(January 20, 2025)
World Cup: Japanuary! Belshaw Scores Points
Annika Belshaw, Paige Jones, and Sam Macuga kicked off the first stop of what fans have dubbed “Japanuary,” competing in Sapporo, Japan on the HS134. Belshaw and Jones both qualified for the opening competition, with Belshaw securing 23rd place thanks to a strong second-round jump. Jones, in her first competition back after recovering from a concussion, finished in 36th place, marking a solid return to the hill.
On Sunday, Belshaw advanced to the second round, delivering a solid performance to finish in 28th place. Meanwhile, Jones showed improvement, climbing a few spots to secure a 34th-place finish.
The girls next mission is in Zao, Japan next weekend.
Zakopane, Poland: Bickner Secures Another Top 15 Finish
The men’s team tackled the HS140 in Zakopane, Poland, delivering a weekend full of exciting performances. The action kicked off with the Team Event, where Andrew Urlaub, Kevin Bickner, Tate Frantz, and Erik Belshaw all showcased strong jumps, advancing the team into the second round. They capped the day with a solid 7th-place finish.
Saturday brought the Individual competition, with Frantz, Bickner, and Belshaw qualifying to compete. Bickner led the charge with an impressive 15th-place finish, followed by Frantz in 25th. Belshaw, returning to the World Cup stage after a short break, earned 34th in a promising comeback performance.
The men are heading back to Obserstdorf, Germany, next weekend, but this time for… Ski Flying!
Continental Cup: Bischofshofen, Austria
Josie Johnson, Sandra Sproch, and Estella Hassrick represented the USA in Bischofshofen, Austria, competing on the HS142 for the Intercontinental Cup. Johnson had an impressive weekend, securing 8th place on the first day and climbing to 7th on the second. Sproch made solid progress, finishing 29th on day one and improving to 24th on day two. Hassrick also showed consistency, placing 31st on the first day and advancing to 27th on the second.
