Japan's Ryoyu Kobayashi secured his seventh ski jumping World Cup win of the season Saturday, flying the furthest on his first and only attempt before strong winds cut the event short.
A Beijing Olympic medal favorite, Kobayashi leaped 145 meters to score 115.6 points on the hill in Willingen, Germany, ahead of Halvor Egner Granerud of Norway who reached 143 meters for 111.6 points. Granerud's compatriot Marius Lindvik came third with 107.0 points.
"I'm happy to have won...I was lucky (with the conditions)," said Kobayashi, who returned to the top of the podium for the first time in six events and the 26th time in his career.
Kobayashi skipped a mixed team event the day before due to lower back pain, but reclaimed the overall lead upon his return to action, rising above Karl Geiger of Germany.
"I didn't jump yesterday so I was fresh mentally and fully motivated."
Among other Japanese jumpers, Yukiya Sato ranked fifth, Junshiro Kobayashi 20th and Keiichi Sato 22nd.
