January 20, 2007 (Seefeld, Austria) – Bill Demong (Vermontville, NY) advanced 21 places with the fifth-fastest 7.5K race Saturday after jumping to finish sixth in the Warsteiner Nordic Combined World sprint in continued mild weather.

“It was a not-so-good competition,” said U.S. Head Coach Lasse Ottesen. The longest jump was only 86 meters; it was a really soft track and the out-run was really soft. Looking at the safety of the athletes, it was do-able, but nothing more.”

Austrian Olympic gold medalist Felix Gottwald, fifth in the one-round jumping phase, breezed to the victory by nearly 23 seconds over Jason Lamy Chappuis of France. Demong, 26th in jumping, finished sixth, 55.6 seconds back. Johnny Spillane (Steamboat Springs, CO) was 36th and Brett Camerota (Park City, UT) 38th.

“Billy’s cross country is on fire, but today was a tough day for everything. The jumping was not that easy; conditions were not really good,” Ottesen said, “and we had one training jump and then went straight into the comp. I’m happy with Bill – the difference between sixth place and the podium [top three] is only three meters. It’s so tight and he had a good trial and good training jump, but he wanted to do more than normal in the comp, wanted to add that little extra, and 99 percent of the time that’s going in the negative.”

Ottesen said officials announced the next World Cup stop in Harrachov, Czech Republic had been canceled, so U.S. skiers will return home for some down time and then a training camp in Park City, UT. The World Championships Team will be named in the coming week; Worlds begin Feb. 22 in Sapporo, Japan.

Sunday, the Seefeld stop concludes with an individual event, two rounds of jumping plus a 15K race. Under new rules this season, the jumping field is cut to 35 after the first round and only those skiers continue.

Sprint (HS100/7.5K)
1. Felix Gottwald, Austria, (5/2)
2. Jason Lamy Chappuis, France, (2/11) 22.6 seconds back
3. Magnus Moan, Norway, (25/1) 34.2
4. Hannu Manninen, Finland, (18/3) 41.0
5. Mario Stecher, Austria, (1/28) 49.1
6. Bill Demong, Vermontville, NY, (26/5) 55.6
36. Johnny Spillane, Steamboat Springs, CO, (36/27) 2:37.2
38. Brett Camerota, Park City, UT, (29/37) 2:42.4
41. Matt Thompson , Canada
For complete results click here.