Under good conditions and temperatures of about +2°C, Helena Smeby of Norway won this winter's second ladies' qualification in Hinterzarten (GER). She won with 99.5 m and 121.6 points close ahead of Atsuko Tanaka (CAN, 99 m/120.5 points) and Irina Avvakumova (RUS, 99.5 m/120.4 points).
A strong performance was shown by Ulrike Graessler. Two weeks ago she was still struggeling with the effects of her apendix surgery in Russia, in Hinterzarten she now posted a strong jump on 96.5 m and easily qualified with her fourth place. Svenja Wuerth in fifth and Melanie Faisst in tenth completed the strong result of the German team.
Daniela Iraschkho-Stolz showed the best performance of the pre-qualified athletes with her jump on 98.5 m. After outstanding jumps in the training, Japanese Sara Takanashi skipped her jump in the qualification. Takanashi and Iraschko-Stolz are now the top favorites for the win in Hinterzarten this weekend.
The competition day was clouded by the serious fall of Austrian Jacqueline Seifriedsberger. Seifriedsberger fell in the second training round and had to be taken to the hospital.
Like already in Lillehammer, 70 athletes participated today. The level of ladies' ski jumping is increasing rapidly and it gets more and more difficult to earn a spot in the competition.
The schedule for Hinterzarten:
Saturday, 21.12.2013 - 1st Competition
10.00 am - Trial Round (HS 108)
11.00 am - 1st Competition (HS 108)
Sunday, 22.12.2013 - 2nd Competition
09.30 am - Qualification (HS 108)
11.00 am - 2nd Competition (HS 108)
