January 20, 2013 (Sapporo, Japan) – Pete Frenette continued his vibrant hot-streak again today on the famed Okuryama Hills here, to place 20th in Sunday’s World Cup. The day was marked by a wide variety of weather conditions which changed rapidly, serving up blue bird weather, while the next moment featured a raging snowstorm with wind.

Frenette on a hot streak © Peter Graves file photo

Frenette (Saranac Lake, NY) had a pair of jumps of 129.5 and 114.0 meters. Anders Johnson (Park City, UT) did not qualify for the final round after a jump of 105 meters on the HS 134 meter jump, the K point is set at 120 meters.

Czech jumper Jan Matura has realized near perfect form this weekend taking Saturday’s win and then grabbing another victory today with impressive jumps of 132.5 and 133 meters, for only his second-ever World Cup win. “It’s unbelievable, somehow I think I’m dreaming,” he said of his amazing weekend.

It was also a fine weekend from Robert Kranjec (SLO) – who was third Saturday and finished second today with jumps of 131.0 and 131.0 meters.. Germany Andreas Wank was third with jumps of 135.0 and 136.0 meters.

The home team of Japan watched in breathless anxiety as jumper Daiki Ito slipped off the start bar and began sliding down the inrun. Thankfully he was not injured, but was not allowed to jump again. Ito was second after the first round.

Top Norwegian flyer Anders Jacobsen was among those who was plagued by the weather; his first jump was only 105 meters, ranking him 43rd.

From the Far East, the FIS World Cup tour moves to the drama and daring of ski flying, with a pair of competitions on the beautiful hill of Vikersund, Norway.

THE BUZZ:
This was the 18th World Cup of the season.
Canadian jumper Dusty Korek of Calgary placed 54th.
The Hill record in Sapporo was set by Roar Ljoekelsoey (NOR) back on January 22, 2006 at a huge 140.0 meters.