6nd 4-Hills Tournament Ahead - Best-to-Beat .0

(22/12/2013) In its 62nd edition, the international 4-Hills-Tournament has lost nothing of its appeal. Ticket sales are at an all-time high and the field of athletes is evenly balanced, leaving the podium wide open for the prestigious event. The opening event of the 4-Hills-Tournament will take place on 29th December in Oberstdorf (GER), followed by the New Years Day competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER). Two events in Austria complete the series, Innsbruck (4th January) and Bischofshofen (6th January).

Premiere in Oberstdorf: For the first time ever in the Ski Jumping World Cup the so-called best-to-beat laser line will be used at the opening event of the 62nd Four Hills Tournament . The virtual color laser is projected across the landing area and displays the spectators in the stadium, how far the athlete must jump in order to take the lead. Until now, the virtual line only could only be seen on the TV screen, but not live in the ski jumping arenas.

The Best-to-beat line has evolved into an indispensable tool for TV commentators and the spectators on TV. I am very pleased that we have now managed to bring this resource in the form of a laser line directly to the hill for the benefit the fans in the stadium, says Walter Hofer, race director of the International Ski Federation, FIS.

The fact that the premiere will take place in Oberstdorf is no accident. Three years ago, Oberstdorf had introduced a first idea of the present laser line: A best-to-beat-LED - before each jump an LED light was lit up at the left of the landing area indicating the distance to beat.

With the laser line, we now have a significant advancement and offer Best-to-beat at 2.0. Great to see that the FIS has supported our idea, says Stefan Huber, General Manager of the Four Hills Tournament and General Secretary of the jumping event in Oberstdorf.

The prize money is also on the rise in this season's edition of the 4-Hills Tournament. A record CHF 315,000 will be distributed, including a new jackpot for the winner of the qualifications of 2,000.

It is anyone's guess who will be taking the prize money home as the season podiums to date have been distributed among several athletes.

Looking at the results so far, a staggering 14 athletes can be considered to be among the favorites.

Austrians Gregor Schlierenzauer and Thomas Morgenstern are sure to use the home crowd support in the last two events to their advantage. Although it is anyone's guess how Morgenstern will rebound from his crash in Titisee-Neustadt.

Germany is fielding perhaps the strongest team overall with Severin Freund, Richard Freitag, Andreas Wellinger and Marinus Kraus considered contenders. At the heels of the Germans is the Japanese Nippon trio of Taku Takeuchi, Daiki Ito and Noriaki Kasai.

Poland's Kamil Stoch and Krzysztof Biegun are also in the mix to take the prestigious 4-Hills crown along with Jurij Tepes (SLO) and Anders Bardal (NOR). A sentimental favorite in the field is Switzerland's Simon Ammann, who has won every other major title in ski jumping, but has always found the 4-Hills to be elusive. Ammann has had a strong start to the season, but will his 4-Hills curse continue?

One thing is certain, the 4-Hills Tournament is sure to be a fantastic spectacle again this year as the jumpers look to set the tone for Sochi.

LINK:	http://www.live-production.tv/news/sports/62nd-4-hills-tournament-ahea...
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