NORDIC FIS World Nordic Ski Championships 2011 Oslo
that visibility was about at the limit. Norwegian jumper Anette
Sagen even told the media that “they never would have run a
men’s event in these conditions.”
The reigning world champion, Lindsey Van, failed to qualify
for a second jump.
The top performing U.S. women was Jessica Jerome, who
led the American jumpers in 14th. Taking the gold was Aus-
trian Daniela Iraschko.
On hand for the women’s event was FIS President Gian-
Franco Kasper, who spoke very positively about the possibil-
ity of women’s jumping for the next Olympic Winter Games in
Sochi 2014.
In men’s ski jumping, the Austrian Eagles still rank as the
world’s most consistent and successful program, thanks to
coach Alexander Pointer and such stars as Thomas Morgen-stern, Andreas Kofler, Martin Koch and the likeable Georg
Schlierenzauer, who took the gold in the individual large hill
competition.
The U.S. was represented by Peter Frenette, a 2010 Olympian, who placed 35th on the large hill at his first world championship,
Immediately after the final jump, a number of legendary flyers including Janne Ahonen, Adam Malysz, Andreas Kuettel
and Michael Uhrmann announced their retirement.
Every night (but the last, which featured the closing ceremony), awards ceremonies were held in downtown Oslo, to the
joy of crowds some 70,000 to 100,000 strong. The presentations and celebrations were traditional and lovely, and meaningful even to those who didn’t receive medals.
“Oslo was simply amazing; the crowds, the noise, the level
of excitement,” said Jessie Diggins. “It was such a positive
experience that left me motivated to train harder and continue
to race at that level. It was fun to be there with such a great
team of athletes and coaches.”
The world championships in nordic-crazed Oslo — about as
good as it gets.
The new women’s world ski jumping champ, Daniela Iraschko f Austria, flies in the fog.
Pretty scenery, but no pretty podiums
for the nordic combined squad of Billy
Demong and teammates.
SkiRacing.com MARCH 17, 2011 | 37
