USA Nordic Weekend Preview: World & Continental Cups (Feb. 16-19)

The World and Continental Cup circuit continues this weekend for USA Nordic, with athletes competing from February 16-19. Men’s and Women’s Ski Jumping will be in Rasnov, Romania, with both men and women competing in two World Cup events. Men’s and Women's Nordic Combined will then compete in three Continental Cup events this weekend in Rena, Norway.

USA Nordic’s U.S. Cup Series

USA Nordic’s U.S. Cup Series will continue this weekend in Brattleboro, Vermont, for the Harris Hill U.S. Cup. Please visit the Harris Hill Ski Jump website for event and ticketing information. Unseasonably warm temperatures in the forecast have caused a cancellation of Friday night’s exhibition jump, but there will be a livestream available for the events on Saturday and Sunday

Athletes Competing in World Cup Circuit

• Men’s Ski Jumping – Rasnov, Romania: Casey Larson, Decker Dean
• Women’s Ski Jumping – Rasnov, Romania: Anna Hoffmann, Annika Belshaw, Josie Johnson, Paige Jones, Sam Macuga

Athletes Competing in Continental Cup Circuit

• Men’s Nordic Combined – Rena, Norway: Caleb Zuckerman, Carter Brubaker, Erik Lynch, Evan Nichols, Grant Andrews, Niklas Malacinski
• Women’s Nordic Combined – Rena, Norway: Alexa Brabec, Annika Malacinski, Tess Arnone

Men’s Ski Jumping Preview

Casey Larson and Decker Dean will be representing Men's Ski Jumping this weekend at the World Cup events in Rasnov, Romania, after competing in Lake Placid last weekend. In Lake Placid, Larson and Dean were able to qualify during the weekend’s first HS128 Qualification, as Larson placed 42nd and Dean placed 48th. After qualification, athletes moved straight into the Individual HS128 World Cup. Larson jumped placed 35th overall, followed by Dean in 44th, as both athletes were unable to advance to the final round.

The next event was the Super Team World Cup, which made its debut on the Men’s Ski Jumping World Cup circuit in Lake Placid. For the Super Team World Cup, Larson and Dean were chosen to represent the United States. After two rounds of action, the duo placed 11th overall. Larson then qualified for the final World Cup of the weekend on Sunday, placing 47th overall. Larson had the highest finish of the day for all USA Nordic athletes who competed, placing 34th overall.

Women’s Ski Jumping Preview

Anna Hoffmann, Annika Belshaw, Josie Johnson, Sam Macuga and Paige Jones will be representing Women’s Ski Jumping in Rasnov, Romania, this weekend. Prior to traveling to Romania, Hoffmann, Belshaw, Macuga and Jones all competed at the World Cup events in Hinzenbach, Austria. Belshaw (28th overall) and Jones (40th overall) were both able to qualify for the first Individual HS90 World Cup of the weekend. Belshaw barely missed the cut to advance to the final round, placing 31st overall, with Jones close behind in 33rd.

On Saturday, Belshaw jumped to 26th overall during the HS90 Qualification, with Jones was close behind yet again, finishing 34th. Sam Macuga rounded things off, as she earned the final qualification spot. Later in the day, during the Individual HS90 World Cup, Belshaw placed 32nd overall, Jones placed 37th overall and Macuga followed in 38th, as all three were unable to advance to the final round.

Johnson last competed at the Junior World Championships in Whistler, Canada. During the Individual HS104 Event, Johnson placed 17th overall, giving her a new Junior Worlds personal best. Johnson also competed in the Women's Team HS104 (7th overall) event and Mixed Team HS104 event (10th overall).

Men’s Nordic Combined Preview

Prior to traveling to Rena, Norway, Grant Andrews and Niklas Malacinski competed at the World Cup events in Schonach, Germany. Malacinski was able to score his first-ever World Cup points during Saturday's HS100/10km World Cup, placing 27th overall, with Andrews coming in 40th. During the final HS100/10km World Cup of the weekend, Malacinski finished in 35th and Andrews finished 38th.

Caleb Zuckerman, Carter Brubaker and Evan Nichols last competed at the Junior World Championships in Whistler, Canada. In the Team HS104/4x5km Event, Zuckerman, Brubaker, Nichols and Malacinski placed 4th overall. The athletes then participated in the HS104/10km Event, as Nichols finished 22nd, Brubaker placed 27th and Zuckerman placed 32nd. Brubaker also competed Mixed Team HS104/4x5km Event with Alexa Brabec, Skyler Amy and Tess Arnone, as the team placed 7th overall.

Erik Lynch last competed at the Continental Cups in Ruka, Norway, back in December. During the COC events, Lynch placed 31st, 28th and 32nd, respectively.

Women’s Nordic Combined Preview

Last weekend, Annika Malacinski competed at the World Cup events in Schonach, Germany, prior to traveling to Rena. Malacinski competed in two HS100/5km World Cups, where she placed 23rd and 22nd overall.

Alexa Brabec and Tess Arnone last competed at the Junior World Championships in Whistler, Canada. Along with the Mixed Team HS104/4x5km Event, Brabec and Arnone also competed in the HS104/5km Event as well. Brabec was able to place 14th overall, with Arnone close behind in 19th place.