The FIS Grand Prix 2013 concludes with the two events
in Hinzenbach and Klingenthal. For the teams of
Austria and Germany this is a chance for a final
test of their shape against the international competition
in front of their home crowds towards the end of
the summer.
The Austrian Ski Association will take part in Hinzenbach
on October 28th and 29th with twelve athletes. Besides
the A-tem with Gregor Schlierenzauer, Wolfgang Loitzl,
Andreas Kofler, Manuel Fettner, Stefan Kraft and
Michael Hayboeck, also a national group, with Markus
Schiffner, David Zauner, Thomas Diethart, Manuel
Poppinger, Ulrich Wohlgenannt and Thomas Stauder
will participate.
First competition for Schlierenzauer and Loitzl
For Gregor Schlierenzauer and Wolfgang Loitzl the
competition in Hinzenbach is their first appearance
in this year's Grand Prix. "I'm happy that,
after a summer with intensive training and many
appointments, I can return to competing now. With
the great audience there, Hinzenbach is a place
where I always like to jump. Of course the Summer
Grand Prix is not of the same importance as the
World Cup, but it's a good chance for a test. It's
nice that we have a Grand Prix in Austria and an
additional home event", said overall World
Cup winner Gregor Schlierenzauer.
Thomas Morgenstern and Martin Koch will not compete
in Hinzenbach. "Martin Koch took part in the
Continental Cups in Lillehammer and Klingenthal
recently. Thomas Morgenstern, who underwent sinus
surgery in June, is still behind in training and
not ready yet to compete in a Grand Prix",
explained head coach Alexander Pointner, who didn't
set any specific results as goals for his team.
"We are participating with a competitive team
for the first time this summer. I simply expect
that the current level of performance in training
can also be shown in the competition."
Germany with the A-team again
After a few weeks break, the German Ski Association
will also compete with its A-team again in Hinzenbach.
Andreas Wellinger, Richard Freitag, Severin Freund,
Karl Geiger, Marinus Kraus and Andreas Wank will
jump in Hinzenbach. Michael Neumayer will return
to the team for the event in Klingenthal on October
2nd and 3rd.
Marinus Kraus will be part of the national group
in the Vogtland-Arena. Besides the overall winner
of this summer's COC, also Markus Eisenbichler,
Stephan Leyhe, Jan Maylaender, Maximilian Mechler
and Martin Schmitt will get the chance to compete
there.
"After a period of intensive training - recently
we were jumping on the hills in Predazzo - we are
now looking forward to the final two international
competitions in the Summer Grand Prix. We expect
that the complete world class will be taking part.
Our goal for the competitions is to present ourselves
as a strong team again and defend our lead in the
GP Nation's Cup", told head coach Werner Schuster.
