The Men’s USA Ski Jumping team competed in Ruka, Finland, this weekend. Representing the team were Tate Frantz, Kevin Bickner, Casey Larson, Jason Colby, and Erik Belshaw, each ready to take on the HS142.
The competition in Ruka was originally scheduled to begin with qualification on Friday, but strong winds forced a postponement until Saturday evening, just ahead of the competition. It was then that the athletes suited up for the first time in Ruka. Larson, Frantz, and Colby advanced to the first round of competition, with Frantz and Colby progressing to the final round. Colby celebrated a career milestone, earning his first-ever World Cup points with a 28th-place finish. Frantz delivered a solid performance, climbing the rankings after his first jump to secure 21st place.
On Sunday, the athletes returned to the hill for another attempt under challenging conditions. The wind persisted throughout the night, creating a tricky environment to navigate. Despite the obstacle, Bickner, Larson, Colby, and Frantz advanced through qualification to compete in the first round. Larson narrowly missed advancing to the second round, finishing just one spot shy in 31st place. Frantz followed closely behind in 32nd, while Colby and Bickner rounded out the team’s results, finishing in 40th and 42nd place. The second round was cut short due to the tricky conditions, so the official results were determined by the first round.
Results:
https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=JP&eventid=55868&seasoncode=2025
