It’s been a great summer here in Park City and the USA Nordic staff have been hard at work preparing for another big season. The leaves are changing, plans for the winter are starting to come into focus, and our athletes are wrapping up the summer competition season. The summer has seen mixed results, but overall there were plenty of highlights.
Kevin Bickner led the charge for Men’s Ski Jumping this summer, tying a career best seventh place finish at the Summer Grand Prix in Hakuba, Japan. The result was a repeat of a year earlier, but Kevin felt that his results in Japan were more consistent this year, which is always the goal. Kevin’s other highlights included a podium finish at the Continental Cup in Kranj, Slovenia earlier this summer, when he had the longest jump of the second round, boosting himself to third. Michael Glasder also had a strong summer that included a pair of top 30 finishes on the Grand Prix tour. “The summer has been progressing steadily for me and the hard work from myself along with the coaching staff is starting to pay off,” said Glasder, “I’m looking to finish the summer season strong.” Most recently, Michael posted a career best 28th place in Chaikovsky, Russia.
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(Photo Credit – Romina Eggert)
Not to be outdone, Nordic Combined team leaders Bryan and Taylor Fletcher had some solid results of their own. Taylor has had the top result so far this summer, posting an 11th place in Oberwiestenthal, Germany, as well as another top 25 in Oberstdorf, Germany. While the jumping has been up and down, Taylor has shown that he’s as strong as ever on the race course. Taylor had race time ranks of second, third, and forth fastest, and currently wears the red bib as the fastest skier at the Summer Grand Prix series. Meanwhile, Bryan was able to finish in the top 30 three times, including 15th in Tschagguns, Austria, where he posted the sixth fastest time. In addition, Adam Loomis tied his best international result, finishing 28th in Oberstdorf in his only international action thus far.
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(Photo Credit – Romina Eggert)
Women’s Ski Jumping has had a solid summer, including four women finishing in the top 30 in multiple Summer Grand Prix competitions. Sarah Hendrickson has continued to improve on her path to recovery and finished the Grand Prix series ranked 14th overall for the summer. Her top results included a pair of top tens: eighth in Courchevel, France, and ninth in Frenstat, Czech Republic. “I am really proud of the progress I have made,” said Hendrickson adding that she was “ready for this season to start.”
Abby Ringquist, who has had one of her best summers ever, said that ” the consistency in my jumps, and in my results is a huge confidence booster going into the season.” Her results have including three top 20’s, and Ringquist finished her summer with a ranking of 19th. Both Tara-Geraghty Moats and Nita Englund nabbed a pair of top 30 finishes, with Tara placing 27th in Courchevel and 24th in Frenstat, and Nita placing 30th in Frenstat and 26th in Chaikovsky.
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(Photo Credit – FIS/Sandra Volk)
While the summer may not be over, it is winding down with only a few international competitions left before snow flies. The men’s Ski Jumping Summer Grand Prix will finish the first weekend in October, with events in Hinzenbach, Germany, and Klingenthal, Germany. The women’s Grand Prix has concluded for the summer, and the ladies will be home training for the fall. The Nordic Combined skiers have a pair of events in Planica, Slovenia, the last weekend in September, which will end their Summer Grand Prix season. On the domestic side, Lake Placid will host the LL Bean US Normal Hill Ski Jumping National Championships, as well as the LL Bean US Nordic Combined National Championships on October 7th and 8th for both men and women.
Thanks to all of you for your dedication to the sport and your support. These athletes couldn’t do what they do without the overwhelming support that our community gives to them.
