The best Norwegian ski jumpers were training in Oberstdorf this week. A total of 17 athletes were working on their shape for the upcoming season on the hills in the Erdinger Arena.

"This is an important training camp for us, the last one before the winter. We are jumping with an ice track here, the same that is used during the 4-Hills-Tournament. A good start is always important at the 4-Hills and that's why we are training here", head coach Alexander Stoeckl is quoted on the website of the Norwegian Ski Association.

The Austrian is very satisfied with the training in Germany and the preparation for the winter in general. "This week we saw jumping on a high level. But of course it's difficult to say where we stand compared to the international competition. Currently we have many outstanding jumpers in Norway. The jumpers in the second group will give the members of the World Cup team a hard fight for a chance to compete in winter. There's a lot of energy in the group and I'm happy about the preparation for the season so far."

The team held a test competition on the large and normal hill in Oberstdorf on Thursday, that was won by Andreas Stjernen after four jumps with 489.5 points, ahead of Fredrik Bjerkeengen (486.0 points) and Anders Fannemel (483.0 points). The Top 3 were followed by Daniel Andre Tande, Joacim Oedegaard Bjoereng, Tom Hilde, Halvor Egner Granerud, Joachim Hauer, Kenneth Gangnes and Johann Andre Forfang.

Maren Lundby (465.0 points) won the ladies competition ahead of Line Jahr (462.5 points) and Anniken Mork (434.5 points).

"This win is a nice confirmation. I have been working hard this summer and jumping is going very well for me right now", Andreas Stjernen said on skiforbundet.no. "It was a fair competition. We knew, that Stjernen, Fannemel and Tande are among the favorites, but we were surprised by how well Fredrik was jumping", said Stoeckl, who also thinks that Tom Hilde is on his way back to old strength after very good performances in training this week.

Source: fis-ski.com