U.S. Ski Jumping, NoCo Nationals This Weekend: What to Know

For the fifth-straight year, the U.S. Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Championships are about to take place in the middle of summer with events Saturday and Sunday in Park City, Utah.

U.S. Nordic Combined teammates working out during a June training camp in Park City, Utah. Defending national champion Billy Demong (c) is seeking his ninth U.S. title at the U.S. Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Championships this weekend in Park City. Johnny Spillane (l) was last year’s runner-up at nationals, and Bryan Fletcher (r) placed third. (Dave Jarrett courtesy photo)

The nation’s best, including defending champions Billy Demong and Jessica Jerome, will descend on the Utah Olympic Park ski jumps in Park City and Soldier Hollow ski area in Midway for two days of dryland competition, according to the USSA website.

Here’s what you need to know about this weekend’s nationals:

What: 2013 U.S. Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Championships

Where: Park City

When: Aug. 4-5 (Ski jumping starts at 8 a.m. Saturday; nordic-combined rollerski final at 1 p.m. Saturday)

Favorites: 

• Demong, an Olympic gold medalist and eight-time national champion who won last year’s nationals in Fox River Grove, Ill.
• Jerome, who also has eight U.S. titles and won on the large hill last year.

• Peter Frenette of Saranac Lake, N.Y, large-hill defending champion with three national titles to his name and two top-10 finishes in FIS Continental Cups this summer
• Anders Johnson of Park City, who won the normal-hill title last year and has three Continental Cup top-20s this summer