Weekend Recap – Zao World Cups & Klingenthal Continental Cups

Park City, Utah (January 22, 2024) – Women’s Ski Jumping competed at the World Cup events in Zao, Japan, this past weekend, with Men’s Nordic Combined sending athletes to the Continental Cup events in Klingenthal, Germany.

Women’s Ski Jumping – Zao, Japan (January 18-21)

Competition kicked-off on January 18th, as athletes took the hill for the HS102 Qualification. All three athletes who represented the United States in Zao were able to qualify, with Paige Jones coming in 30th (81.5 meters, 81.9 points), Annika Belshaw (83.0 meters, 79.8 points) coming in 33rd and Sam Macuga coming in 39th (77.0 meters, 68.2 points).

The Individual HS102 World Cup was then held on January 19th. In the first round, Jones went 77.0 meters for 74.8 points, placing 36th overall. Belshaw was right behind in 38th, as she put together a 79.5 meter jump for 74.5 points. Macuga rounded things off in 40th, jumping to 67.5 meters for 56.0 points, as all three athletes were unable to advance to the final round.

The next event was the Super Team HS102 World Cup on January 20th, with Belshaw and Jones competing for the United States. The duo placed 8th overall, after totaling 587.7 total points after three rounds of action. The final events of the weekend were set to be held on January 21st, but due to inclement weather, the HS102 Qualification and Individual HS102 World Cup were cancelled, ending Women’s Ski Jumping’s time in Zao, Japan.

Men’s Nordic Combined – Klingenthal, Germany (January 19-21)

The first event was held on January 19th, as athletes competed in the HS85/7.5km Continental Cup in Klingenthal. Erik Lynch placed 40th overall, with Gunnar Gilbertson coming in 53rd. The next event was on January 20th, with athletes competing in the HS85/10km COC, as Lynch finished 43rd overall and Gilbertson finished 53rd. The final event was on January 21st, as athletes competed in another HS85/10km COC. Lynch finished 44th, with Evan Nichols coming in 46th, and Gunnar Gilbertson rounding things off in 52nd.

Results

Women’s Ski Jumping – Zao, Japan

Men’s Nordic Combined – Klingenthal, Germany