“What a picture! What a picture!” The Eurosport commentator couldn’t believe it after Norwegian Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal jumped in Lillehammer during the first stage of the World Cup. The ski jumper, as he took off, was thrown off balance by a billboard coming down behind his back.
It was actually the starting platform, which the judges can decide to raise or lower during the competition to allow the jumpers to gain more or less momentum. Decisions dictated mainly by the strength and direction of the wind. The element had just been lowered when Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal showed up.
But as soon as a competitor sits down on the beam and is about to launch, the platform must obviously no longer move. Yet that’s what happened on Saturday. Sundal was then pushed in the back by the platform. This forced him to lunge while he was adjusting his glasses.
Fortunately, the Norwegian had the right reflex. He followed the tracks in order to make his jump, without panicking, almost as if nothing had happened. With an attempt measured at 132 meters, he even won his qualification for the two main rounds on this jump which will remain in the memory, and which could have had dramatic consequences.
What would have happened if the Norwegian had not reacted in this way and had rolled down the platform on his stomach, or on his back? Or what if his arm had gotten stuck between the starting beam and the advertising board?
Aware of having escaped the worst, the 23-year-old skier did not hide his anger, however contained, after crossing the line. He raised his arms to the sky several times, shaking his head in annoyance and staring at the top of the springboard, before throwing his gloves to the ground.
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