The Utah Olympic Park was buzzing with excitement as athletes from across the nation flew for national titles in ski jumping and nordic combined.

Before getting into Saturday's jumping competition, the nordic combined skiers went head to head in a mass start race up the Utah Olympic Park road on roller skis. The mass start format, which is slowly being introduced to the World Cup circuit, flips the order of nordic combined. Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) crossed the finish line first followed by Jared Shumate (Park City, Utah) and Stephen Schumann (Park City, Utah). This meant that Fletcher went into today’s ski jumping competition with a sizeable lead on Jared Shumate and his other teammates.

On the women’s side, Annika Malacinski (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) won Friday night’s race ahead of Tess Arnone (Steamboat Springs, Colo.). Though she would head into Saturday’s jump with an advantage, she still needed to fend off Tess Arnone on the jump hill for the title.

On the jump hill, Grant Andrews and Annika Malacinski proved to be the best jumpers in the nordic combined event. Andrews flew 92.5 meters while Malacinski flew 70 meters. Malacinski started the sport of nordic combined just under two years ago. Saturday she won her first national championship. 

However, Malacinski is already looking forward. “First I want to better my technique, work on flying, and get faster at skiing,” she says. All of this is with one specific goal in mind. “The end goal is the Olympics,” she says. In five days Malacinski will head to Europe for a training camp, eager to keep improving at the torrid rate she has since starting the sport just two years ago.

While Malacinski’s long jump was enough to cement her title, Grant Andrew’s impressive jump couldn’t quite catapult him into the lead over Fletcher- though it was an exciting effort. Fletcher now has four national titles and continues to set the standard for the nordic combined team. “I’m getting older so it’s nice to show that I can still beat up on the younger guys a bit,” says Fletcher laughing. When asked if he was worried about any of his younger teammates he says, “I was definitely a little worried about Jared, he’s been progressing really well and Grant has been putting in good jumps.”

In the end, Fletcher’s speed on the course still keeps him unrivaled. Now Fletcher and the rest of the nordic combined team will take some time to recover before the Norwegian team arrives in Park City for a joint training camp. This will give the American athletes some exposure to the top competitors in the sport including World Champion Jarl Magnus Riiber.

In the ski jumping event, we saw some very close competition. After the first round, Kevin Bickner (Wauconda, Ill) and Nina Lussi (Lake Placid, N.Y.) were the leaders with 99 and 88.5 meter jumps respectively. Lussi went into the second round with a comfortable 10-point lead over Anna Hoffman (Madison, WI). Hoffman has had somewhat of a breakthrough summer posting career-best results so far. She continued that trend Saturday improving her second jump to 85.5 meters, not enough to oust Lussi but enough to land on her first-ever national championship podium.

This was Lussi’s third national title in ski jumping but, Saturday was extra special for her. The last time Lussi competed on this hill in Park City was during the 2018 Olympic Trials when she blew her knee out “I figured since I’ve been training on this hill the last few weeks, that I had put that behind me. Though the other day, I tweaked my knee a bit.” This definitely turned national championships into a mental battle for Lussi. “In the end, I had to have a little self-talk and I said to myself that I was going to jump.” Lussi’s then had two very solid jumps in today’s competition. She raised her skis above her head in the outrun and pumped her arms in celebration- smiling to the crowd. “I took it and went with it,” says Lussi.

Bickner headed into the second round with Casey Larson (Barrington, Ill.) and Decker Dean (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) seven and nine points behind. Consistency is key so Bickner by no means had things locked up. That is until he stomped down a 100-meter jump in the second round. When asked what it feels like to land at 100-meters Bickner says, “It’s not the most comfortable thing but it’s definitely a ton of fun.”

Bickner now has three national titles next to his name. This one was special though after a year where he claims there were some struggles. “I’ve had to fix a lot of things this summer, it’s been a lot of work,” says Bickner. The season is incredibly long and we are only in the middle of summer, however, progress is always celebrated. “Coming out and winning this title shows that I’m headed in the right direction,” says Bickner. He hopes to keep things moving in that direction as he flies off to Europe next week to compete in a few Summer Grand Prix events.

RESULTS
Men’s Nordic Combined
Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, Colo.)
Grant Andrews (Steamboat Springs, Colo.)
Stephen Schumann (Park City, Ut)

Women’s Nordic Combined
Annika Malacinski (Steamboat Springs, Colo.)
Tess Arnone (Steamboat Springs, Colo.)

Men’s Ski Jumping
Kevin Bickner (Wauconda, Ill.)
Casey Larson (Barrington, Ill.
Decker Dean (Steamboat Springs, Colo.)

Women’s Ski Jumping
Nina Lussi (Lake Placid, N.Y.)
Anna Hoffman (Madison, Wis.)
Annika Belshaw (Steamboat Springs, Colo)
 

It may be sizzling outside, but the 2019-20 ski season officially gets underway on July 1 for U.S Ski & Snowboard membership. For those athletes attending summer/fall camps or competing in the southern hemisphere, renewing your U.S. Ski & Snowboard membership early should be at the top of your to-do list.

For the 2019-20 competition season, all U.S. Ski & Snowboard adult members and athletes, excluding short term and some alpine masters members, are now required to complete periodic background screening and annual SafeSport training. 

“Renewing members are encouraged to get ahead of the curve by registering early - before the snow actually falls!” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Director of Member Services Sheryl Barnes. “That way athletes can get their SafeSport training and background screening completed and still have time for summer fun.”

Renewing athletes can get a jump on the season by taking their annual SafeSport training prior to renewing their membership by visiting www.SafeSport.org and signing in to their account and completing available courses. Just make sure to affiliate your U.S. Ski & Snowboard membership by providing your 7-digit membership number when you log into SafeSport. By doing this, SafeSport will provide U.S. Ski & Snowboard Member Services with updates on your progress and online course completion.

Seventeen-year-old athletes who will be turning 18 during the upcoming season may also complete their SafeSport training and get a jump start on their background check by registering early too. When you renew your membership, you’ll find a link on the final page of online registration. If you miss the link, Member Services will send an email with instructions within 1 business day of renewal/registration.

All renewing athletes are also eligible for a host of member benefits, including significant discounts on top winter, and summer, sports brands through U.S. Ski & Snowboard partners, and through U.S. Ski & Snowboard ExpertVoice platform. 

The early deadline for membership renewal is Oct 15. To renew your 2019-20 U.S. Ski & Snowboard Membership now simply log into your U.S. Ski & Snowboard account. You’ll find a link to register for background screening on the final page of online registration after payment. Don’t worry if you miss the link we’ll email instruction on both SafeSport training once your registration is complete. 

With Monday’s announcement from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarding the 2026 Olympic Winter Games to Milano-Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, current and future U.S. Ski & Snowboard Olympic Champions are reacting with excitement toward competing in Italy.

“A huge congratulations to Milano-Cortina for winning the 2026 Olympic Winter Games,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes have a history of success in Cortina d’Ampezzo, most notably Lindsey Vonn’s 12 World Cup wins there, a record for the venue, and most recently when Mikaela Shiffrin won her third career World Cup victory there this past January. The Olympics are the pinnacle of our sports and what drives each of our elite athletes across our seven teams to put in the hard work to train and compete towards being Best in the World. We are already well underway preparing for Beijing 2022, and look forward to competing in three new events: Freeski Big Air, Mixed Team Aerials and Mixed Team Snowboardcross.

“The Olympic movement pushes athletes to the best of their abilities to progress their sports and we are hopeful for even more opportunities for our fans to watch them in action, perhaps with the addition of a dual moguls event for 2026. Italy is a nation steeped in winter sports tradition and as Cortina d’Ampezzo will also play host to the 2020 FIS Ski World Cup Finals and the 2021 FIS Alpine World Championships, we look forward to bringing our athletes, staff, and supporters there leading into and in 2026.”

    - Tiger Shaw, U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO

The 2026 Olympics will mark the return to the European continent of the Games last held in the small Italian city of Turin in 2006.

The Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will see U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes compete at a number of venues that have previously hosted FIS Ski & Snowboard World Cup competitions. The women’s alpine skiing events will take place at Cortina d’Ampezzo, site of the 1956 Olympic Winter Games, and a highly-anticipated annual stop on the women’s FIS Ski World Cup circuit with downhill and super-G events. Mikaela Shiffrin (Edwards, Colo.) took her third career World Cup super-G victory at Cortina this past January.

“A big congratulations to Milano-Cortina on winning the 2026 Olympic bid!” exclaimed Shiffrin. “From the first moment I saw the Olympia delle Tofane track, I knew it was going to be one of my favorites. First of all, the Dolomites are a sight for sore eyes - the landscape is absolutely stunning, and the Cortina organizing committee does an incredible job prepping the surface. The sun always seems to be shining, and the Italian fans are among the most passionate on the tour. In my first World Cup super-G start at Cortina in 2017 I was fourth, and what stands out most about that day is that I just had SO much fun. Last year I won my third career super-G victory there. It’s a pure joy to ski on that track.”

Cortina d’Ampezzo is also scheduled to host the 2020 FIS Ski World Cup Finals and the 2021 FIS Alpine World Championships as a lead up to the 2026 Games. Bormio will host the men’s Olympic alpine events - featuring the Stelvio, one of the most spectacular, technical and difficult tracks in the world - having twice hosted the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 1985 and 2005 and many editions of the FIS World Cup.

Cross country, nordic combined and ski jumping will all take place at Val di Fiemme where Jessie Diggins (Affton, Minn.) and Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, Alaska) won the first-ever FIS Cross Country World Championships gold medal for the United States in 2013.

“I have so many fond memories of racing in Val di Fiemme, so I’m thrilled to see the Olympics come to Milano-Cortina!” said Diggins. “Italy is one of my favorite countries to live, train and race in, so this will be an exciting Games!”

Livigno will host snowboard, freeski, and freestyle competition, providing the small Italian village the opportunity to host international competition for the first time leading up the 2026 Games.

“Thinking all the way to 2026 seems a bit hard for me to grasp. I’m still enjoying my Olympic experience from 2018 in South Korea and have my eye’s set for 2022 in Beijing,” said 2018 Olympic snowboard slopestyle gold medalist Red Gerard. “It’s hard to get too much further than that for my goals, but I am sure Italy will be a cool change and it’s nice to see the Winter Olympics back to another part of the world. I hope to have the chance to represent the U.S. in Italy and look forward to the opportunity.”

The 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic Winter Games will provide an inspirational urban setting of a modern metropolis united with the uplifting and traditional mountain-setting of the spectacular Italian Alps: the Dolomites. Athletes, spectators and the Olympic Family will experience Italy’s passion and enjoy the cultural and social pleasures that draw millions of visitors to Milano and the Dolomites every year. Milano’s storied 80,000-seat Stadio Giuseppe Meazza soccer stadium is slated to host the opening ceremony, with the closing ceremonies taking place in a Roman amphitheater in Verona.