With a training camp in Innsbruck and the final
summer jumps on the "Bergisel" the Austrian
team concluded its preparation for the upcoming
season. Following this camp, head coach Alexander
Pointner named six athletes on his team for the
World Cup opening.
Besides last winter's overall World Cup winner Gregor
Schlierenzauer and the veterans Thomas Morgenstern,
Wolfgang Loitzl, Andreas Kofler and Manuel Fettner,
Youngster Stefan Kraft is also on the team for Klingenthal.
The 20-year-old was preferred to Michael Haybo"ck.
Also Martin Koch is not on the team of Alexander
Pointner, he will, just like Hayboeck, compete in
the Continental Cup in the first part of the season.
"I'm very satisfied with the preparation, also
with the final phase, where Michael Hayboeck showed
a very good performance as well. He will now jump
in the Continentalcup in order to prepare himself
for the 4-Hills-Tournament", Pointner said
after the decision. So Stefan Kraft could celebrate
a first success already before the season.
"Of course I think it's great that I earned
the sixth spot on the team from the World Cup opening
until the 4-Hills-Tournament. We fought for it in
the last training camp and Alex decided in my favor.
Now I'm looking forward to the World Cup. My goal
is to surprise with good performances and be among
the best in one or the other competition. Top 10
results would be cool, that's what I'm working for
and I'm happy that the winter finally starts."
Wolfgang Loitzl has a lot more experience than his
young teammate.
The 33-year-old will start his 17th season in the
World Cup this year, but he's still excited and
looking forward to the opening. "There are
unknown factors every year, like the strength of
the competition or new equipment. I think everyone
has probably tried to improve the set-up. In the
first competitions we will then see how strong the
other athletes are. I think that we have a good
team and I personally also did many things right
during the preparation."
The Austrian team will travel to Klingenthal on
Thursday.