Slovenian mixed ski jumping team 2nd in World Cup in Rasnov
Rasnov, 20 February - The Slovenian mixed ski jumping team of Nika Križnar, Cene Prevc, Ema Klinec and Žiga Jelar finished second in the World Cup event in Romania's Rasnov on Saturday to show a good form ahead of the Nordic World Ski Championships in Germany's Oberstdorf.
Ljubno ob Savinji
Slovenian jumper Ema Klinec.
Photo: Slovenian Ski Association
File photo
Slovenia (945.3 points) were tied with Norway ahead of the last jump, only to eventually fall 23.4 points behind the Norwegian mixed team.
It was Halvor Egner Granerud, the leading male ski jumper in the World Cup, who jumped almost ten metres farther than Slovenia's Žiga Jelar in the last round to bring the win for Norway.
The second place for Slovenia is nevertheless a good sign head of the world championships in Germany, which will be held between 22 February and 7 March, with Nika Križnar leading the ladies' standings in the World Cup.
The mixed team event in Oberstdorf will be held on 28 February and Slovenia is surely among the favourites for medals.
Križnar is leaving Rasnov with an excellent yield as had podium finished in all three World Cup events there, including a win in the first individual event.
"It was a great day and a great team event. I'm very happy with the overall team success and we can build on this," the 20-year-old told the press.
Cene Prevc is also satisfied. "I managed two good jumps today, which provide me with a confidence boost ahead of Oberstdorf, and we will see what happens there."
Coach Zoran Zupančič said that the entire team had managed their best jumps at the moment, and coach Igor Medved added that "we have fallen very short of a victory, and I hope that we will give it back to the Norwegians already in Oberstdorf."