Weekend Round Up

Ski Jumping continued its non-stop action on the World Cup circuit in Wisla, Poland.

Saturday Kevin Bickner was the lone American to qualify the day prior to compete in the World Cup.  He finished in 48^th place in the Wisla event.

Sunday Will Rhoads and Bickner both made it in the top 50 of the qualification, which was held immediately before the competition round.  In competition, Rhoads jumped to 50^th and Bickner 43^rd.

 

Continental Cup

Four USA Nordic men competed in the Ski Jumping COC in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany: AJ Brown, Casey Larson, Nick Matton and Brian Wallace.  Our top result both days was 38^th, from Brown on Saturday and Larson with the same place on Sunday.

 

 

Nordic Combined

The Nordic Combined World Cup circuit left Scandinavia for a three-day weekend in Val di Fiemme, Italy.

Friday Taylor Fletcher skied another blistering race, skiing up to finish 21^st from 46^th after jumping.

Saturday was the first 2-man Team Sprint event of the season.  The Fletcher’s skied the fastest team time of the day and moved up from 16^th to finish in 8^th, just 40 seconds back from the leaders.

Sunday Bryan Fletcher was back in the mix in the jumping, and finished a solid 13^th (with the 2^nd fastest race time).  Taylor sneaked into points in 30^th.  18-year-old Ben Loomis had his best ever World Cup finish in 39^th, just ahead of Ben Berend in 40^th.

 

Continental Cup

The USA Nordic Combined Continental Cup crew returned to their second competition of the season in the far north of Ruka, Finland.  It was a strong showing for the crew, with youngster Stephen Schumann and 20-year-old Jasper Good having career-best weekends.

Saturday Good led the way in 9^th, nabbing his first top 10 international result.  Schumann finished in 23^rd, and Loomis rounded out the points in 30^th after jumping to 41^st.

Sunday the US put 3 in the top 15; Loomis improved on his 14th place after jumping to finish in 7^th.  Schumann had his third straight PR in 13^rd, and Good finished 14^th.  Grant Andrews, a junior out of Steamboat Springs, CO, gained experience in his first international appearances, finishing in 39^th and 36^th out of 51 competitors.