Bad Mitterndorf, Austria  - Gregor Schlierenzauer soared a hill record on Saturday to win the first ski-flying event of the World Cup season in front of a delighted Austrian home crowd.

Schlierenzauer, who turned 19 on Wednesday, added the record 215.5 metres to a first jump of 199.5m for a winning total of 398.0 points. He could barely stand after the massive leap which gave him a third season win and 13th overall.

First-round leader Simon Ammann of Switzerland had to settle for second with 390.1 points from 207.5m and 195m and Austrian Martin Koch came third with 386.8 points.

"It was a great flight. It was close on the landing. I even had a light cramp. You probably can't jump any further on this hill," said the reigning ski-flying world champion Schlierenzauer.

Ammann retained the World Cup lead with 957 points ahead of Schlierenzauer (840). The freshly-crowned Four Hills champion Wolfgang Loitzl is third with 775 points after having to settle for seventh place on the day.

Another competition on the Bad Mitterndorf flying hill is scheduled for Sunday. (dpa)