hckošice

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Qualification and Official olympic program http://www.ifsc-climbing.org/images/media-centre/2017/2017_IFSC_Plenary_Assembly_Quebec_City_Olympic_Format.pdf It´s official that there will be 2 events (1 mens and 1 womens) and it will be the Combined event consisting of 2 rounds (qualification and finals). 20 Athletes M and W will participate, and the winner will be the athlete with the lowest cumulative score given by multiplying the rankings from all 3 partial disciplines in this order - Speed, Boulder, Lead.

Biathlon Quotas Aloccation Womens 6 - Czech Republic 6 - France 6 - Germany 6 - Italy 6 - Ukraine ----------------------------------------- 5 - Austria 5 - Belarus 5 - Bulgaria 5 - Canada 5 - Finland 5 - Japan 5 - Kazakhstan 5 - Norway 5 - Poland 5 - Russia 5 - Slovakia 5 - South Korea 5 - Sweden 5 - Switzerland 5 - United States ------------------------------------------ 2 - Lithuania 2 - Slovenia

Biathlon Final Qualification Standing Womens 1 Germany 7951.0 2 France 7646.0 3 Ukraine 6605.0 4 Czech Republic 6547.0 5 Italy 6481.0 6 Norway 6265.0 7 Russia 6139.0 8 Sweden 6034.0 9 Belarus 5683.0 10 Kazakstan 5193.0 11 Switzerland 5101.0 12 Poland 5035.0 13 Austria 4954.0 14 USA 4743.0 15 Finland 4619.0 15 Canada 4619.0 17 Slovakia 4498.0 18 Japan 3608.0 19 Bulgaria 3142.0 20 South Korea 3051.0 21 Slovenia 2969.0 22 Lithuania 2737.0 23 Estonia 2692.0 24 Romania 2086.0 25 China 1584.0 26 Latvia 1228.0 27 United Kingdom 642.0 28 Spain 459.0 29 Hungary 339.0 30 Bosnia and Herzegovina 144.0 31 Moldova 104.0 32 Greece 64.0

Happy St. Patricks day to our Irish friend have a nice day Danny

http://www.insidethegames.biz/index.php/articles/1048201/fukushima-to-host-opening-baseball-and-softball-ties-at-tokyo-2020

Today will start the Men´s Under 18 Division III Group B World Championships. The lowest under 18 world Championship category will be contested during this weekend in Mexico. 3 Nations ( ) will battle for the only available ticket for the next years mens Under 18 division III Group A World Championships Mens Under 18 Division III Group B World Championships 2017 in Mexico City (MEX) Day 1 Schedule (17th March 2017) GMT -6 20:30 Hong Kong vs Mexico Day-Off: South Africa *Tournament format - 3 Teams will play a mini round robin tournament during this weekend. The first ranked nation will qualify for the next years Mens Under 18 Division III Group A. the 2nd and 3rd Nations will stay in the Mens Under 18 Division III Group B also for next year.

15 years old British talent Chiara Bunce will represent Slovakia since this season. FIG approved the nationality change of the athlete. Chiara will represent Slovakia at next EYOF and from next year will participate in senior level source in SVK http://sport.aktuality.sk/c/267051/sportova-gymnastika-slovensku-reprezentaciu-posilni-britka-bunceova/

Mens Under 18 Division II Group B World Championships 2017 in Belgrade (SRB) Day 3 (16th March 2017) GMT +1 13:00 Netherlands vs Belgium 5-2 16:30 Spain vs Australia 1-4 20:00 Serbia vs Iceland 4-2

Weirather wins final SG race for globe, Jansrud collects his A bright sunshine and warm temperatures attracted thousands of spectators for the second race day of the World Cup Finals in Aspen, where both Super-G races were held today. On the ladies side, Tina Weirather claimed both the race win and the globe, while Hannes Reichelt was the fastest of the day on the men’s side, and Kjetil Jansurd collected his third career globe. Tina Weirather and Ilka Stuhec were the only candidates for the super-g season title, with the Slovenian having a 15 points lead over the athlete from Liechtenstein. With bib number 5, Weirather laid down a very solid run, one that no one after her would be able to beat. Even Stuhec, who topped two super-gs this season and earned the downhill globe yesterday, crossed the finish line +0.35 off the pace, to claim second place and offer the discipline season title to Weirather. The daughter of Hanni Wenzel and Harti Weirather can now complete the family collection and bring home her first career globe. Federica Brignone from Italy came in third, grabbing her second career podium in the discipline. On the men’s side, it’s a good thing for Kjetil Jansrud that he secured the globe two weeks ago in Kvitfjell. His three wins at the beginning of the season and good performances allowed him to claim the 2016/17 super-g title. It’s the third career globe for Jansrud, and the sixth super-g globe in a row for Norway. Other athletes played the main roles in the race of the day, as Austria’s Hannes Reichelt was able to grab his 13th career win, ahead of yesterday’s winner Dominik Paris and the duo Aleksander Aamodt Kilde and Mauro Caviezel in third place. The World Cup season is now over for the speed skiers, as tomorrow an Alpine Team Event will be held in Aspen, followed by the tech races on the week-end. Tune in at 10.30 MT / 17.30 CET on Friday to follow the exciting parallel event. Full Results Men and Women 2016/17 World Cup Super-G Final Ranking Men and Women Tina Weirather Hannes Reichelt

Stefan Kraft on top again Stefan Kraft of Austria won a great World Cup competition in Trondheim (NOR) on Thursday evening. Under perfect weather conditions, Kraft had jumps of 138 m and 142.5 m (302.0 points) and finished ahead of Norway's Andreas Stjernen (138.5 m and 138 m; 294.3 points) and Andreas Wellinger of Germany. This was the tenth World Cup win for Stefan Kraft, the sixth this season. With this success the 24-year-old extended his lead in the overall World Cup and took back the lead in the Raw Air Tournament. "Today I wanted to make up for the bad result yesterday so I risked everything, already in the trial round. Which is something I normally don't do. Everything went well for me today, It was a great competition. The conditions were fantastic, it was very fair and a lot of fun. Hopefully the conditions will be the same in Vikersund. We will see great flights there and I hope I can fly over the hill size a couple of times", Stefan Kraft said after the competition. With Norway's Andreas Stjernen, a second top ski flyer could get himself in a good position before the upcoming competitions in Vikersund. Stjernen equalled his best World Cup result today, achieved in a Ski Flying event in Oberstdorf 2013: "I'm really happy. It's great to show two good jumps in a competition, especially here on my home hill. It's always difficult to be on the podium, but the level today was extremely high. Finally we had a nice competition during this Raw Air with stable conditions. It was an amazing competition. I haven't thought about Vikersund that much, but the heart is starting to beat faster now. I think it will be fun and hopefully the weather will be as good there as it was here today." Andreas Wellinger also proved his currently great shape. The third place today was his ninth podium finish in the last 10 competitions. "I'm very satisfied, especially with the second jump. It's not easy here on this hill to a perfect take-off, I couldn't do it that well in the first round. It's extremely cool that I could jump that far in the second round and that I made it to the podium. I hope we will have some nice flights in Vikersund. Everything can change really fast, as we saw here yesterday and today. Hopefully Stefan and I will continue to jump on such a high level. Then it will be very exciting", said Wellinger. Only 0.9 points behind Wellinger, Markus Eisenbichler came in fourth and was angry about his lost chance to achieve even more: "I'm not totally satisfied with this competition, I can't be satisfied with such landings because I lose imporant points and so I can't be on the podium. I'm very satisfied with the jumps, but the landings are part of the result too." Poland's Kamil Stoch confirmed yesterday's win with a strong fifth place, followed by Norway's Johann Andre Forfang. Peter Prevc and Richard Freitag, seventh and eighth today, are definitely among the favorites for the Ski Flying competitions in Vikersund on the next three days. Roman Koudelka and Daniel Andre Tande completed the Top 10. The fight for the overall title of the RAW AIR remains extremely interesting. Stefan Kraft now leads with 1237.1 points ahead of Andreas Wellinger (1231.8 points), Markus Eisenbichler (1206.2 points) and Andreas Stjernen (1200.8 points). Nothing is decided yet with 6 jumps left on the three days in Vikersund. The first event in Vikersund will already take place on Friday at 4:15 pm CET with all competitors, there will be no qualification and only one competition round. Stefan Kraft is also in the lead in the overall World Cup with 1420 points. He is followed by Kamil Stoch (1334 points) and Daniel Andre Tande of Norway (1181 points). Andreas Wellinger is fourth with 988 points Full Results Here

FIS SNOWBOARDING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Men's Parallel Giant Slalom Final Results PROMMEGGER Andreas -Big Final KARL Benjamin -Big Final GALMARINI Nevin -Small Final ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Women's Parallel Giant Slalom Final Results LEDECKA Ester -Big Final KUMMER Patrizia -Big Final TUDEGESHEVA Ekaterina -Small Final Ledecka and Prommegger prevail in world champs parallel giant slalom After scoring Silver and Gold, in yesterday's parallel slalom event, respectively, Ester Ledecka (CZE) and Andreas Prommegger (AUT) came out victorious in today's parallel giant slalom race of the Sierra Nevada 2017 Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships. Ledecka earned the title ahead of Patrizia Kummer (SUI) and Ekaterina Tudegesheva (RUS) while Prommegger once again beat teammate Benjamin Karl in the repetition of yesterday's men's final. Nevin Galmarini (SUI) rounded out the podium as third. As yesterday's first of two alpine snowboard events of the 12th FIS Snowboard World Championships wouldn't have had enough in store to talk about for a couple of days, the world's best raceboarders took it serious on the race slope under a blue bird sky again to add some more chapters to the history books. And of course, it was the men's ultimate heat which impressed the most as both finalists had been the main actors of yesterday's event already. Sharing the room when on tour for quite some years now, being long-time friends who push each other in every competition as well as training session as soon as the season's preparations kick off for Team Snowboard Austria in fall, Andreas Prommegger and Benjamin Karl delivered once again the best proof why this sport is as exciting as it gets. Going down the parallel flagged course head to head from start to bottom, Prommegger crossed the finish line only 0.12 seconds ahead of Karl therefore becoming the third ever alpine snowboarder to win both, the PSL and PGS event, in one year. So far, only Jasey Jay Anderson (Whistler, Canada, 2005) and Benjamin Karl (La Molina, Spain, 2011) had been able to pull off this feat. “I don't know how it feels to be a double world champion, it will take some time to realise this. But as everybody comes by I guess it has to be something special”, he joked. “But seriously, I came here to win a medal for sure. Everyone who knows my history knows how much I deserved this as I came close quite a few times to medal. But you know, you cannot force it. At major events it just has to click. And that's what just happened. In addition, it was the second time in a row that the father of two from St. Johann denied Karl to becoming the first ever male snowboarder to win five world championships titles. Currently, Karl, who has claimed at least one medal in every major event he has attended in since 2009, is sitting on the shared first rank of the multi wins table together with Anderson. However, the father of one took it as it came and didn't look back: “You know, I still have enough time, I'm only 31 years now. Retirement is a question of success not of your age. And with results like those here, I guess I can give it a few more shots although it's a pity of course as you don't get those chances often. But I have nothing to complain.” Same for Galmarini. After having been bumped off the podium yesterday as fourth being defeated by only a few hundredths of a second in both, the semi and the battle for third, the Swiss top racer finally took his first world championships medal in his tenth start beating Radoslav Yankov (BUL) in the small final of the men's competition. “Placing fourth yesterday, man, the pressure was intense today. Of course you try to edit yesterday out. It has been a new day, and I knew that I'm a bit better in the PGS event, but nevertheless, it was really hard yesterday, so hard you would like to bite in your board. So, I'm happy that I took a medal, and I'm proud of myself that I was able to get something positive out of yesterday. Bronze is like Gold for me.” Over in the women's event, it was Ledecka who earned the Gold one day after being awarded with a precious Silver. The 2015 PSL world champion from the Czech Republic, who has been competing in the St. Moritz FIS Ski World Championships last month already, earned her career's second beating 2014 Olympic PGS champion Patrizia Kummer (SUI) on the line with the tiny advantage of 0.19 seconds. “This is like a dream come true. This is really great. It was my goal to compete in both world championships this year, skiing and snowboarding, and this is a great bonus. I have two medals. I'm happy,” Ledecka said. More than ten years after snatching Gold in the 2007 world champs in Arosa (SUI), Ekaterina Tudegesheva held the upper hand on Ramona Hofmeister (GER) in the battle for third earning her fourth world championships medal. The Sierra Nevada 2017 Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships continue tomorrow with the Big Air semis (1 PM CET) and finals (7:30 PM CET). Click here for an update on the TV times. Full Results Men and Women Ester Ledecka 2017 Womens Parallel Giant Slalom World Champion and Andreas Prommegger 2017 Mens Parallel Giant Slalom World Champion

50 days to go Cologne/Paris 2017 Event full of highlights awaits you Getting closer to the start of the 2017 #IIHFWorlds! From tournament highlights to fantasy hockey and prediction games, will have plenty to offer for fans. Whether you are attending the tournament in Cologne and Paris or watching at home, stay tuned!

@bestmen Thank you dude, you just made my day Shoukran

WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY CHALLENGE CUP OF ASIA 2017 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kiwi girls win in Bangkok Finish Challenge Cup of Asia ahead of Thailand The New Zealand U18 women’s national team, which competed internationally for the first time, won the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s Challenge Cup of Asia that also included senior national teams from six Asian countries that are not involved in the IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship program. The Kiwi girls had an average age of 16 compared to 28 years for the team of host country Thailand, which finished in second place, but it dominated the tournament in five games and edged Thailand 4-3 midway the tournament in a game that eventually decided about first place. It was a close game with a 28-25 shot on goal advantage for the young New Zealanders. And the outcome must have annoyed the Thai women since they were leading 2-0 midway the game after two goals from Nuchanat Ponglerkdee, who eventually scored a hat trick and was the undisputed scoring leader of the tournament with 27 goals and 18 assists in... six games! The New Zealanders didn’t have the same firepower and were second in goal difference throughout the tournament but they scored the important goals in the second half of the game against the Thai. In front of 237 fans at The Rink Ice Arena, which is located on the seventh floor of the CentralPlaza Grand Rama 9 shopping mall in the Ratchadapisek area of Bangkok, power-play goals from Beth Scott and Jana Kivell before the end of the second period tied the game at two. The teams continued to exchange goals in the first five minutes of the third period. Ponglerkdee tied the game at three just 12 seconds after a goal from New Zealand’s Kirstin Gerken but two minutes later Scott scored her second power-play marker of the game and this 4-3 goal stayed as the game-winner. The New Zealand girls defended the lead while the Thai made their comeback attempt difficult with four minor penalties during the last ten minutes of play. Scott was second in goal scoring at the tournament and fifth in points behind four Thai players with 17 goals and 19 points. For the rest of the tournament both the New Zealanders and Thai dominated their opponents. Singapore was the best of the rest by not losing double digits while beating the other four opponents including fourth-ranked India (9-1), newcomer Philippines (6-2), the United Arab Emirates (16-2) and Malaysia (4-1). India earned its fourth place after its first-ever win in an international game, 4-3 against the Philippines in their second match of the tournament, and by following up with a 5-4 victory against Malaysia on the last day. The Philippines also had six points. After starting with three losses they earned their first win against Malaysia (3-1) and later beat the United Arab Emirates 3-2. The bottom half of the standings saw fierce competition as no team finished without a win. The Emirati women finished in sixth place with their only win coming on the second day, 6-4 against India, while Malaysia started the tournament with a 5-4 overtime victory against the Emirates but didn’t collect further points throughout the tournament. The Tournament Directorate named the Philippines Ma Jessica Cabili as best goaltender, Mei Wah Wan from Malaysia was the best defender and Wen Lin Lim from Singapore best forward. Indian forward Tsewang Chuskit was voted MVP after scoring six goals for India. Results Thread The seven teams at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s Challenge Cup of Asia pose for a joint team photo after the closing ceremony.

Back to EBEL Medvescak Zagreb plans to switch leagues Full house during a KHL game of Medvescak Zagreb. Croatia’s leading hockey club, Medvescak Zagreb, is set to compete in Austria’s cross-border EBEL next season after four campaigns in the KHL. The team, which also played in the EBEL prior to stepping up to the KHL in 2017, was officially accepted as a member on 15 March. Towards the end of last season Medvescak faced some well-documented financial problems and, after a fire sale of players in the closing weeks of the campaign, suited up just 14 players in its last games. With the team heavily reliant on sponsorship to provide a sustainable budget, the decision to return to a league closer to home than the pan-Eurasian KHL was anticipated some time before this week’s announcement by both Medvescak and the EBEL. Erste Bank Eishockey Liga president Peter Mennel welcomed the team back to the competition. “Medvescak was part of the league for four years and left lasting memories,” he said. “I’m happy that our current teams have voted in favour of the return. Fans can get ready for some more great games at Dom Sportova.” Club president Damir Gojanovic talked up the prospect of a bright future for Medvescak in the EBEL. In an interview on the club’s website he said: “We will have an opportunity to compete against the best teams from Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary and the Czech Republic. I believe we will be able to gather a competitive team and that our fans will enjoy good games and good results. I am grateful to the EBEL clubs and league Presidency for accepting our application. “The EBEL was the starting point of the revitalization of Medvescak and without the league, the new-look Medvescak that we have today would not exist.” Gojanovic also confirmed that the club was working hard to resolve various outstanding debts and – despite criticism from some quarters – insisted that the long-term future was secure. “We will meet all the obligations,” he added. “I'm sorry some are delayed, but that is the reality we live in... But, I can assure you, the club will not collapse or disappear due to those obligations. Furthermore, supported by our partners we will enter EBEL with a clear and viable financial plan.” Medvescak’s four seasons in the KHL saw the team – and its enthusiastic fans at Zagreb’s Dom Sportova – win friends across the competition. However, results on the ice were less impressive, with the team making the playoffs just once in four seasons. Gojanovic, though, regarded the experience as a success and was thrilled to have brought some of the world’s best players to Zagreb. “Dom Sportova witnessed the best possible hockey we could see or imagine and there is nothing better than it outside of North America,” he said. “Medvescak welcomed some of the biggest and best in world – clubs like SKA, CSKA, Dynamo Moscow, Spartak, all true institutions of hockey, and players like Radulov, Kovalchuk, Mozyakin or Cheechoo, to name but a few. We brought some great players to Zagreb. If someone had told me we could do something like this in Zagreb, I’d have laughed in his face. But we did it, and our fans got to see top-class hockey.” Alexander Medvedev, then the KHL president who welcomed Medvescak into the league, also felt that the club offered plenty during its time. “Medvescak created a competitive team in a North American style and offered a good test for our teams,” he told championat.com. “Let’s not forget how Medvescak started out, hammering CSKA 7-1 in its first game. “But the Croatian business community could not generate the kind of money to help the team compete effectively in the league, and trying to subsist on bread and water isn’t a realistic way forward for any team. The way Medvescak had to sell off almost all its players to clear its debts, and played the last couple of games with just two lines, is far from ideal. On the one hand, the club fulfilled its obligations and completed the season; on the other, the necessary foundations to play in the KHL, sadly, disappeared.” For the KHL, the news comes at the end of a season where the league’s future has been the subject of much debate. Last year, comments from KHL President Dmitri Chernyshenko about the possibility of reducing the number of teams in the competition prompted a flurry of speculation, although the league was quick to point out that this was merely one of many options under consideration as the organization looked at how to develop in future. Meanwhile, other reports from Russia suggest that Medvescak’s place next season might go to a second team in St. Petersburg, a representative from Estonia or an ambitious new franchise based in London, England. Although the club announced to return to the Central European competition, Medvescak head of media, Ranko Vucevic, told Russian website championat.com that there was still a possibility of KHL action in Croatia. “The deadline for clubs to submit applications [to play in next season’s] KHL is 30th April,” he said. “Any application for Medvescak to play in the KHL... depends on the responses of our sponsors and especially on whether there will be further cooperation with our partners in Russia. “This week’s confirmation of participation in the EBEL in no way effects our plans for the KHL. The competition in which Medvescak will play next season will be announced by the end of May.” However, Mennel’s statement on the EBEL website continued: “The participation of Medvescak Zagreb stands firm.” Prior to joining the KHL, Medvescak spent four seasons in the EBEL. On two occasions, it reached the playoff semi-finals and in 2012 it finished second in the regular-season table. The club’s youth team still plays in the junior section of that competition.

Peter Fill, Ilka Stuhec claim downhill crystal globes The Italian men's team had much to celebrate on Wednesday in Aspen, Colo., as Dominik Paris won the last downhill race of the season and his teammate Peter Fill claimed his second consecutive discipline crystal globe, edging out Norwegian Kjetil Jansrud by just 23 points in the final standings. Paris also finished the season ranked third in downhill. "The last race wasn't too easy for me, I was far behind the other guys which actually probably motivated me for this race," said Paris, who selected bib No. 1 due to the weather. "I knew it would be warm, and so I'm happy I made the decision to take No. 1. The snow only got softer." Fill finished the race in second place to secure the second downhill title of his career after Jansrud, who led the standings heading into the day, finished 11th in the race and second in the discipline standings. Swiss Carlo Janka rounded out the race podium in third. "It was hard. It was good skiing. Again, I was every time close on the victory. No victory this year in downhill, but in the end, I pick up the thing that counts, and that's the nicest thing," said Fill. And today, a special day for the Italians with Dominik's win and to have second and then, the globe. I think we have the best team – small team, but a good team. Thank you to the whole team. They work really well and the love, and they push us to go faster, and we see the results. So, thank you all the team, service guy, sponsors, thank you!" In the ladies' downhill, Slovenia's Ilka Stuhec won both the race and her career first discipline title over Italian Sofia Goggia, who finished third in the race, by a convincing 137 points. "It’s amazing. I mean it’s been an incredible season and right now that this [globe] is here, it’s heavy. Everything else will come later, I guess," said Stuhec. "I wanted to do like every other time this season like ski the best way possible and do my best and we’ll see what comes. And ending the season with a win and a globe, it’s pretty good." Lindsey Vonn slid into the air fence in the finish and had to be extricated by race staff but not before she claimed the second spot on the podium. Despite not participating in the end of the winter due to injury, Lara Gut finished third in the downhill season standings. The ladies and men each race a super-G on Thursday at World Cup Finals in Aspen. Full Results Men and Women 2016/17 World Cup Downhill Final Ranking Men and Women Dominik Paris Ilka Stuhec

Mens Under 18 Division II Group B World Championships 2017 in Belgrade (SRB) Day 3 Schedule (16th March 2017) GMT +1 13:00 Netherlands vs Belgium 16:30 Spain vs Australia 20:00 Serbia vs Iceland Livestream

FIS SNOWBOARDING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Men's Parallel Slalom Non-Olympic Event Final Results PROMMEGGER Andreas -Big Final KARL Benjamin -Big Final SOBOLEV Andrey -Small Final ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Women's Parallel Slalom Non-Olympic Event Final Results ULBING Daniela -Big Final LEDECKA Ester -Big Final ZAVARZINA Alena -Small Final Ulbing and Prommegger celebrate Austrian double victory in PSL Austria's very own Daniela Ulbing and Andreas Prommegger have done their home country proud winning the parallel slalom event of the Sierra Nevada 2017 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships today. Ulbing won the Gold ahead of defending champion Ester Ledecka (CZE) and Alena Zavarzina (RUS) while Benjamin Karl (AUT) and Andrey Sobolev (RUS) rounded out the men's podium as respective second and third. After yesterday's parallel giant slalom race had to be cancelled and re-scheduled to tomorrow due to a heavy snowstorm with wind speeds over 100 km/h, this afternoon's PSL took place under a blue bird sky again and at warm temperatures which had been dominating the first week of the 12th FIS Snowboard World Championships until the weather had changed rapidly last Monday. In the women's event, this season's shooting star Ulbing put all things together to compete in the race of her life today which was actually the first ever for her at world championships. Coming out as fastest qualifier and therefore having the advantage of choosing the side of the parallel flagged course, the 19-year-old from Carinthia dominated her rivals in the knock-out rounds. After beating Carolin Langenhorst (GER) and Olympic champion Patrizia Kummer (SUI) she also knocked out Alena Zavarzina (RUS) before dethroning defending champion Ester Ledecka (CZE). “I never ever would have thought of walking home with the title, but the more I'm happy now. Of course it was an advantage being able to always chose the same course, but I don't think I have realised it yet what just happened,” stated Ulbing, who has just two World Cup seasons under her belt. Her rival in the finals has already had some more starts and success but added just another chapter to the history books. Actually, Ledecka became the first athlete ever to compete at FIS Ski World Championships (St. Moritz) as well as FIS Snowboard World Championships in the same year, a fact she commented with a beaming smile: “It's great, isn't it? It was a good race, I really enjoyed every run. I'm happy about the way I was competing. It was a great day.” The women's podium was rounded out by Alena Zavarzina who crossed the finish line ahead of Germany's Cheyenne Loch in the small final. While the women's event was clinched by a World Championships novice, the men's event finally saw Andreas Prommegger triumphing. Finally, as it took the father of two 18 (!) years and 17 world championships starts since 1999 to finally walk home with a medal. “I can't put it into words. I knew I could earn a medal as I currently am in a very good shape. I knew it had to happen as I have been fighting so many times for a podium at major events and never have been rewarded for it,” stated Prommegger while waiting for the official award ceremony. Three times, he had come close at worlds as fourth, now, he finally got redemption for all the unlucky losses in the past years beating room mate and long-time friend Benjamin Karl, who has medalled in every major event he has been competing in since 2009, in the final heat of the day to crown himself world champion. “I tried to not put myself under pressure, telling myself that if I have to retire without a medal at Olympics or worlds, I would still be proud of what I have achieved in the past years. But now, I will go home as world champion. It's unreal.” Especially as he took the title against Karl who had defeated him several times on the big stages. But not this time as Prommegger kept the momentum from back-to-back World Cup wins: “We push each other every year, in every race and training, which is a dream. And finally having the margin on my side, it's unbelievable.” Karl, however, was also surprised how the story did unfold today. Not having had the best PSL results in the past World Cup events, the four-time world champion has been working on his set-up over the course of the season a lot, just to change everything in Sierra Nevada again: “If you would have asked me prior to the race, I would have said: 'Oh, I have no chance today'. I just have changed my whole set-up prior to the race, board, plate. I never would have thought of this in the PSL race.” But if the father of one is known for one thing than for his mental strength to be right there when he has to be, especially when it's time to battle for Gold, Silver and Bronze: “I have now medalled at every major event I have been competing in. That's amazing, and I guess this is something not many athletes have achieved so far.” In the battle for third, Sobolev delivered one of the strongest comebacks ever been witnessed on a parallel slalom course to heading Nevin Galmarini off right before the finish line after almost going down at the beginning of the steep part of the course. The Sierra Nevada 2017 Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships continue tomorrow with the PGS event as qualifiers are set to take place at 9 AM CET while the finals will kick off at 1 PM CET. Click here for an update on the TV times. Full Results Men and Women Daniela Ulbing 2017 Womens Parallel Slalom World Champion and Andreas Prommegger 2017 Mens Parallel Slalom World Champion

when you will do one for me, I want one at Baker street

Additional competition in Vikersund The second individual competition of the RAW AIR Tour, which could not take place on Tuesday in Lillehammer due to the strong win, will now take place on Friday on the Ski Flying hill in Vikersund. This competition will be decided after only one round and all athletes will be allowed to participate. This means there will be no qualification for this competition. The qualification for Sunday's individual competition will be held on Saturday instead of the trial round right before the team competition. So there will be a total of 6 rounds (individual competition 1 round, team competition, qualification, individual competition) on the HS 225 in Vikersund that could for the overall ranking of the RAW AIR. New schedule Vikersund: Friday: 03:00 pm: Official Training 04:30 pm: Competition (1 round, all athletes) Saturday: 02:15 pm: Qualification for Sunday's competition 04:15 pm: Team Competition Sunday: 01:00 pm: Trial Round 02:15 pm: Individual Competition

Advantage Frenzel in Trondheim Eric Frenzel has been able to take valuable World Cup points with a victory in Trondheim today and took the yellow bib from Johannes Rydzek. Finishing 19.2 seconds earlier, he overtook and distanced his rival to 14 points in the overall World Cup standings. Fabian Rießle completed another all-German podium on the third rank, +22.2 seconds behind Frenzel. As Trondheim was experiencing heavy wind and snow showers, the ski jumping round had to be cancelled and yesterday’s PCR used. A beautiful jump of 138 metres had catapulted Austrian Mario Seidl to the top of the result list. With 136.2 points, Seidl had a head start of 16 seconds on Manuel Faißt from Germany. Faißt had landed at 135.5 metres. The third rank and momentary advantage in the fight for the overall 2016/17 went to Eric Frenzel, who had a good jump of 132 metres in challenging conditions. Rival Johannes Rydzek had even more challenging conditions and ranked eleventh with 121.5 metres. This meant a time disadvantage of one minute and 23 seconds on the leader. Frenchman Maxime Laheurte and Japanese Akito Watabe impressed with good performances and claimed positions four and five. They started their races at +0:58 and +1:01 respectively. Mario Seidl skied a lonely first lap but got company from Eric Frenzel and Manuel Faißt on the second of five laps. Behind the leading trio, a pursuing group formed with local hero Magnus Moan, Akito Watabe, Johannes Rydzek and Fabian Rießle. During the race, the winter returned full swing to Trondheim and the conditions were not easy with lots of wind, snow and a soft track. On the fourth lap, it got harder and harder for Magnus Moan as a tall and heavier athlete to follow the other three pursuers. In front, Eric Frenzel was able to shake teammate Faißt and Mario Seidl and for these two there was also no holding off Johannes Rydzek, Fabian Rießle and Akito Watabe. In the end, Rydzek mobilised all powere reserves but was not able to keep Eric Frenzel from winning and effectively taking the yellow bib from him. However, he minimised the damage by taking the second position. Fabian Rießle beat Akito Watabe in a finish line sprint. Mario Seidl and Manuel Faißt finished fifth and sixth. Local hero Magnus Moan claimed the final seventh rank but was still allowed to visit the Crown Prince of Norway together with Eric Frenzel and all overall winners of the FIS Youth Cup. Ilkka Herola, Francois Braud and Bernhard Gruber completed the Top Ten. Full Results Here

a non european group F

32 officials make the cut IIHF names referees, linesmen for Worlds The IIHF Officiating Committee has selected the 16 referees and 16 linesmen who will call the games at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. It’s not just players that need make their team rosters for the IIHF’s flagship event. The 32 on-ice officials were selected from a long list of 75 names, based on their performances at international and national competitions during the ongoing hockey season. The line-up of on-ice officials includes a mix of veterans and young, aspiring officials. 20 of them have worked the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship before, including 16 who return from the on-ice officials’ crew at the 2016 World Championship in Russia. They combine for an experience of 61 World Championships. 12 officials – six referees and six linesmen – were named to the IIHF’s top event for the first time ever although most of them have officiated in other IIHF events, such as the IIHF World Junior Championship before. The most experienced referee comes from one of the host countries. For Daniel Piechaczek it will be his ninth World Championship. He will be one of two Germans together with linesman Lukas Kohlmuller, who was invited for the first time. Swiss referee Tobias Wehrli will call his eighth Worlds. He called the gold-medal games in 2015 and 2016 and will be one of three returnees from last year’s final, together with referee Roman Gofman and linesman Gleb Lazarev, both from Russia. The most experienced linesman is Ivan Dedyulya from Belarus, who will work games at the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship for the ninth time. The officials come from 14 different countries including two non-participation countries (Austria, Netherlands). The Czech Republic and Finland lead in the number of officials with four each. The 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship will take place from 5-21 May in Cologne, Germany, and Paris, France. Referees Linesmen Lemelin, Mark Dedyulya, Ivan Gouin, Oliver Vanoosten, Nathan Iverson, Brett Lhotsky, Miroslav Hribik, Jan Suchanek, Libor Jerabek, Antonin Jensen, Rene Fonselius, Stefan Sormunen, Hannu Salonen, Anssi Suominen, Sakari Piechaczek, Daniel Kohlmuller, Lukas Odins, Eduards Leermakers, Joep Gofman, Roman Lazarev, Gleb Stricker, Daniel Otmakhov, Alexander Wehrli, Tobias Kaderli, Roman Kubus, Jozef Sefcik, Peter Linde, Marcus Malmqvist, Andreas Ohlund, Linus Oliver, Brian Reneau, Stephen Ritter, Judson

Medveščak Zagreb (CRO) definitely left the KHL after only 4 seasons and will return to the EBEL league where they already played untill 2013 (competition mainly for Austrian, Slovenian, Hungarian clubs, but also with participation of some Italian and czech teams) from the next season source in CRO http://www.medvescak.com/ebel/medvescak-potvrdio-nastup-u-ebel-u-no2724

and now he calls for a pressure from the players against their employers http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1048077/exclusive-fasel-still-hopeful-nhl-will-not-boycott-pyeongchang-2018