USA Ski Jumping Weekend Recap

The USA Ski Jumping team delivered a breakthrough performance at the Lake Placid World Cup, marking one of the most successful weekends in the program’s history.

Friday was a landmark day as the first-ever Women’s World Cup event on U.S. soil took place, with equal prize money awarded to women for the first time. Five American women—Annika Belshaw, Josie Johnson, Paige Jones, Sam Macuga, and Sandra Sproch—qualified for competition, with Sproch making her World Cup debut. Belshaw led the way with a strong 19th-place finish, while Johnson secured 27th, setting the stage for a big weekend.

The momentum only grew on Saturday, with Annika Belshaw achieving a career-best 14th place and Johnson also setting a new personal best in 24th. On the men’s side, Kevin Bickner placed 13th, Tate Frantz finished 19th, and Erik Belshaw landed in 29th. The highlight of the day came in the mixed team event, where Belshaw, Frantz, Bickner, and Johnson finished fifth— USA’s best result in this event since 2012.

Sunday brought even more success, as all seven U.S. men—Bickner, Frantz, Andrew Urlaub, Casey Larson, Erik Belshaw, Jason Colby, and Decker Dean—qualified for competition. Bickner wrapped up the weekend with a 14th-place finish, while Frantz continued his strong showing in 16th.

With two career best and lots of points earned during the individual performances, a top-five mixed team finish, and a major milestone for women’s ski jumping in the U.S., the Lake Placid World Cup was a defining moment for USA Ski Jumping as a whole, showcasing the team’s strength, progress, and ability to compete at the highest level.