December 22, 2007 (Engelberg, Austria) – The good news Saturday for the World Cup ski jumping community was that Thomas Morgenstern of Austria didn’t have the highest-scoring jump in either round in the penultimate World Cup before Christmas.

The bad new was that he still came out as king of the hill, winning his sixth straight World Cup event to stay unbeaten for the 2008 E.On Ruhrgas World Cup season.

With temperatures in the low 30s (+1 C.), Morgenstern jumped 132.5 and 133 metres, good for 260.4 points. First-round leader (and teammate) Andreas Kofler jumped 134.5 metres but had to settle for 128.5 in the final round as he finished with 254.4. Third place went to Norwegian Tom Hilde at 252.9 after jumps of 133.5 and 129.5. No North Americans competed.

It was the same 1-2 finish from the Olympic large hill competition at the 2006 Winter Games in Torino. Morgenstern won the large hill event with Kofler taking the silver medal.

Saturday, Morgenstern said it was a tough competition because of the growing expectations with his historic start. Everybody was expecting a good result from me. With the right self-confidence, it’s a perfect feeling sitting up on the hill and look around to the mountains.

“I like to be the favourite for the Four Hills Tournee. The pressure is not a problem for me,” he continued. “I’m only doing good jumps in the moment; there is nothing special. My jumps are just a little farther than the jumps of the others for the moment.”

Kofler said, “We have a very good team spirit. It doesn´t matter who on the team wins. Today’s result is absolutely great to me. My jumps were good. I didn’t lose the win but won second place today.”

The final jumping meet before Christmas will be Sunday and then the schedule resumes Dec. 30 with the traditional Four Hills Tournee opening in Oberstdorf, Germany.

Full results.