The superstar fulfilled the dream ignited by Janne Ahonen with a ghost jump – the suffering Finns received a training invitation: “Come to Norway”

Jarl Magnus Riiber has impressed this season with his ski jumping performances. Last week, Riiber was able to jump from the flying hill, which he had as a childhood dream while watching Janne Ahonen’s skirmishes.

BAY. United’s Norwegian superstar Jarl Magnus Riiber continued his great show of jumping also at the beginning of the final weekend of the world cup season in Lahti.

In the reserve competition, Riiber jumped to no less than 136 meters, or six meters over the so-called hill size in Lahti Suurmäki. The starting bar for the Parisprint competition jump was dropped by one notch for Riiber. Still, the Norwegian’s jump reached 128 meters, which was Austria’s by Stefan Rettenegger with Friday’s heaviest quotation from the combined men.

After his jump, Riiber praised the conditions in the competition. The light fog didn’t seem to bother the star.

– The conditions were good. For the first time, it felt like there are stable conditions here. It’s often quite windy here. I was able to jump twice well, Riiber described to Urheilu.

According to the Norwegian, there is always a special race in Lahti. He especially likes the fact that Lahti Ski Center is so compact.

– Skiing, ski jumping and combined go well together. I like this area. The audience is also good in the ski area, Riiber praised.

Urheilu’s ski jumping expert Tommi Nikunen beamed after Riiber’s jumps on Puhee that Riiber is currently among the five best hill jumpers, including the race times of the special hill. At the World Championships in Planica, Riiber reached 147 meters.

At that time, one of Urheilu’s experts was the long-time head coach of the Finnish national team Petter Kukkonen hailed the jump as the hardest performance in combined event history.

Riiber took the praise in stride.

– It’s always great that people believe in my potential even on the special hill side. At the moment, however, I enjoy the combination, says Riiber.

Riiber’s season has included numerous setbacks. He was attacked by an intestinal worm. Both grandparents also died on the eve of the World Cup. However, the Norwegian was in shock at the World Championships. He grabbed four gold medals.

Riiber realizes that he is in good ski jumping shape anyway.

– The condition in itself is not a surprise, but it is difficult to get the most out of yourself in the race, Riiber described his situation.

As a child, the dream of flying hills was sparked by watching Janne Aho

A great opportunity also opened up for the Norwegian star last week, when he was able to jump from Vikersund’s flying hill. Riiber flew to 240 meters.

For 25-year-old Riiber, the situation was a dream come true.

– It was unbelievable. As a child, I had a dream to try out a flying hill, Riiber set the mood and also told that the Finnish Golden Eagle had its own meaning.

Riiber had watched at the age of 8 Janne Ahonen jumps and saw, for example, the iconic landing from the Planica airfield. Ahonen reached the then world record readings of 240 meters, but crashed his jump.

– I think it was special history then. When I got to the flight hill, it was really great, Riiber beamed.

So Riiber reached exactly the same meters in Vikersund as Ahonen once did.

Finnish combined top names Ilkka Herola and Eero Hirvonen have struggled with their jumps again throughout the season. In Lahti’s pair sprint, the duo was in eighth place after the hill. The gap to the top team Austria stretched to more than a minute. Norway, which is third behind the Austrian teams, has 49 seconds to go.

Urheilu asked Riiber, who excels in ski jumping, if he had any tips for struggling Finns.

– Come and train with us in Norway, Riiber piped up.

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Updated at 15:08. Added the final results of the pairs race after the skiing part.