simon Ammann. The defending champion Jakub Janda from the Czech Republic finished in 22nd place. The Nations Cup won for the third consecutive Austria, before the teams from Norway and Switzerland.

• 3.1 World Cup Overview
• 3.2 ratings

Rules changes

For the ski season 2006/2007 some rules changes have been made: First, since this season of leading the overall World Cup wearing the red jersey instead of the usual yellow jersey. Second, take part in this season instead of six ski jumpers only three at the award ceremony. And thirdly, the jump suits must be cut close in the neck area. This is the dynamic buoyancy of the suit can be reduced and thus an athletic jump style are encouraged. In addition, the best, not the rule of the top 15 pre-qualified Springer honored as so-called Man of the Day. He receives a premium and also takes part in the ceremony. Some of these innovations have already been tested at the Summer Grand Prix 2006.

Season History

Wind and weather conditions at the start

The first competition of the World Cup were characterized by unstable weather conditions. At the opening event on the Rukatunturi hill in Kuusamo only one competitive round was held, which was heavily affected by shifting winds and snow resistant, the ausbremste the run track. This led to distortions in the class - jumping was then unanimously in the media as " chaos jumping " means. Jumping on the second day was canceled during the first pass due to dangerous rotating winds.

Planned for the following week jumping in Trondheim had to be relocated, since there is a lack of snow to Lillehammer. Only on Saturday a child jumping was possible, which ended with the first Swiss double victory in the World Cup history by Simon Ammann and Andreas Küttel. On Sunday, the competition was affected by fog and rain. The German Michael Neumayer, who finished fifth in Kuusamo, was injured in training and had to stop at this early stage the season already.

The competitions five and six, which would in Harrachov Czech to take place, also had to be canceled due to lack of snow without replacement. Only on the fourth World Cup weekend in Engelberg were two regular jumping in nice weather possible after it had finally snowed earlier in the week in the Alps. During this first phase sporty made ​​two debutants in the World Cup attracted attention, the only 16 - year-old Austrian Gregor Schlierenzauer and the 21- year-old Norwegian Anders Jacobsen. Except for the Swiss Ammann, who wore the red jersey for the World Cup leader since the first competition in Lillehammer, none of the incumbents could keep up with these two newcomers, both of which could ever decide a contest on the Gross- Titlis -Schanze for themselves.

The jumping between Kuusamo and Engelberg, the Austrian team, which on the eve of the Four Hills Tournament in five World Cups had actually evaluated six athletes in the top 15 of the overall World Cup and was therefore awarded one additional place dominated. The German team showed, however, until then, only moderate performance, was so heavily criticized especially after jumping in Engelberg, national coach Peter Rohwein.

The Four Hills Tournament

In the 55th Four Hills Tournament ( official sponsor name: 55th International Jack Wolfskin Four Hills Tournament ) Schlierenzauer and Jacobsen were traded in advance as the big favorites. In the tour - opening event in Oberstdorf managed Schlierenzauer, the pressure from the public and won withstand jumping with supreme advantage, Jacobsen finished fourth. The Austrian team was able to convince in this jumping and placing six athletes in the top 15. The German Georg Spaeth was already before jumping after a poor performance in qualifying, has been taken for the entire tour from the squad. Michael watch men and especially the returned after a long injury break into the team Jörg Ritzer field enter in the first round good jumps, but both could not repeat their performance in the final. As a result, there were a twelfth and fifteenth place for the German team.

The second tour jumping in Garmisch -Partenkirchen was characterized as many competitions of the season by adverse weather conditions. When qualifications are only three German athletes could qualify, but Martin Schmitt scored both in qualifying and in the training passages so long jumps that some optimistic fans were confident it a leap into the top three. The constantly rotating wind and the persistent rain led to a thawing of the run and let the New Year's become a lottery. For example, the Japanese Noriaki Kasai, who was not even qualified in Oberstdorf, carried down by a sudden rise of the rise to 128 meters, while his opponent in the knockout duel, the Austrian Andreas Widhölzl had to contend with a tailwind. Also, Finland's Matti Hautamäki and the Norwegian Bjørn Einar Romøren received at normally only moderate jumps support from the updraft and were able to place at the front. With a tailwind Schmitt managed to get a jump on 122 meters, which he earned at the end of an eighth - before lying together with the Austrian Andreas Kofler ninth watch men. The always soft expectant run track and more expectant wind led to a rejection of the second rating passage. Beneficiary of this development was the leading at this time Küttel, which was explained in advance the winner. Second-placed already in Oberstdorf Küttel could thus, settle together with the three points lying in front of him Schlierenzauer, in the touring Appreciation, so halfway through the tour of everything looked after a duel both for the overall victory.

When qualifying for jumping on the Bergiselschanze in Innsbruck Schmitt was unable to repeat his leaps of Garmisch -Partenkirchen and only reached a place in midfield, the first place was awarded to his team-mate watch man with a width of 125 meters. All other German starters, including the Incoming for Späth in Team Felix Schoft through the qualifying. From the addition of a national group antretenden Austrian team qualified 13 of 14 starters. The contest shook up the overall standings of the Tour. The two previous leader Schlierenzauer and Küttel were after the first passage only ranked nine and twelve. Also the last gone from the Bakken watch men disappointed, reaching just under 29 as the final. While recuperating in the second round but was able to fight his way even down to the tenth place, the two favorites was only a slight improvement. Schlierenzauer was thus in the overall standings to seventh rank back, Küttel could hold a third place, level on points with his compatriot Ammann. The guide could Jacobsen, winner of Bergiselspringens, assume, quite surprisingly followed by the Finn Arttu Lappi.

This resulted in a thrilling situation before the final competition in Bischofshofen which was not, as is traditional organized this year on Epiphany but a day later because the TV channels speculating on higher ratings due to the Sunday appointment. The qualification was unspectacular, and all equipment occurred jumpers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland made ​​it into the competition. In the first round won 13 out of 14 is encountered Austrians their duel, which first jumped 13 Austrians in a competition in the points. Schlierenzauer was able to sit down at the top, but his length was sufficient only to the take off behind him in second place Jacobsen three points in the standings - seriously place too little about him under pressure as Jacobsen had 20 points lead over the jumping. The other pursuers were with their jumps also not come close to the Norwegians. In the second passage, none of the counterparty could close the gap, Küttel fell to fifth, Lappi back even to sixth place of the tour. At the end of the day victory for Schlierenzauer remained, while Jacobsen was able to win the tour. He is by Risto Laakkonen and Toni Nieminen only the third jumper who win the Four Hills Tournament won on his debut.

Vikersund and Zakopane

When ski flying in Vikersund paused many jumpers, including prominent representatives such as Schlierenzauer, Martin and Jakub Janda Höllwarth to recover from the tour. Also, this competition was influenced by changing wind conditions. So had to be aborted planned for Friday qualifying after a few jumpers, so all the 42 are beaten Springer started in competition. The competition was held in front of a euphoric by Jacobsen's victory in the Tournament audience, so prevailed in the outlet an excellent mood. At the beginning of the first round was heavy tailwind, so had to be restarted with an extended restart after 17 jumpers. Since then wore off the tail wind and turned towards the end of the competition to a gentle updraft, the last knight had very favorable conditions. Especially the athletes who were still cracked shortly after the start extension in strong tailwind were disadvantaged it. For example, could the Americans Alan Alborn or Schmitt, who had shown in the trial round the elftweitesten jump, despite solid jumps not reach the final. Most could benefit from this development Widhölzl who could decide to 212.5 meters the first passage for itself with one flight. The second round was held at a constant tailwind. Jacobsen improved with a 193 -meter flight from third to first place and was able to extend his lead in the overall World Cup. Flying on Sunday had to be completely canceled due to strong winds.

In Zakopane it was the wind that prevented a regular jumping again. So led by a swept with constantly changing winds first round of the hitherto hardly came into appearance Slovenian Rok Urbanc before completely jumping out of form Roar Ljøkelsøy, while some of the best jumpers as Ammann, watch men, Höllwarth or Martin Koch landed in last place. The biggest victim of the wind but was the Czech Jan Mazoch. This was recognized in the second passage of a squall and fell heavily. Four Knights after him the race was stopped and taken the outcome of the first pass as the overall result. First reports according to which the injuries were life-threatening Mazochs proved unfounded. After the wind did not diminish on Sunday, the second competition had to be canceled completely here.

Jumping in Germany

The planned on the Oberstdorf Heini Klopfer ski jump ski flying event had to be moved to the Schattenbergschanze lack of snow than normal jumping. The ruling on Saturday tailwind was consistent and did not turn, so that an orderly competition was possible. Gratifying from a German perspective was that of the still located in eleventh place after the first round watch men could improve in the final third place and so ersprang Germany's first podium of the season. Austrian Thomas Morgenstern, who had been undertaken in spite of shingles, made ​​the leap to second place behind Adam Malysz. This meant the 30th World Cup victory for Malysz and the first after just one year. On Sunday watch men confirmed its emerging form and won the first German victory in a World Cup for over three years. The biggest surprise of the day but made ​​the Italian Andrea Morassi, who worked with two stable jumps a third place. The two Swiss Ammann and Küttel a slight decline in form could be detected at the two competitions in Oberstdorf.

Titisee -Neustadt met for the first time after two years of injury back to the Slovenian Peter Žonta. Also, the Japanese team, which had retreated to train to Sapporo since the end of the Four Hills Tournament, came back on. The first competition on Saturday took place in calm wind conditions. In the first round Schmitt brought to a really good jump the ski upon landing on each other and fell in the outlet, which is why he was taken to hospital and turned out for Sunday competition. In the second round watch man the same thing happened mishap. Profits could eventually Małysz, the 145 m equaled the hill record of Sven Hanna Forest in the second round. After completion of jumping the Norwegians were Ljøkelsøy, Anders Bardal and Tom Hilde disqualified because they had removed an elastic band from the start numbers and this thereby closely plants. When jumping on Sunday, which was held at a constant tailwind, the Russian Dmitri Vasilyev could jump for the first time in six years on the podium after he was formerly repeated only narrowly missed. Profits is again always better coming in the form Małysz.

Jumping in Klingenthal was taken with only ten days lead time to replace the failed jumping in Harrachov short in the World Cup calendar. Was hosted by jumping from the Czech Ski Association had used the jump in blade valley, which lies only a few kilometers from the Czech border in the previous year for the national championships. Despite the short notice and the appointment during the week, the competition took place in front of 15,000 spectators. However, it lacked seven of the top 15 divers from the overall World Cup, which were in preparation for the World Cup in Sapporo and did not want to take on the rigors of an additional competition.

The World Cup in Willingen rehearsal took place with excellent atmosphere in front of very large audiences. The event on Saturday was carried out in fog and relatively constant rise. The Slovene Jernej Damjan was able to win with two constant jumps to third place and thus provide for the first podium under the new Slovenian coach Nikkola. The Norwegian Sigurd Pettersen, who was since start of the season in a loss of form, was able to report back with a jump to fourth place among the world leaders, whereas Schlierenzauer was only 17. In the team competition on Sunday the third place at this time Russian team had after falling from Vasilyev give up his ambitions and was only second to last. Last was the weak occurring Finnish team, but consisted only of jumpers of the B- squad, as top athletes like Janne Ahonen and Hautamäki were not arrived to Willingen because of the World Cup preparations. The hochfavorisierte Austrian team won with only eight points ahead of Norway considerably scarcer than suspected by many in advance.

The Nordic Tournament

The World Cup presented because of the Nordic World Ski Championships a two -week break. At the World Cup to watch men broke in a practice crash the foot and fell for the rest of the World Cup season from.

After the break, the World Cup entourage moved on to Lahti. When issuing team competition, to the surprise of the World bronze medalist Japan did not compete, the Finns were able to rehabilitate at the World Championships with a third place for their disappointing placement in the team competition. The teams from Austria and Norway were able to maintain its undisputed position at the top of the field. The opening event of the Nordic Tournament on Sunday was influenced by winds is constantly changing. Were particularly disadvantaged, the last starter of the first passage, in which the previously prevailing upwind completely asleep, so athletes like Morgenstern, Schlierenzauer Jacobsen or the second passage could not reach. The crucial also in adverse wind Małysz could take advantage of his superior shape and sit still at the forefront of the field. The second half was played at a somewhat more constant conditions. Jumping eventually won Małysz Kofler. Schmitt could be improved from sixth to third place and thus achieve his first podium for over five years.

At the beginning of jumping in Kuopio only very small distances have been achieved, so that the start-up after 13 jumpers was extended - then a regular competition at moderate updraft was possible. Unlucky with the wind had Schmitt, from the third fell back in the second round to 14th after the updraft suddenly subsided in his jump. Małysz also won this outstanding jumping and celebrating his 34th World Cup victory. This he did in the time list of the World Cup Jens Weißflog behind and now ranks at the second position behind Matti Nykänen.

The third competition of the Nordic Tournament in Lillehammer, where the World Cup for the second time in the season it stopped, could not start due to high winds. The leaders of the FIS therefore decided to hold an additional competitive in Oslo, which took place on Saturday instead of the qualification actually planned.

At Holmenkollen therefore two jumping were held. The first event on Saturday, in which took up the entire starting field without qualification, should be a debacle for the German Springer. Christian Ulmer reached the only one of the DSV team the finals, all the others dropped out. Małysz could win again and take over the red jersey for the World Cup leader after its previous carrier Jacobsen was just become 14.

With the conclusion jumping tournaments on Sunday again jumping was not affected in this season by the wind. Mainly coming from the side gusts made ​​for a jump in which only led two jumps on the calculation point of the hill. From these conditions, several jumpers at a disadvantage, for example, came the day before Second Küttel only on the 47th. The last knight going from baking Małysz had his jump at 89.0 meters cancel, after he was hit by a gust of wind and with a little luck could prevent a crash - the second passage was subsequently canceled. Małysz lead in the overall standings, however, was large enough so that he could celebrate his third Nordic Tournament victory. Jacobsen regained by Małysz Fast Crash the lead in the overall World Cup.

Conclusion flying in Planica

At the season final in Planica, first, an additional competition was held on Friday, which had been scheduled as a replacement for the failed flying in Vikersund. Prior to the qualification of Thursday night had to be laid on Friday morning, as the equipment of the Russian team had been misdirected at the Moscow airport. Both these and the actual competition took place in calm weather conditions, so that a normal competition was possible. Nevertheless, there were a number of drops in the segment, especially jumpers, which used a modern Finnish binding system, in which instead of the conventional tape for connecting boot and binding a solid bar is used. Flying was dominated by the Norwegians who could bring four jumpers in the top ten. The in this season of crises -ridden Slovenes were able to place with Damjan and Robert Kranjec before local audiences two jumpers among the top four. In the battle for the overall World Cup Małysz could pass through his victory over the sixth-placed Jacobsen and had before the last two competitions of the season, a lead of 46 points. Ammann preserved by his second place at least a mathematical chance in the fight for the World Cup. In a sporting gesture Jacobsen grazed after jumping from Małysz from his red jersey and hung it around the neck of his opponent.

When jumping on Saturday also not ruled calm wind conditions, the affected emerging fog and light snow in the second round of the competition. In the competition for the World Cup Małysz built by his stage win his lead to 66 points out, however, Jacobsen was able to fight through his second-place hold exciting.

The final fly on Sunday was canceled during snowfall after one pass, had taken off in the Małysz Jacobsen twelve meters. The Pole was therefore unable to secure his fourth overall World Cup victory.

Results and Ratings

World Cup Overview

* = Replacement venue for Trondheim, where lack of snow no jumping was possible. = ** Replacement ski jump instead of Heini Klopfer ski jump, on the lack of snow no jumping was possible. = *** Has the Czech Ski Association aligned as a replacement for the failed jumping in Harrachov. = **** Additional ski jumping event as a replacement for the Nordic Tournament competition in Lillehammer. = ***** Additional ski flying event as a replacement for the second broken ski flying in Vikersund

Ratings

Coach of the participating nations

At the World Cup Springer participated from 21 countries, which were attended by the following head coaches:

On January 26, before qualifying for the competition in Oberstdorf, Slovenian coach Vasja Bajc announced his resignation. Bajc justified this step so that the Nordic sports director of the Slovenian Association, Primoz Ulaga have constantly interfered in his work. His successor as national coach was Ari -Pekka Nikkola, who was previously coach of the B- squad.

A few weeks after the end of the World Cup also ended the Swiss coach Berni Schödler his work for the World Cup team. He was succeeded by the Austrian Werner Schuster.

Career ends

The following Springer ended their active career at the end of the season:

• United States Alan Alborn
• Slovenia Rok Benkovič
• Germany Christian brother
• Czech Republic Michal Dolezal
• Germany Alexander Herr
• Norway Tommy Ingebrigtsen
• United States Clint Jones
• Slovenia Jure Radelj
• Norway Morten Solem
• Poland Wojciech Tajner