Nordic

Bickner Strong Again in Grand Prix

by
USSA
2016-08-27 08:15
 

HAKUBA, Japan (Aug. 27, 2016) - The USA's Kevin Bickner (Wauconda, IL) from Chicago's Norge Ski Club continued to show his strength, finishing 16th Saturday on the HS131 meter hill in Hakuba at a FIS Ski Jumping Summer Grand Prix. It followed on the heels of his eighth place finish in Einsiedln, Switzerland three weeks ago. Norway's Anders Fannemel took the win over Japan's Taku Takeuchi.

Bickner soared 120.0 and 122.0 meters to finish with 220.9 points under the lights on the 1998 Olympic venue. Despite missing the first three events of the summer tour, Bickner stands 19th with five events remaining, including a second jump Sunday in Hakuba. It's the best U.S. performance in the summer version of the World Cup since Clint Jones finished second on the tour in 2002.

"I wasn't sure how I would do here - I really struggled on this hill last year," said Bickner. "But I had pretty good first round jump in some difficult conditions, which put me in a nice position for the second round. I had a little more luck in the second round. I made a few mistakes but was still able to improve my previous distance by a couple meters. I'm satisfied with how today went but I think I'm capable of a top ten tomorrow if I hit both of my jumps right."

Bickner had skipped the opening three events of the Grand Prix in July to focus on the L.L.Bean U.S. Ski Jumping Championships and Springer Tournee events in Park City. He went to the Swiss event in early August, putting down an eighth place finish.

The FIS Ski Jumping Summer Grand Prix is on the HS131 meter hill at Hakuba, Japan, site of the 1998 Olympics.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Kevin Bickner continued his strong summer performance finishing 16th in the first of two FIS Ski Jumping Summer Grand Prix events on the Olympic jump in Hakuba.
  • Combined with his eighth in Einsiedln, Switzerland three weeks ago, Bickner has had the strongest U.S. Grand Prix results since Clint Jones finished second on the tour in 2002.
  • He now stands 19th in the tour with five events remaining.
  • Bickner will jump again Sunday in Hakuba.

RESULTS
Official Results

 

 


 


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