Slovenian ski jumpers to good start of new World Cup season
Wisla, 24 November - Slovenia's Anže Lanišek placed second after Norway's Daniel Andre Tande at the first individual event of the new, 41st Ski Jumping World Cup season in Poland's Wisla on Sunday. The first World Cup podium result for the 23-year-old comes only a day after the Slovenian team placed fourth in the team event.
Ljubljana
Slovenian ski jumper Anže Lanišek.
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA
File photo
Planica
Slovenian ski jumper Anže Lanišek.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA
File photo
Lanišek, whom head coach Gorazd Bertoncelj had mentioned as one of the Slovenian favourites this season, said he had not expected to finish among the top three at the season opener.
"I'm very happy. I've been waiting for four years to finally get to the podium. I didn't think this would happen as early as Wisla.
"I'm quite satisfied although my jumps are not yet at the right level," said Lanišek, whom his friends have nicknamed "frog".
Placing third was Poland's Kamil Stoch, while the defending World Cup winner Ryoyu Kobayashi of Japan placed fourth.
Lanišek's success was rounded off by Timi Zajc, who placed sixth; his 134-metre jump was the longest in the second series.
Peter Prevc placed 15th, Domen Prevc 23rd, Rok Justin 27th and Tilen Bartol 29th.
On Saturday, the Slovenian team - Anže Lanišek, Anže Semenič, Timi Zajc and Peter Prevc - placed fourth after securing third place in series one.
Bertoncelj is very happy with both season openers, saying the boys did a really good job.
"I'm happy we don't have only one good individual, but several good ones, a good team as a whole," he said after today's event.