January 10, 2009 (Bad Mitterndorf, Austria – Nick Fairall (Andover, NH) soared to the best American World Cup ski jumping finish in over five years Saturday, finishing 23rd on the ski flying hill in Tauplitz/Bad Mitterndorf. The 19-year-old Andover Outing Club jumper soared 174.5 and 170.5 meters in a ski flying World Cup won by Austrian Gregor Schlierenzauer.

Fairall, who also made finals in one of the recent Springertournee events, had qualified 25th on Friday to put himself into the show. He was 18th after the first round, easily cracking the top 30 to get a second ride.

Ski flying is the most spectacular events in ski jumping with athletes soaring nearly the length of two football fields. 2002 Olympic champion Simon Ammann of Switzerland had long jump of the day, going 207.5 meters, He finished second.

Fairall’s 23rd was the best U.S. finish since Clint Jones (Steamboat Springs, CO) was 13th in Kuusamo, Finland in November of 2003. Fairall will jump again Sunday.