U.S. Nordic Combined coach Dave Jarrett talks about the cause and effect of a string of World Cup cancellations this season. "Every race that we have had the ability to start five guys on the World Cup has been canceled so far, and we are not going to get those chances back," he explains.
Jump, ski, repeat. That was the mantra in Park City and Midway, Utah, last weekend as some of the world’s best nordic combined skiers converged for a series of three Continental Cup races. Taylor Fletcher placed third, second and finally first to secure a fifth quota spot for the U.S. team at the World Cup.
Park City hosted the first Nordic Combined Continental Cup of the season last week with jumping at Utah Olympic Park and the 10 k races at the Gorgoza tubing hill, moved there because of a lack of snow. Taylor Fletcher posted the two best U.S. performances in fifth and eighth place, followed by Billy Demong.
On Saturday, a fundraiser was held in Aspen, Colo., to help support local U.S. Ski Team cross-country athletes Simi Hamilton and Noah Hoffman and nordic combined skier Michael Ward in their quest for international success. A few hundred community members came through the doors over the course of the evening, the sense of pride in their hometown practically tangible. It’s rare, when covering a sport largely from afar, to witness the inspirational power athletes have...