USA Nordic - Nordic Combined & Women’s Ski Jumping – Lillehammer World Cups Recap

Men’s & Women’s Nordic Combined, as well as Women’s Ski Jumping, all competed at World Cups in Lillehammer, Norway, this past weekend. In their first Women’s Ski Jumping World Cup of the season, Annika Belshaw and Paige Jones were able to record new personal bests, as they both carded top 30 finishes.

Women’s Ski Jumping

Women’s Ski Jumping kicked-off their World Cup season on Friday, December 2nd, with the HS98 Qualification. Annika Belshaw was first to qualify, placing 27th overall, as she was able to jump to 76.5 meters for 83.7 points. Paige Jones followed in 38th, jumping to 73.0 meters for 76.0 points, as she was able to qualify for Saturday’s HS98 Individual Competition. Sam Macuga (44th) and Anna Hoffmann (47th), barely missed qualification.

During Saturday’s HS98 Individual Competition, Belshaw and Jones were unable to qualify for the final round of action. Belshaw recorded an 81.0 meter jump for 88.7 points (33rd), with Jones going 80.0 meters for 84.3 points (39th).

On Sunday, Women’s Ski Jumping moved over to the Large Hill, starting the day with the HS140 Qualification. Belshaw was yet again the first to qualify, placing 24th overall with an 111.5 meter jump for 86.6 points. Jones was also able to successfully qualify, jumping to 94.0 meters for 56.2 points. Hoffmann (45th) and Macuga (46th), were unable to qualify for Sunday’s HS140 Individual Competition.

The weekend then wrapped up Sunday evening, with Belshaw and Jones competing in the HS140 Individual Competition. During the first round of action, Belshaw was able to record a 123.0 meter jump, giving her 103.6 points to move onto the final round. Jones was also able to qualify for the final round, jumping to 115.5 meters for 81.7 points.

In the final round of action, Belshaw jumped to 119.5 meters to give her 193.3 total points on the day. Belshaw was able to finish 20th overall, a new World Cup individual personal best, to earn her first World Cup points of the season. Jones then added a 103.5 meter jump during the final round, giving her 143.7 points on the day. Jones finished 29th overall, a new World Cup individual personal best, to earn her first World Cup points of the season.

“Overall, I couldn’t be happier with the start of the season for the team,” said USA Nordic Men’s and Women’s Ski Jumping Coach, Anders Johnson. “This team has been working really hard for a long time to make it into the top 30 on World Cup, and to have both Annika and Paige do it together on the same day was amazing. This weekend proves that hard work, dedication and patience really does pay off, and I couldn’t be more proud to be their coach.”

Women’s Ski Jumping will be back in action this weekend, as they will compete at the Titisee Neustadt World Cup and Vikersund Continental Cup.

Women's Nordic Combined

Women’s Nordic Combined started their weekend off on Friday, December 2nd, with the HS100/5km Event. On the hill, Annika Malacinski was able to record a 72.0 meter jump for 72.5 points, putting her in 25th for the 5km race. Alexa Brabec was close behind in 27th, jumping to 70.0 meters for 69.7 points.

During Friday’s 5km race, Malacinski was able to ski up and finish 24th overall, with a total time of 15:02.7. Brabec followed in 27th place, with a total time of 15:15.1.

Saturday was the final day of competition for Women’s Nordic Combined, capping things off with the second HS100/5km Event of the weekend. On the hill, Brabec was able to jump to 73.5 meters for 70.1 points, putting her in 26th place to start the 5km race. Malacinski jumped to 29th place, going 70.0 meters for 57.2 points. During the 5km race, both Brabec and Malacinski were able to ski up, with Brabec finishing 25th overall (14:57.6 total time) and Malacinski finishing 26th overall (14:32.7).

“It was a tough weekend for us, especially on the hill,” said Women’s Nordic Combined Head Coach, Tomas Matura. “The cross-country part was ‘OK’ from both Annika and Alexa. Now, it’s time to get the flow on the hill back, and to have the same jumps that the girls are able to do in the training, in competition.”

Malacinski will compete for Women’s Nordic Combined this weekend, as she will be staying in Lillehammer to attend this weekend’s Continental Cup.

Men's Nordic Combined

Men’s Nordic Combined got things started on Saturday, December 3rd, with the HS100/10km Event. On the hill, Ben Loomis had the longest jump of the day, going 86.0 meters for 104.6 points, placing him in 36th for the start of the 10km race. Jared Shumate was close behind in 41st place, going 83.5 meters for 97.7 points. Stephen Schumann then went 79.0 meters, putting him in 50th place with 88.1 points. Jasper Good rounded things off, going 79.5 meters for 88.0 points, placing him in 51st.

During Saturday’s 10km race, Loomis was able to ski up and finish 34th overall, with a time of 24:40.2. Shumate followed in 43rd, finishing the 10km course in 24:49.4. Schumann then skied up from 50th, to finish 48th overall, with a total time of 25:10.1. Good was also able to ski up, finishing in 49th after starting the race in 51st, with a total time of 25:26.4.

For the final day of competition in Lillehammer, Men’s Nordic Combined moved to the Large Hill, for the HS140/10km Event. On the hill, Loomis placed 44th (111.0 meters, 85.9 points), Schumann placed 45th (110.0 meters, 78.8 points), Good placed 49th (105.0 meters, 72.2 points), and Shumate placed 51st (102.5 meters, 70.6 points).

The weekend was capped off by Sunday’s 10km race for Men’s Nordic Combined. Loomis skied up to finish 43rd with a time of 25:47.1, Schumann was close behind in 44th (25:51.1 total time), Shumate followed in 46th (25:43.4 total time), and Good finished in 49th (26:14.5 total time).

Men’s Nordic Combined will be back in action December 15th-17th, as they will compete at the World Cup in Ramsau, Austria.