December 03, 2011 (Lillehammer, NOR) – On the 1994 Olympic Hill (HS100), 47 female athletes gave birth to a new FIS World Cup circuit and 17-year old Sarah Hendrickson (USA) is the first winner of a FIS Ladies Ski Jumping World Cup event. The athlete from Park City delivered jumps of 100.5 m and 95.5m for a total of 277.0 points. Runner-up was France’s Coline Mattel (92.0/87.0/247.7), third was Melanie Faisst from Germany (88.5 m/93.0/245.5).

In front of thousands of specatators, the women’s event was mixed in with men’s competitions (first round Ladies/first round Men/final Ladies/final Men). It was a format that the athletes liked. “It gave us even more exposure,” said Hendrickson.

“Winning the first World Cup is just a good feeling. I didn’t have a good winter last season and I didn’t deliver expected results at the Junior Worlds and Worlds. But I trained hard in summer and it paid off. It was cool mixing the competition with the men’s one which gave us even more attention. The event was just great here in Lillehammer, with all those spectators and media coverage. It was fun,” Hendrickson continued. “Lindsey Van is my role model, I saw her winning the 2009 World Championships and wanted to wear her shoes.”

Results (brief)
1. Sarah Hendrickson (USA) 100.5 m (1)/95.5 m (1)     277.0
2. Coline Mattel (FRA)             92.0 m (2)/87.0 m  (4)     247.7
3. Melanie Faisst (GER)          88.5 m (4)/93.0 m (2)      245.5

Full results HERE.

World Cup Standings after 1 Event
1. Sarah Hendrickson (USA) 100
2. Coline Mattel (FRA) 80
3. Melanie Faisst (GER) 60
4. Daniela Iraschko (AUT) 50
5. Sara Takanashi (JPN) 45
6. Evelyn Insam (ITA) 40.

Full Standings HERE.