Park City, Utah (March 27, 2023) – Last weekend, USA Nordic Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined athletes competed in different World Cup events in Lahti, Finland. The HS130/10km event held on Sunday, March 26th, was the final World Cup competition of the 2022/2023 season for Men’s Nordic Combined. The weekend was highlighted by Decker Dean, Erik Belshaw and Niklas Malacinski, as they were all able to earn World Cup points in their respective competitions.
Men’s Nordic Combined
Men’s Nordic Combined started things off in Lahti with a Team Sprint HS130/2×7.5km World Cup on on Friday, March 24th, as Niklas Malacinski and Erik Lynch took the hill for the United States. Malacinski put together a 101.0 meter jump, giving him a total of 77.7 points. Lynch was then able to go 104.0 meters for 79.4 points, giving the duo a total of 157.1 points, putting them in the 17th position for the start of the 2×7.5km race. The duo was able to ski up during the relay, as Lynch finished his 7.5km leg in 5:03.6. Malacinski then completed his 7.5km in 7:59.2, as the duo was able to earn a 15th place finish, +2:07.8 back from first place.
The next World Cup event was held on Saturday, March 25th, as athletes competed in the first HS130/10km of the weekend. On the hill, Malacinski was able to jump to 34th overall, after going 113.5 meters for 105.1 points. Lynch put together an 86.0 meter jump for 55.0 points, putting him in the 51st position for the start of the 10km race. Malacinski was able to ski up one position in the 10km, placing 33rd overall, after finishing the course in 24:56.1. Lynch was also able to improve his position, finishing his 10km in 26:50.6, as he finished 47th overall.
The FIS Men’s Nordic Combined 2022/2023 World Cup Season Finale was held on Sunday, March 26th, as athletes took the hill for the final HS130/10km event of the year. Malacinski had a better day on the hill, jumping to 24th overall, after going 113.0 meters for 107.1 points. Lynch jumped to 81.0 meters for 39.5 points, putting him in the 51st position for the start of the 10km race. During the 10km race, Lynch was able to ski up one spot, finishing the 10km in 50th place. Malacinski was then able to stay in the points, placing 26th overall, after finishing the course in 24:53.2. With his 26th place finish in Lahti, Malacinski ended his 2022/2023 season scoring points in three separate World Cups.
Men’s Ski Jumping
Competition in Lahti for Men’s Ski Jumping started off with a Team HS130 World Cup on Saturday, March 25th, with Casey Larson, Decker Dean, Andrew Urlaub and Erik Belshaw representing the United States. In the first round, Larson jumped to 107.0 meters, with Dean coming in at 106.5 meters, followed by Belshaw going 109.5 meters, and Urlaub adding 114.0 meters. This gave the foursome 390.7 total points, as they were unable to advance to the final round, finishing the day in 9th place.
The first event on Sunday, March 26th, was an HS130 Qualification for Men’s Ski Jumping. Dean recorded the highest finish of the day during qualification, placing 10th overall, after going 122.5 meters for 114.6 points. Belshaw followed in 12th place, as he went 120.0 meters for 112.6 points. Larson was the third and final athlete to qualify for the United States, placing 43rd overall, after putting together a 99.5 meter jump for 77.6 points. Urlaub finished 59th overall in qualification, jumping to 86.0 meters for 45.6 points, as he was unable to qualify.
The Individual HS130 World Cup was held later in the day on Sunday, as Dean, Belshaw and Larson took the hill. Due to inclement weather and wind, the second round of jumping was cancelled, and the first round of the Individual HS130 World Cup was used as the official result. During the first round, Larson went 103.5 meters for 80.1 points, as he ended his day in 42nd place. Dean was able to finish 29th overall, after putting together a 111.5 meter jump for 96.5 points, as he earned World Cup points for the second time this season. Belshaw recorded the highest finish of the day in 26th place, as he jumped to 118.5 meters for 99.4 points, giving him his third World Cup points of the 2022/2023 season.
