First World Cup victory for Yuki Ito

Local hero Yuki Ito won the first FIS World Cup Ladies Ski Jumping in Sapporo (JPN). In front of more than 3.000 spectators the Japanese jumped 95,0 and 96,0 meters. With 254,3 points it was a clear win for Yuki Ito ahead of teammate Sara Takanashi and Norway´s Maren Lundby.

Good timing for Ito
Ito said afterwards: „I am very happy today because it was my first World Cup victory. It was very good timing to celebrate it in Japan. Before the final jump I was very nervous, my hands where shaking. But I am happy about my jumps today.“ Sara Takanashi will have to wait for her 50th victory in the FIS World Cup at least till Sunday. With 93,0 and 92,0 points she was lagging 12,2 points to the first place. Takanashi said: „I am still not completely happy with my jumps. I can do better.“

Lundby on a good way
Maren Lundby secured her second podium of the season after winning in Nizhny Tagil with jumps to 94,5 and 90,5 meters and 236,9 points. She said: „Everything is going in a very good direction. My jumps where good but not yet perfect. I know I am able to beat the best ones.“ In beautiful winter conditions and sunshine Ema Klinec finished on a very good fourth place with 223,4 points after coming back from 8th place after the first round.

Vogt back in shape
Germany´s Carina Vogt underlined her good shape and finished 5th 4,5 points behind Klinec. Just behind her Irina Avvakumova finished 6th with 218,7 points and ahead of Katharina Althaus. Svenja Wuerth on 8th place completed a very good result for the German team.

Austrians struggling
The Austrian team was not satisfied with the competition. Jaqueline Seifriedsberger was the best and finished 9th. Teammate Chiara Hoelzl was still on a good 5th place after the first round. With only 78,5 meters in the final she still went down in the ranking to 17th place. Italy’s Manuela Malsiner celebrated a career best on 10th place only 0,1 point ahead of Slovenia’s Maja Vtic. Sarah Hendrickson of the United States came in 13th behind qualification winner Yuka Seto. Austria´s Daniela Iraschko-Stolz is still looking for her best shape and finished only 16th, Taylor Henrich scored for Canada on a shared 21st place together with Evelyn Insam of Italy. Lea Lemare on 25th place and Julia Kykkaenen on 30th place secured points for France and Finland.

The second competition in Sapporo is starting on Sunday at 3.00 am (CET).