Veteran ski jumper Noriaki Kasai pulled off another vintage performance with a second-place finish in the final event of the annual Four Hills competition in Bischofshofen, Austria, on Tuesday.
With his second podium appearance in as many competitions, Kasai extended his World Cup record to 42 years, 7 months. The Japanese ace, who finished fourth overall in the weeklong event, was less than elated in a meet he said he could have won.
"Second place is really not interesting. At the end of the day, unless you win there really isn't a feeling of joy that wells up," said Kasai. "I have to work on my timing off the ramp and my Telemark landing. Victory won't come unless I can improve on these points."
Kasai nailed jumps of 132.5 and 137 meters for a total of 277.1 points on the K-125 large hill. Michael Hayboeck of Austria won his first World Cup, taking the top podium spot with 288.4. Countryman Stefan Kraft, who came third, won the Four Hills title for the first time.
The final competition of the prestigious tour was marred by a serious crash by Swiss Olympic champion Simon Ammann, who had to be stretched off while reportedly unconscious after missing the landing on his second jump.