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

Last weekend, USA Nordic Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined athletes competed at different World and Continental Cup events around the world. The weekend was highlighted by new personal bests from both Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined athletes at their respective competitions.

Women’s Ski Jumping – Rasnov World Cups

Competition in Rasnov, Romania, got started on Thursday, February 16th, with the first HS97 Qualification of the weekend. Annika Belshaw was the first to qualify in 14th (84.0 meters, 94.7 points), followed by Paige Jones in 26th (79.0 meters, 81.2 points), Josie Johnson in 27th (77.4 meters, 80.0 points) and Sam Macuga in 31st (72.0 meters, 73.9 points). During Friday’s Individual HS97 World Cup, Belshaw placed 20th overall, as she carded jumps of 81.5 and 83.0 meters for 191.8 points. Jones was close behind, after putting together 78.0 and 82.0 meter jumps for 180.3 points, as she placed 25th overall and notched a new World Cup personal best. To finish out the day, Johnson scored her first-ever World Cup points, placing 30th overall with jumps of 77.0 and 68.5 meters for 155.4 points.

During Saturday’s HS97 Qualification, Belshaw continued to impress, as she placed 10th overall (87.0 meters, 93.6 points). Johnson followed in 19th (80.0 meters, 81.4 points), with Jones in 21st (82.5 meters, 80.3 points), Macuga in 26th (75.0 meters, 70.9 points) and Anna Hoffmann in 36th (69.0 meters, 53.8 points). Another Individual HS97 World Cup followed, as Belshaw bested her performance from Friday, finishing 19th overall and recording a new World Cup personal best (75.5 meters, 72.9 points). Jones and Johnson then notched their second World Cup points of the weekend, with Jones coming in 26th (71.5 meters, 59.3 points) and Johnson placing 27th (64.0 meters, 57.3 points). Hoffmann then placed 37th (67.5 meters, 46.7 points) and Macuga placed 40th (63.0 meters, 39.4 points) as Women’s Ski Jumping wrapped up the weekend in Rasnov.

Men’s Ski Jumping – Rasnov World Cups

Casey Larson and Andrew Urlaub represented Men’s Ski Jumping at the World Cup events in Rasnov, Romania. Competition kicked-off on Friday, February 17th, as athletes participated in the HS97 Qualification. Larson was able to jump to 88.5 meters for 107.4 points, putting him 20th overall. Urlaub placed 34th overall, after notching a 80.0 meter jump for 96.2 points. During Saturday’s Individual HS97 World Cup, Larson was able to card his first World Cup points of the season. Jumping to 87.0 and 91.5 meters (210.9 points), Larson placed 18th overall, a new World Cup personal best. Urlaub finished just outside of the points in 31st, after putting together an 84.0 meter jump for 94.5 points.

The weekend in Rasnov ended with a Super Team HS97 World Cup, as Larson and Urlaub took the hill. The duo was able to advance to the final round, as Larson put together jumps of 97.0, 89.5 and 86.5 meters, with Urlaub adding 92.0, 91.5 and 91.5 meter jumps of his own. This gave Larson and Urlaub 667.5 points on the day, as the pair placed 6th overall.

Women’s Nordic Combined – Rena Continental Cups

The first Continental Cup competition for Women’s Nordic Combined in Rena, Norway, was a HS109/5km Event on February 18th. On the hill, Annika Malaicnski jumped to 10th place (86.5 meters, 92.8 points), with Alexa Brabec (79.0 meters, 69.4 points) coming in 14th and Tess Arnone placing 18th (64.5 meters, 38.7 points). Malacinski was able to ski up during the 5km, placing 2nd overall, as she recorded a new Continental Cup personal best. Brabec finished 12th overall, after finishing the course in 14:37.3, with Arnone coming in 18th place (14:48.1 total time).

Later that day, athletes competed in a Super Sprint HS109/1km Continental Cup. Malacinski placed 4th overall, with Brabec coming in 14th and Arnone placing 18th overall. The final COC of the weekend was held on Sunday, February 19th, as athletes competed in a HS109/7.5km Event. On the hill, Malacinski jumped to 7th overall (96.5 meters, 88.2 points), with Brabec close behind in 9th (87.0 meters, 83.2 points), while Arnone jumped to 15th (68.0 meters, 45.5 points). Malacinski was then able to record her second podium of the weekend, as she skied up to finish 3rd overall in the 7.5km race, finishing the course with a 21:25.3 total time. Brabec followed with a new COC personal best, as she placed 6th overall, finishing the course in 21:46.8. Arnone skied up to finish 13th overall, as she finished the 7.5km in 21:58.4.

Men’s Nordic Combined – Rena Continental Cups

Niklas Malacinski, Grant Andrews, Evan Nichols, Carter Brubaker, Caleb Zuckerman and Erik Lynch competed for Men’s Nordic Combined at the Continental Cup events in Rena, Norway. Competition got started on Saturday, February 18th, as athletes participated in the HS109/10km Continental Cup. On the hill, Malacinski jumped to 6th overall, after notching a 100.5 meter jump for 129.2 points. Zuckerman then came in 28th (92.0 meters, 107.0 points), with Andrews in 30th (90.0 meters, 104.7 points), Lynch in 34th (88.0 meters, 100.5 points), Nichols in 35th (89.0 meters, 100.4 points) and Brubaker in 36th (91.5 meters, 100.0 points). Malacinski was then able to place 18th overall in the 10km, after finishing the course in 24:51.1. Lynch (30th), Brubaker (31st), Nichols (33rd), Andrews (38th) and Zuckerman (44th) rounding things off.

Later in the day on Saturday, athletes competed in the Super Sprint HS109/1km Continental Cup. Malacinski kept his momentum going with a 15th place finish, with Andrews placing 30th, Nichols placing 32nd, Brubaker placing 34th, Lynch placing 38th and Zuckerman placing 42nd. The final Continental Cup of the weekend, was a HS139/10km Event on Sunday, February 19th. Malacinski continued to jump well, as he flew to 12th overall with a 119.5 meter jump for 117.1 points. Brubaker followed in 34th, along with Andrews in 36th, Zuckerman in 39th, Nichols in 42nd and Lynch in 43rd. Malacinski then capped off his weekend with a 9th place finish in the 10km, finishing the course in 23:56.6. Brubaker (34th), Andrews (38th), Lynch (41st) and Zuckerman (42nd) then rounded things off for Men’s Nordic Combined in Rena.