American Billy Demong wins King’s Cup in Vikersund

World Champion Billy Demong (Vermontville, NY) ended the season Sunday (March 15) with a strong win in the final DKB FIS Nordic Combined World Cup skiing competition in Norway, winning the prestigious King’s Cup, one of the sport’s top honors. It was his fifth win of the season and eighth of his career. 

Bill Demong with the King`s Cup and the gold medal from the win in the finale of the World Cup. Photo: Torunn Bratvold, www.vikersund.no

Demong was presented with the King’s Cup in the private viewing box of Norway’s King Harald V, who attended all of Sunday’s events in Vikersund, west of Oslo. The Cup was also won by American John Bower in 1968 and is considered one of the highest honors in nordic combined skiing.

“It was a real honor,” said Demong. “It’s part of a goal I’ve had since first coming to Oslo and the Holmenkollen ten years ago.”

Finland’s Anssi Koivuranta, who needed only two points to clinch the title over Norway’s Magnus Moan, was eighth to take the globe, finishing with seven wins. Demong finished third for the second straight year, despite skipping two weekends to prepare for World Championships, where he won gold in the large hill event.

After finishing 17th in the jump, Demong methodically worked his way through the pack to take a 9.8 second victory over Petter Tande of Norway.

Demong came into the season with goals of gold in World Championships and five World Cup wins – both of which he achieved. When the schedule was changed this fall to 30 races spread across five months, he did not focus on the overall. “It takes some things off me and also helps me prepare for next year,” said Demong.

When asked what he would be doing now that the season is over, he was quickly to reply: “I’m going [home] to Park City for vacation.” But he also said, “and I’m picking up a new road bike on Tuesday.”

Read the entire story on: Firsttracksonline.com