Weekend Preview: World & Continental Cups (Dec. 8-10)

Klingenthal, Germany (December 5, 2023) – The World and Continental Cup circuit continues this weekend for USA Nordic, with athletes competing from December 8-10. Men’s Ski Jumping will be in Klingenthal, Germany, as athletes will compete in two World Cup events. Men’s and Women’s Nordic Combined, as well as Men’s and Women’s Ski Jumping, will then compete in different Continental Cup events this weekend in Lillehammer, Norway.

USA Nordic’s U.S. Cup Series
The 2023/2024 U.S. Cup Series will continue this weekend in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, with Winterstart. Hosted by the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club from December 9-10, come and watch the best U16 and older Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined athletes in North America compete in the second U.S. Cup event of the 2023-2024 season. Approximately 60-70 athletes participate in the event on the HS75, and HS100 meter jumps at Howelsen Hill. The Winterstart U.S. Cup will be live streamed on YouTube.

Athletes Competing in World Cup Circuit
Men’s Ski Jumping – Klingenthal, Germany: Andrew Urlaub, Erik Belshaw, Tate Frantz

Athletes Competing in Continental Cup Circuit
Men’s Ski Jumping – Lillehammer, Norway: Decker Dean, Kevin Bickner

Women’s Ski Jumping – Lillehammer, Norway: Josie Johnson, Paige Jones, Sam Macuga, Cara Larson

Men’s Nordic Combined – Lillehammer, Norway: Carter Brubaker, Gunnar Gilbertson, Evan Nichols, Erik Lynch

Women’s Nordic Combined – Lillehammer, Norway: Alexa Brabec, Annika Malacinski

Men’s Ski Jumping Preview
Last weekend, Andrew Urlaub, Erik Belshaw and Tate Frantz all competed at the World Cup events in Lillehammer, Norway. Urlaub qualified for Saturday’s Individual HS98 World Cup, placing 32nd overall with a jump of 90.0 meters for 113.8 points. During the Individual HS98 World Cup on Saturday, December 2nd, Urlaub put together a 91.5 meter jump in the first round, giving him 126.6 points, as he was able to qualify for the final round. Urlaub then went 90.0 meters for 123.5 points in the second round, giving him 250.1 points on the day, as he recorded his first World Cup points of the season in 27th place. Urlaub was then able to qualify for Sunday’s Individual HS140 World Cup as well, but was unable to reach the final round, placing 46th overall with a jump of 112.5 meters for 100.4 points. Belshaw placed 53rd overall in the HS98 Qualification, along with a 51st overall finish in the HS140 Qualification. Frantz finished in 55th during the HS98 Qualification, and then finished 53rd overall in the HS140 Qualification.

Decker Dean will then represent Men’s Ski Jumping at the FIS Continental Cup events in Lillehammer, Norway. Last weekend, Dean competed at the World Cup events in Lillehammer, placing 56th (82.0 meters, 93.2 points) in the H98 Qualification, and 61st (98.0 meters, 65.1 points) in the HS140 Qualification.

Women’s Ski Jumping Preview
Josie Johnson, Paige Jones and Sam Macuga all represented the United States at the first Women’s Ski Jumping World Cup events of the season last weekend in Lillehammer, Norway, and will compete again this weekend at the COC events in Lillehammer. Jones was able to qualify for Saturday’s Individual HS98 World Cup, placing 28th overall in qualification with a jump of 80.5 meters for 93.0 points. During the Individual HS98 World Cup, Jones was able to put together a 77.5 meter jump for 87.0 points. This jump put her 37th overall, as she was unable to qualify for the final round of action. Jones qualified yet again on Sunday for the Individual HS140 World Cup, placing 33rd overall with a jump of 100.0 meters, giving her 66.1 points. During the Individual HS140 World Cup, Jones was able to soar to 111.0 meters, giving her 82.9 points, as she was able to advance to the second round. Jones then bested the distance of her first round jump, going 113.5 meters for 80.6 points, giving her 163.5 total points, as she scored her first World Cup points of the 2023/2024 season. During the HS98 Qualification, Macuga landed in 51st place, as she went 70.0 meters for 73.9 points, with Johnson coming in 56th, going 68.0 meters for 65.8 points. During the HS140 Qualification, Johnson finished 52nd overall (85.0 meters, 33.6 points), with Macuga close behind in 56th (84.0 meters, 29.3 points). 

Men’s Nordic Combined Preview
Carter Brubaker, Gunnar Gilbertson, Evan Nichols and Erik Lynch will represent the United States at the Men’s Nordic Combined Continental Cup events in Lillehammer, Norway. Last season, Brubaker competed solely on the Continental Cup circuit for Men’s Nordic Combined, with his best finish coming in the HS137/10km COC in Oberstdorf, Germany (25th place). Brubaker also represented the United States at the FIS Junior World Ski Championships in Whistler, Canada, placing 27th overall in the HS104/10km event.

Women’s Nordic Combined Preview
Annika Malacinski and Alexa Brabec represented the United States at the first Women’s Nordic Combined World Cup events of the season last weekend in Lillehammer, Norway, and will compete again this weekend at the COC events in Lillehammer. During the HS98/5km World Cup on Friday, Malacinski finished 16th overall, after jumping to 79.5 meters for 86.8 points, and then finishing the 5km in 15:49.4. Brabec placed 24th, recording a jump of 78.8 meters for 81.3 points, and then finished the 5km in 15:48.0. During the final HS98/5km World Cup on Saturday, Malacinski placed 13th overall, going 87.5 meters for 109.6 points, and the finished the 5km with a total time of 15:47.6. Brabec was able to put together a 73.5 meter jump for 85.4 points, following up with a total time of 15:48.0 in the 5km.

How to Watch

All Times Eastern Standard Time

Friday, December 8th

  • FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup Men’s HS100/10km – Lillehammer, Norway, Live Results on FIS
  • FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup Women’s HS100/5km – Lillehammer, Norway, Live Results on FIS
  • FIS Ski Jumping World Cup Men’s Qualifying HS140 – Klingenthal, Germany, Live Results on FIS

Saturday, December 9th

Sunday, December 10th

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.

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