USA Nordic Weekend Recap, Announces 2023 World University Games Roster

Annika Belshaw represented Women’s Ski Jumping at the FIS Silvester Tournament from December 27th – January 1st. The Silvester Tournament made stops in Villach, Austria, and Ljubno, Slovenia, with Belshaw scoring World Cup points for the second time this season during the last day of action in Ljubno.

Villach, Austria (December 27th – 29th)

The Women’s Ski Jumping Silvester Tournament started in Villach, Austria, as competition began on December 27th, with the HS98 Qualification. Belshaw was able to qualify with a 76.5 meter jump, putting her in 40th place with 88.1 points. During the Individual HS98 Event on December 28th, Belshaw was able to jump to 80.5 meters in the first round. This gave her a total of 94.5 points, putting her in 37th place, as she was unable to advance to the final round.

The final day of action came on December 29th, starting with another HS98 Qualification for Belshaw. Jumping to 82.5 meters, Belshaw landed in 31st place, giving her 93.3 points as she was able to qualify for the final Individual HS98 World Cup in Villach. During the HS98 Event later that day, Belshaw put together a 78.0 meter jump for a total of 94.2 points. This put her in 35th place, as she was unable to qualify for the final round.

Ljubno, Slovenia (December 30th – January 1st)

The Silvester Tournament then resumed in Ljubno, Slovenia, with Qualification for the first Individual HS94 World Cup being held on December 30th. During Qualification, Belshaw was able to jump to 79.5 meters for 101.9 points, as she qualified with a 35th place finish. The Individual HS94 World Cup then took place on December 31st, as Belshaw carded an 83.5 meter jump in the first round. This jump gave Belshaw 100.0 points, as she was unable to advance to the final round.

The final qualification of the Silvester Tournament was held on January 1st, with Belshaw qualifying yet again, after finishing in 39th place with an 81.0 meter jump on the HS94 (101.9 points). The tournament was then capped off later in the day on January 1st, with the final Individual HS94 World Cup of the weekend. During the first round, Belshaw was able to put together an 81.0 meter jump, giving her 104.2 points, as she advanced to the final round. Belshaw’s final jump of the day was 78.5 meters (99.7 points), giving her a total of 203.9 points on the day. This put Belshaw in 26th place to end the Individual HS94 World Cup in Ljubno, scoring World Cup points for the second time this season.

“The Silvester Tour was really fun and it was a great experience,” said Belshaw. “It was good to score points on the last day, and I’m excited for the next World Cup in Sapporo, Japan.”

Today, USA Nordic Sport (USANS) announced that they will be sending eight athletes to compete in the sports of Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined at the 2023 World University Games in Lake Placid, New York.

This 11-day international festival and competition, taking place January 12-22, combines high-level sport with educational and cultural events. The World University Games is the largest winter multi-sport collegiate event in the world, with university students between the ages of 17 and 25 eligible to compete.

Men's Ski Jumping

• Logan Gundry - Age 20, Chippewa Valley Technical College, USANS Junior National Ski Jumping Team

Women's Ski Jumping

• Cara Larson - Age 22, Salt Lake Community College, USANS National Ski Jumping Team

• Ana Zigman - Age 18, North Hennepin Community College, USANS Junior National Ski Jumping Team

Men's Nordic Combined

• Evan Nichols - Age 19, Community College of Vermont, USANS National Nordic Combined Team

• Timothy Ziegler - Age 20, Paul Smith’s College

• Henry Johnstone - Age 21, Williams College

• Aidan Ripp - Age 22, Paul Smith’s College

Women's Nordic Combined

• Tess Arnone - Age 19, Colorado Mountain College, USANS National Nordic Combined Team

The Ski Jumping athletes that are attending the World University Games will be coached by USANS Men’s and Women’s Ski Jumping Coach, Trevor Edlund. Nordic Combined athletes will be coached by USANS Men’s Nordic Combined Continental Cup coaches Gregor Linsig and Harrison Harb.

There will be three different Ski Jumping events at the World University Games, which will all be held at the Olympic Jumping Complex. The first event will be the Individual Normal Hill Event (Jan. 16), followed by a Mixed Team Normal Hill Event, (Jan. 18), with the last event being a Team Normal Hill Competition (Jan. 20). For more information on the competition schedule, click here.

For Nordic Combined, there will be four different events, with competition being held at Mt. Van Hoevenberg and the Olympic Jumping Complex. The first competition will be the Normal Hill 10km/5km Event (Jan. 13), followed by a Normal Hill Mass Start 10km/5km Event (Jan. 15), a Team Normal Hill 2x2.5km/2x5km Event (Jan. 17) and capped off by a Mixed Team Normal Hill Sprint 2x1.5km Event. For more information on the competition schedule, click here.

“It’s an honor and great opportunity for our athletes to compete in the World University Games,” said Adam Provost, CEO of USA Nordic Sport. “It gives our younger athletes an opportunity to compete internationally at venues that our athletes know very well. I’m excited to see them compete in Lake Placid.”