The US Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined National Championships took place last weekend in Lake Placid, NY, bringing both breakout moments and heartbreak for the Nordic Combined team.
Following a competitive jumping round on Saturday in the Large Hill HS128 Compact, Ben Loomis started the race in first place with Stephen Schumann, Niklas Malacinski and Carter Brubaker skiing in a tight group during the first half of the 7.5km race, with Loomis and Schumann pulling ahead for a neck and neck race for the National Champion title going to Loomis, 2nd to Schumann, and Brubaker moving up to claim 3rd.
Sunday's event was filled with breakout moments and a few very close finishes. Brubaker continued his weekend podium streak and was crowned National Champion in Sunday's Normal Hill HS100 Gundersen competition. Brubaker led the race following his strong jumping and never seemed to tire on the 10km course, while Loomis continued his consistency skiing to 2nd place. Spectators enjoyed a sprint finish for 3rd between Erik Lynch and Henry Johnstone where Lynch edged out Johnstone at the finish line.
The women's Nordic Combined competitions brought more excitement to the weekend with the return of Tara Geraghty Moats and the thrill of the up-and-coming Caroline Chor. In Saturday's Large Hill HS128 Compact competition, Alexa Brabec set the bar with a strong jump putting her in the front of the women's race. Geraghty Moats showed her strength on the racecourse with incredible speed to claim the National Champion title with Brabec coming in 2nd and Annika Malacinski in 3rd.
During Sunday's Normal Hill HS100 Gundersen competition, Brabec's strong jump put her again in first position going into the race. Geraghty Moats was able to make up time on the ski course and overtook Brabec in the last lap of the race for the National Championship title. Chor, just 14 years old, soared down the jumps both days to set her starting position 1st on Saturday and 2nd on Sunday. After sitting out the race on Saturday, Chor held onto her strong time advantage over the rest of the women to claim 3rd place in Sunday's competition.
Outside of the Nordic Combined competitions, Brabec was named National Champion in the Normal Hill Ski Jumping while Chor claimed 3rd and also 2nd for the Large Hill Ski Jumping.
Congratulations to the athletes for their strong performances, and a huge thank you to the coaches and event coordinators.
The heartbreak came when Stephen Schumann, a longtime national team member known for his speed on the cross-country course, sustained a serious knee injury during Sunday's Normal Hill competition. The Nordic Combined family is sending support and encouragement to Stephen and wishing for a speedy recovery.