PARK CITY, Utah (Feb. 14) – The U.S. Ski Team will send nine ski jumpers and four Nordic combined athletes to compete Feb. 21-28 in the 2008 FIS Nordic Junior World Championships in Zakopane, Poland.
U.S. Nordic Director Luke Bodensteiner said the Team, which follows the naming of a 22-member cross country squad, includes nine ski jumpers and and four Nordic combined skiers.
“This is a young team, and this event is an important experience for what can be long and successful international careers for these athletes. Ski jumping, which requires the skill and courage to explode at 50mph out of a 10-story building and then fly skillfully through the air, also requires athletes to develop high-level skills at a young age,” Bodensteiner said. “Nordic combined adds the aerobic power and endurance of cross country skiing, the development of which also has to happen at a young age. This championship will be a great test for all of these athletes.”
The U.S. teams for jumping and Nordic combined (date of birth, hometown, club program) at the 2008 FIS Nordic Junior World Championships Feb. 21-28:
Men's Ski Jumping
Nick Alexander, 8/24/88; Lebanon, NH (New York Ski Education Foundation)
Buck Bailey, 9/15/89; Park City, UT (National Sports Foundation)
Nick Fairall, 7/6/89; Andover, NH (Andover Outing Club)
Anders Johnson, 4/23/89; Park City, UT (National Sports Foundation)
Chris Lamb, 6/21/89; Andover, NH (New York Ski Education Foundation)
Women's Ski Jumping
Avery Ardovino, 2/13/92; Park City, UT (U.S. Ski Team/National Sports Foundation)
Brenna Ellis, 3/13/88; Park City, UT (U.S. Ski Team/National Sports Foundation)
Karin Friberg, 11/17/89; Roseville, MN (St. Paul Ski Club)
Sara Hendrickson, 8/1/94; Park City, UT (National Sports Foundation)
Nordic Combined
Brett Denney, 2/26/90; Steamboat Springs, CO (Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club)
Dan Englund, 9/18/89; Iron Mountain, MI (Kiwanis Ski Club)
Taylor Fletcher, 5/11/90; Steamboat Springs, CO (Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club)
Nick Hendrickson, 6/20/91; Park City, UT (National Sports Foundation)
Bodensteiner said Martin Bayer from the Steamboat Springs (CO) Winter Sports Clubis team leader for nordic combined, Women's Head Coach Kjell Ivar Magnusson leads the women jumpers and Jochen Dannenburg is team leader for the men jumpers.
The championships originally were set for Szczyrk, Poland, but were shifted because of poor snow conditions. The cross-country Junior Worlds and Under-23 championships, which are staged concurrently, will be held in Malles, Italy.
Source: USSA
