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Tande triumphs in Nordic combined

Sixth placed American Bill Demong soars through the air during the World Cup Nordic combined event in Liberec, Czech Republic, on Saturday. Norway's Petter Tande won the event. PHOTO: AP

Norway's Petter Tande won a World Cup Nordic combined event on Saturday for his second victory of the season.

Tande completed the mass start event with 250.8 points, edging Anssi Koivuranta of Finland with 245.9. Ronny Ackermann of Germany was third with 238.3.

The event was scheduled to begin with the jumping portion but strong wind forced the organizers to postpone it and start with a 9.5km cross-country race, which was followed by two jumps.

Bill Demong of the US, who was the fastest in the race, dropped to sixth place overall after placing 14th in the jumping part.

Ackermann leads the overall standings with 1,016 points, Bill Demong is second with 781 and Jason Lamy Chappuis of France third with 728.

■ TEAM SKI JUMPING

AP, WILLINGEN, GERMANY

Norway won the team ski jumping World Cup competition on Saturday over favorites Austria.

Norway got 140m leaps from three of theirs four team members, with only Anders Bardal missing that mark. It took the lead after the first round of jumps when Austria were eighth.

Norway finished with 1,052.4 points, with second-place Finland at 1,035.4 and Austria third with 999.4.

Austria have a big lead in the Nations Cup, the season team standings, with 5,136 points to Norway's 3,590. The Austrians also have Thomas Morgenstern, the top jumper this season.

Austria team coach Alexander Pointner blamed the finish on his team facing a strong headwind in the first jump.

"If you look at our form at the moment, this is naturally a disappointment," Pointner said. "But if you look at how far behind we were early [on], I'm satisfied with the way the team reacted."

Norway's team was Bjorn Einar Romoren, Anders Bardal, Tom Hilde and Anders Jacobsen.

■ WORLD CUP AERIALS

AP, INAWASHIRO, JAPAN

Australian Jacqui Cooper wrapped up the World Cup aerials overall title by winning her fifth event of the season yesterday.

Cooper scored 205.46 points to edge Alla Tsuper of Belarus, who was second with 203.73 points.

China's Li Nina was third with 192.28 points.

With her fifth victory of the season, Cooper wrapped up the overall aerials title. With two events left, Cooper has 620 points, 215 points ahead of second-placed Li.

In the men's event, Anton Kushnir of Belarus received 249.31 points to win his first World Cup title of the season. Canada's Steve Omischl, who leads the overall standings, was second with 242.58 points.

American Ryan St. Onge took the bronze medal with 241.87 points.
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