Ruka, Finland (November 21, 2023) – Men’s Nordic Combined and Men’s Ski Jumping will kick-off the 2023/2024 FIS World Cup cup circuit this weekend in Ruka, Finland. Both teams will be sending four athletes, with the competition schedule for Nordic Combined (Nov. 23-26) being found here, and the competition schedule for Ski Jumping (Nov. 24-26) being found here.
Athletes Competing in World Cup Circuit
Men’s Nordic Combined – Ruka, Finland: Ben Loomis, Grant Andrews, Niklas Malacinski, Stephen Schumann
Men’s Ski Jumping – Ruka, Finland: Andrew Urlaub, Erik Belshaw, Decker Dean, Tate Frantz
Men’s Nordic Combined Preview
Ben Loomis, Grant Andrews, Niklas Malacinski and Stephen Schumann will all represent the United States at the first Men’s Nordic Combined World Cup events of the season in Ruka, Finland.
Ben Loomis had a successful summer during the FIS Nordic Combined Summer Grand Prix circuit, earning a 12th place finishing during the HS137/10km SGP in Oberstdorf on August 30th, along with 16th (HS98/7.5km) and 20th place (HS98/10km) finishes during the SGP events in Villach from September 2-3. Loomis was then able to earn the title of National Champion yet again at the USA Nordic National Championships in Lake Placid, placing 1st overall in the HS100/10km event. Grant Andrews was able to record a new Summer Grand Prix personal best this summer as well, placing 26th overall during the SGP event in Oberwiesenthal on August 28th.
This summer, Niklas Malacinski competed at the Summer Grand Prix events in Oberstdorf and Villach. In Villach, Malacinski finished 41st in the HS98/7.5km SGP on September 2nd, followed by a 36th place finish during the HS98/10km SGP on September 3rd. Malacinski then ended his summer with a 2nd place finish in the HS100/10km event at USA Nordic National Championships, which was his first-ever National Championship podium. Stephen Schumann recorded a new Summer Grand Prix personal best this summer as well, placing 19th overall in the HS105/10km SGP event in Oberwiesenthal on August 26th. Schumann then wrapped up his summer at the USA Nordic National Championships, placing 3rd overall in the HS100/10km event.
Men’s Ski Jumping Preview
Andrew Urlaub, Erik Belshaw, Decker Dean and Tate Frantz will all represent the United States at the first Men’s Ski Jumping World Cup events of the season in Ruka, Finland. All four Men’s Ski Jumping athletes that will be competing in Ruka had a successful summer, competing in the FIS Continental Cup and Summer Grand Prix circuits, as well as USA Nordic National Championships.
Andrew Urlaub recorded a new Summer Grand Prix personal best in Rasnov this summer, placing 10th overall during the SGP event on September 24th. Urlaub then placed 3rd overall in the HS128 and 2nd overall in the HS100 at the USA Nordic National Championships in Lake Placid. Erik Belshaw made his Summer Grand Prix debut this summer, with his best result coming in Szczyrk, as he placed 37th overall during the SGP event on August 6th. Belshaw then recorded a new Continental Cup personal best this fall, placing 12th overall in the Lake Placid HS128 COC on October 6th. During USA Nordic National Championships in Lake Placid, Belshaw swept the podiums, placing 1st overall in both the HS128 and HS100 National Championship events.
Decker Dean recorded a new Summer Grand Prix personal best in Rasnov, placing 11th overall during the SGP event on September 24th. Dean then competed at the Continental Cup events in Lake Placid, placing 17th overall twice, during both the HS128 COC events on October 6th and October 7th. Tate Frantz was able to record a new Continental Cup personal best during the COC events in Lake Placid, finishing 9th overall during the HS128 COC on October 7th. Frantz then made his presence known at USA Nordic National Championships in Lake Placid, placing 2nd overall in the HS128 and 3rd overall in the HS100 National Championship events. Frantz will compete in his second-ever World Cup this weekend in Ruka, after making his debut last season at the Men’s Ski Jumping World Cup events in Lake Placid.
How to Watch
All Times Eastern Standard Time
Thursday, November 23rd
- FIS Nordic Combined World Cup Men’s PCR HS142/7.5km – Ruka, Finland, Live Results on FIS
Friday, November 24th
- FIS Nordic Combined World Cup Men’s Compact HS142/7.5km – Ruka, Finland, Live Results on FIS
- FIS Ski Jumping World Cup Men’s Qualifying HS142 – Ruka, Finland, Live Results on FIS
Saturday, November 25th
- FIS Nordic Combined World Cup Men’s HS142/10.0km – Ruka, Finland, Live Results on FIS
- 10:15am EST – FIS Ski Jumping World Cup Men’s Individual HS142 – Ruka, Finland, Steaming on skiandsnowboard.live
Sunday, November 26th
- FIS Nordic Combined World Cup Men’s Mass Start HS142/10.0km – Ruka, Finland, Live Results on FIS
- FIS Ski Jumping World Cup Men’s Qualifying HS142 – Ruka, Finland, Live Results on FIS
- 10:15am EST – FIS Ski Jumping World Cup Men’s Individual HS142 – Ruka, Finland, Steaming on skiandsnowboard.live
NOTE: This season, all Ski Jumping World Cup competitions will be broadcast on skiandsnowboard.live. This streaming platform does require payment to watch World Cup competitions, with monthly and pay-per-view payment options available.