Last Saturday and Sunday, it was time for the NOTJ ans this time it took place in the Max-Schmeling gym in Berlin. It was an at-home game for me.

After some mistrust in the beginning, concerning the track, which was almost unridable last year, due to runouts that were too short, I became very motivated after the first inspection.
The track had huge startups and runouts and looked like a lot of fun. My mood was even more improved after the qualification round, when I was informed that I had advanced and would be jumping that night.
Awesome feeling! My run on Saturday went well and was enough to get me 11th place (out of 12).
I was able to beat the Pole Bart Oglaza, who had beaten me in the pre-qualification, with my diverse run.
The real highlight of the weekend was Sunday for me. After feeling better and better during my training, I was able to show a few old tricks during my run that I hadn't done in a long time.

Before the final the Highest-Air contest took place. I had spontaneously decided to participate in it that morning.
Since I had never jumped in a Highest-Air contest before, I was pretty uncertain, whether or not I would make it to the landing mound at all, or whether I would knock the bar down on the first jump.
That would have been embarrassing. However, I was pleasantly surprised by my success after the first two test jumps.
The first heights weren't a problem, the next few weren't either for some reason. When Brian Foster (USA) and Chris Brock (GB) were eliminated at 21.7/6,6 and 26/8 feet/meters, I was suddenly left all alone with Libor Podmol.
After the audience, who had been pretty timid up until that point, got livelier, it got really fun.
At 27.6ft/8,4m, Libor was up first and didn't quite make it; the bar fell. I thought to myself: "Stay calm and pump it up!!" I made it. I passed over the bar and prepared myself for a hard landing almost all the way to the flat. I was totally happy and so was the audience.
The spirit in the gym was now at its high point, as was mine. Libor didn't make it on the second try either and suddenly I was the winner of the Highest-Air!
I couldn't believe it.
To my surprise, the people went completely crazy. Nothing was left for me to do but join them. Thank you for your support!
On April 1/2 I will be in Bremen at the 1st German IFMXF / FIM World Championship and I will participate in the Highest-Air again and hope that my victory in Berlin was not beginner's luck.

Florian