Park City, Utah (March 13, 2023) – Men’s and Women’s Nordic Combined wrapped up their competition on the 2022/2023 World Cup circuit this past weekend in Oslo, Norway.
Women’s Nordic Combined – Oslo World Cup
Annika Malacinski was the sole athlete to represent the United States at the Women’s Nordic Combined World Cup season finale in Oslo, Norway. Starting off on the HS106 on Thursday, March 9th, Malacinski was able to jump to 77.5 meters for 75.1 points. This put her 24th overall to start the 5km race, +3:49 behind first place.
The 5km race was moved to Saturday, March 11th, as the Women’s Nordic Combined athletes took the course for the final time in the 2022/2023 World Cup circuit. Malacinski was able to ski up from the 24th position, finishing the 5km race in 13:48.9. This gave Malacinski a 20th place finish at the HS106/5km World Cup in Oslo, ending her season with her third top-twenty of the 2022/2023 circuit.
“Overall, I’m happy with the weekend, and Annika had a good race to end the World Cup season,” said Women’s Nordic Combined Head Coach, Tomas Matura. “I’m proud of her and her performance during this season’s World Cup circuit.”
Men’s Nordic Combined – Oslo World Cups
Ben Loomis, Niklas Malacinski and Stephen Schumann represented Men’s Nordic Combined at their final two World Cup events of the 2022/2023 season in Oslo, Norway. During the first HS134/10km World Cup on Saturday, March 11th, Malacinski was able to jump to 29th place. Notching a 108.0 meter jump for 89.7 points, Malacinski was set to start the 10km race +4:13 behind the day’s leader. Loomis was able to card a 104.0 meter jump for 80.9 points, putting him in the 38th position for the start of the 10km. Schumann rounded things off in 44th place, after he went 101.0 meters for 69.9 points. Later in the day, during the 10km, Malacinski was able to ski up, finishing the course in 24:31.2. Malacinski was able to earn a 28th place finish, scoring his second World Cup points of the season. Loomis followed in 39th, as he finished the 10km course in 24:41.3. Schumann was then able to ski up, finishing the day 41st overall, as he finished the 10km race in 24:05.6.
Malacinski continued to do well on the hill during Sunday’s HS134/10km World Cup, jumping to 29th place, after going 109.0 meters for 80.0 points. Loomis followed with a 104.0 meter jump for 69.7 points, landing him in 38th place for the start of the 10km. Schumann landed in the 47th position for the start of the 10km, after going 91.5 meters for 49.1 points. Malacinski then fell back during the 10km, as he ended his day in 35th, finishing the course in 24:01.5. Loomis skied up one position during the 10km, finishing his day in 37th, as he completed the course in 23:46.7. Schumann was also able to ski up, finishing the 10km in 23:23.3 and placing 43rd overall.
“The season went great,” said USA Nordic Athlete, Niklas Malacinski. “I had some higher expectations, especially for Junior Worlds, but I’m happy that I was able to pull off a successful season. I scored my first-ever World Cup points earlier this year, and finished off the season scoring some more. I’m looking forward to making more improvements throughout the training season, to up my game for next season.”
“First, I was very excited for Women’s Nordic Combined to join us at Holmenkollen for the first time,” said Men’s Nordic Combined Team Director, Nick Hendrickson. “On the men’s side, we were very happy that Niklas was able to score World Cup points for his second time this season. His jumping has been very consistent and he was able to ski a really good race.”
Men’s Nordic Combined will close out their season this weekend, as Niklas Malacinski, Grant Andrews, Carter Brubaker and Erik Lynch will compete at three different Continental Cups in Lahti, Finland, from March 17-19.
