Ammann wins World Cup ski jump opener

KUUSAMO, Finland (AP) -- Simon Ammann won the World Cup ski jumping season opener on Saturday, and Finland took a team jumping event rescheduled from Friday ahead of Austria and Germany.

Ammann, the 2006 world champion and a former Olympic gold medalist from Switzerland, edged a strong Austrian trio with jumps of 131 and 126.5 meters for 260.5 points in the individual event.

Following Ammann were Wolfgang Loitzl and Gregor Schlierenzauer. Defending World Cup champion Thomas Morgenstern was fourth.

A slight tail wind that didn't give a lift to the jumpers created demanding conditions -- the opposite to the heavy winds or snowfall that has ruined several Finnish events in recent years.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.