Andreas Widhoelzl wins ski flying event in Austria

Andreas Widhoelzl wins ski flying event in Austria{mosimage}BAD MITTERNDORF, Austria — Austria’s Andreas Widhoelzl won a World Cup ski flying event Saturday for his first victory in more than two years.

Norway’s Roar Loekelsoey, last year’s ski flying world champion, was second and Poland’s Adam Malysz was third. Finland’s Janne Ahonen, the runaway World Cup leader, is recovering from the flu and didn’t compete.

Ski flying is contested off unusually big hills, with the jumpers covering great distances.

Widhoelzl recorded the 18th victory of his career. He soared 206.5 meters in the second round on the Kulm hill, the longest jump of the day, and won with a total of 398.3 points. Loekelsoey had 396.0 points and Malysz 393.9.

“I’ve been working hard for this and now I’m rewarded,” Widhoelzl said. “I already felt great yesterday, but it was a perfect day today.”

Ahonen leads the standings with 1,260 points, followed by Austria’s Martin Hoellwarth (717) and the Czech Republic’s Jakub Janda (672).