USA Nordic Weekend Recap: Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined (Jan. 18-21)

Ski Jumping athletes wrapped up competition at the Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, South Korea, on January 21st. The weekend was highlighted by Josie Johnson, who placed second overall in the Women’s Individual HS109 on January 20th, bringing home the first-ever medal for the United States in Ski Jumping at the Youth Olympic Games.

During the first round, Johnson was able to jump to third overall, going 100.0 meters for 99.2 points. Estella Hassrick jumped to 17th in the first round, putting together an 82.5 meter jump for 60.1 points. Hassrick then topped her first round performance, going 85.5 meters for 67.5 points, as she finished 16th overall (127.6 total points). Johnson bested her first round performance as well, soaring to 107.0 meters for 108.0 points, giving her 207.2 total points on the day. This secured the silver medal for Johnson, and gave the United States their first medal of the Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon.

For Men’s Ski Jumping, Jason Colby and Sawyer Graves represented the United States during the Individual HS109 on January 20th. During the first round, Colby jumped to 91.0 meters for 81.9 points, with Graves going 72.5 meters for 44.4 points. In the final round, Colby went 87.0 meters for 73.1 points, giving him 155.0 points on the day and placing 17th overall. Graves bested his first round jump, going 82.5 meters (59.5 points) in the second round, which gave him 103.9 points on the day as he finished 32nd overall.

The final event came on Sunday, January 21st, as Johnson, Hassrick, Colby and Graves competed in the Team HS109 competition. The four athletes were able to finish 7th overall, after earning 352.8 points in the first round and 330.4 in the second. This gave them 683.2 points on the day, as they ended their time in Gangwon, South Korea.

Polish Tour Recap – Men’s Ski Jumping

The Polish Tour kicked-off in Wisla, Poland, on January 12th, as athletes took the hill for the HS134 Qualification. Tate Frantz had the highest finish in qualification, placing 29th overall, jumping to 120.5 meters for 116.5 total points. Erik Belshaw was next up, qualifying in 32nd, after putting together a 116.5 meter jump for 115.9 points. Andrew Urlaub rounded things off in 40th, going 114.0 meters for 110.2 points.

Competition resumed on January 13th, as Frantz and Belshaw competed in the Super Team HS134 World Cup. The duo was able to put together a total score of 208.2 in the first round, and followed up with 212.3 total score in the second round, as they were able to advance to the final round. Frantz then went 120.5 meters, as Belshaw followed up with a 115.0 meter jump of his own, totaling 196.6 points in the final round. Frantz and Belshaw finished 7th overall, scoring 617.1 total points on the day.

The World Cup events in Wisla wrapped up on January 14th, as athletes took the hill for the Individual HS134 World Cup. In the first round, Urlaub went 109.5 meters for 85.1 points, as he ended his day 43rd overall. Frantz went 126.0 meters in the first round (118.3 points), with Belshaw going 122.0 meters (109.8 points), as both athletes were able to advance to the final round. Belshaw then went 114.0 meters for 104.2 total points in the final round, giving him 214.0 total points on the day, as he placed 29th overall. Frantz then put together a 123.5 meter jump (112.5 points) in the final round, giving him 230.8 total points on the day, as he finished 18th overall. The 18th place finish is a new World Cup personal best for Frantz, and the first World Cup top 20 of his career.

Szczyrk, Poland (January 16th – 17th)

The Polish Tour continued in Szczyrk on January 16th, starting off with the HS104 Qualification. Urlaub and Frantz were able to qualify for the Individual HS104 World Cup, with Urlaub coming in 44th (93.5 meters, 107.5 points) and Frantz coming in 45th (92.0 meters, 107.1 points). Belshaw finished just outside of qualification in 53rd, as he jumped to 87.5 meters for 94.7 points. Competition resumed on January 17th with the Individual HS104 World Cup, as Urlaub and Frantz took the hill. Due to strong wind, the event was cancelled during the first round of action. Prior to the cancellation, Tate Frantz was in the 16th position (95.0 meters, 106.7 points) and Andrew Urlaub was in 32nd (89.5 meters, 94.7 points).

Zakopane, Poland (January 19th – 21st)

The final events of the FIS Ski Jumping Polish Tour took place in Zakopane, with athletes taking the hill for the HS140 Qualification on January 19th. Frantz qualified in 38th, going 120.5 meters for 127.2 points, with Urlaub qualifying in 47th, as he put together a 120.0 meter jump for 123.9 points. Belshaw and Decker Dean finished just outside of qualifying, with Belshaw placing 54th and Dean right behind in 56th.

Competition continued on January 20th, as Urlaub, Dean, Belshaw and Frantz took the hill for the Team HS140 World Cup. The foursome finished 9th overall, totaling 447.5 total points in the first round. The Polish Tour then wrapped up on January 21st, as Frantz and Urlaub competed in the Individual HS140 World Cup. Frantz finished 37th overall (131.0 meters, 143.1 points), with Urlaub finishing in 48th (118.0 meters, 115.3 points). Both athletes were unable to advance to the final round, ending their time in Zakopane.

Weekend Recap – Zao World Cups & Klingenthal Continental Cups

Competition kicked-off on January 18th, as athletes took the hill for the HS102 Qualification. All three athletes who represented the United States in Zao were able to qualify, with Paige Jones coming in 30th (81.5 meters, 81.9 points), Annika Belshaw (83.0 meters, 79.8 points) coming in 33rd and Sam Macuga coming in 39th (77.0 meters, 68.2 points).

The Individual HS102 World Cup was then held on January 19th. In the first round, Jones went 77.0 meters for 74.8 points, placing 36th overall. Belshaw was right behind in 38th, as she put together a 79.5 meter jump for 74.5 points. Macuga rounded things off in 40th, jumping to 67.5 meters for 56.0 points, as all three athletes were unable to advance to the final round.

The next event was the Super Team HS102 World Cup on January 20th, with Belshaw and Jones competing for the United States. The duo placed 8th overall, after totaling 587.7 total points after three rounds of action. The final events of the weekend were set to be held on January 21st, but due to inclement weather, the HS102 Qualification and Individual HS102 World Cup were cancelled, ending Women’s Ski Jumping’s time in Zao, Japan.