Two disqualifications in Four Hills jumping qualifying round

By Published On: December 31st, 2009Comments Off on Two disqualifications in Four Hills jumping qualifying round

Moments of high drama took place earlier today (Dec.31) during the qualification rounds for the Four Hills Tournee in Garmish, Germany, involving two of the world’s best ski jumpers.

The Four Hills leader Andreas Kofler (AUT) and World Cup points leader Simon Ammann (SUI) were both disqualified for wearing jumping suits that were too large, and against FIS regulations. The rules call for suits that are no larger than 6 cm bigger than the body, and their is zero tolerence regarding extra fabric in the crotch area; bigger and larger fabric has extra benefits in regard to flying in the air.

Both are able to compete Friday, because the world’s top ten jumpers are seeded in the 58th running of the Four Hills Tournee.

This sets up an interesting battle between Kofler, who will now be jumping against his teamate and today’s qualification leader Thomas Morgenstern, also of Austria, while Ammann will jump against the defending Four Hills champion, Wolfgang Loitzel, in the knock-out round.

One European source, who did not want to be identified said, “the jumpers try and take it to the limit of the rules much of the time. Sometimes you just have to draw a line.” This time it would appear that line was drawn by the FIS.

A pair of American jumpers, from Project X, did not qualify for the first round of the tournee. Anders Johnson(Park City, UT) was 52nd, while Nick Alexander(Lebanon, NH) was 55th.

By Peter Graves

Share This Article

About the Author: Eric Williams