USA Nordic Weekend Preview: Nordic Combined & Ski Jumping World Cups (Feb. 10-12)

The World Cup circuit continues this weekend for USA Nordic, with athletes competing from February 10-12 around the world. Men’s Ski Jumping will be competing this weekend in Lake Placid, New York, as athletes will take the hill for the first Ski Jumping World Cup events in the United States since 2004. Both Men’s and Women’s Nordic Combined will be in Schonach, Germany, as they will each compete in two World Cups. Women's Ski Jumping will then be in Hinzenbach, Austria, for two World Cup events.

USA Nordic’s U.S. Cup Series

USA Nordic’s U.S. Cup Series will continue this weekend in Fox River Grove, Illinois, for the Norge U.S. Cup. Please visit the Norge Ski Club website for information on this weekend's competition.e.

Athletes Competing in World Cup Circuit

• Men’s Ski Jumping – Lake Placid, New York: Andrew Urlaub, Casey Larson, Decker Dean, Erik Belshaw, Tate Frantz
• Women’s Ski Jumping – Hinzenbach, Austria: Anna Hoffmann, Annika Belshaw, Sam Macuga, Paige Jones
• Men’s Nordic Combined – Schonach, Germany: Grant Andrews, Niklas Malacinski, Stephen Schumann
• Women's Nordic Combined – Schonach, Germany: Annika Malacinski

Men’s Ski Jumping Preview

USA Nordic will be sending five Men’s Ski Jumping athletes to compete in this weekend’s World Cup events in Lake Placid. Tate Frantz, a Lake Placid local, who grew up skiing for New York Ski Ed Foundation (NYSEF), will be making his Ski Jumping World Cup debut this weekend. Frantz most recently competed at the Junior World Championships in Whistler, Canada, where he finished 36th in the Individual HS104 Event and 10th in both of the Team HS104 Events.

Andrew Urlaub, Casey Larson, Decker Dean and Erik Belshaw will also be in attendance at the World Cup events in Lake Placid this weekend. Urlaub is coming off scoring his first-ever World Cup points in Willingen, Germany, last weekend, as he finished 26th overall in the Individual HS147 World Cup on February 5th. Dean and Larson also competed in Willingen last weekend, with Dean placing 44th and 45th during both Individual HS147 World Cups. Larson was able to qualify for the final Individual HS147 World Cup in Willingen, as he placed 35th overall on February 5th. Belshaw is also coming off of competing at the Junior World Championships, where he recorded a new Junior Worlds personal best, finishing 11th overall in the Individual HS104 Event. Belshaw was also able to help the United States achieve two 10th place finishes in both Team HS104 Events.

Women’s Ski Jumping Preview

Anna Hoffmann, Annika Belshaw, Sam Macuga and Paige Jones will be representing Women's Ski Jumping in Hinzenbach, Austria. Prior to traveling to Hinzebach, Belshaw and Jones competed at the World Cup events in Willingen, Germany. In Willingen, Belshaw was able to score World Cup points during both HS147 individual events, carding 28th and 24th place finishes. Jones also scored points during both HS147 individual events, placing 30th and 27th overall. Both Hoffmann and Macuga last competed at the World Cup events in Zao, Japan, in January. Macuga was able to qualify for the Individual HS102 World Cup, placing 40th overall. Hoffmann barely missed qualification for both Individual HS102 World Cups in Zao, placing 50th and 42nd overall.

Men’s Nordic Combined Preview

Prior to traveling to Schonach, Germany, Grant Andrews and Stephen Schumann competed at the World Cup events in Oberstdorf, Germany. Schumann was able to finish 38th and 35th overall during both HS137/10km World Cup Events, after scoring his first-ever World Cup points at Seefeld in late January. Andrews competed for the first time since Ramsau in December, as he carded 39th and 38th place finishes in the HS137/10km World Cups at Oberstdorf. Schonach will be the first World Cup events of the season for Niklas Malacinski, who is coming off of a successful Junior World Championships performance in Whistler, Canada. In the Team HS104/4x5km Event, Malacinski, Evan Nichols, Carter Brubaker and Caleb Zuckerman were able to earn a 4th place finish. Malacinski was then able to record a new Junior Worlds personal best, finishing 5th overall in the HS104/10km Event.

Women’s Nordic Combined Preview

Annika Malacinski will be the sole Women’s Nordic Combined athlete that will represent USA Nordic at the World Cup events in Schonach, Germany. Malacinski last competed in Seefeld, Austria, as she participated in two HS109/5km World Cups. Malacinski was able to notch a 21st overall finish during the first World Cup and then placed 19th overall in the final HS109/5km Event, as she carded her first top twenty and highest individual finish of the season.