Steamboat skiers land six slots on 2024-25 U.S. Nordic Combined National Team
Original published in Steamboat Pilot & Today on September 18, 2024
Steamboat skiers land six slots on 2024-25 U.S. Nordic Combined National Team | SteamboatToday.com
Breaking News -
U.S. Ski and Snowboard on Wednesday named the 14 athletes who will compete on the 2024-25 U.S. Nordic Combined National Team.
This year’s roster features six Nordic combined skiers from Steamboat Springs, the most of any town on the list.
“I’m thrilled to announce this year’s Nordic combined teams,” said Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined Sports Director Anders Johnson. “Their impressive progress over the past year has been remarkable and a true testament to their hard work and dedication. I’m really looking forward to watching this team excel this season on the World Cup tour and at the World Championships in Trondheim, Norway.”
U.S. Nordic Combined National Team 2024-25
A Team — Ben Loomis – Eau Claire, WI; Annika Malacinski – Steamboat Springs; Niklas Malacinski – Steamboat Springs; Stephen Schumann – Park City, UT.
B Team — Alexa Brabec – Steamboat Springs; Kai McKinnon – Lake Placid, NY; Carter Brubaker – Anchorage, AK.
Development Team — Skylar Amy – Anchorage, AK; Haley Brabec – Steamboat Springs; Ian Carmak – Park City, UT; Augie Roepke – Park City, UT; Arthur Tirone – Steamboat Springs; Ella Wilson – Steamboat Springs; Caleb Zuckerman – Hanover, NH.
The 2023-24 U.S. Nordic combined season featured personal-best finishes across the World Cup circuit. Steamboat’s Annika Malacinski was the top-finishing American in the overall World Cup standings this past winter at 14th. She placed in the top-10 three times and reached a personal-best eighth-place in Ramsau, Austria.
Alexa Brabec had similar success for the women, earning the title of Nordic Combined Athlete of the Year while recording a personal best World Cup finish by taking 10th in Seefeld, Austria, and 21st in the overall World Cup standings. She also became the first American woman to medal in Nordic combined at the Junior World Championships, where she stood atop the podium twice with two silver medals in Planica, Slovenia, earlier this year.
Niklas Malacinski closed the season with personal bests by finishing 14th. Niklas, along with Loomis and Schumann, all landed in the top 30 overall for the men’s Nordic combined World Cup standings — a feat that has not occurred for the United States in a decade.
In June, it was announced that major changes would take place with the funding structure for the sport. The solution was the establishment of Nordic Combined USA, an organization created to provide funding for the coaching, equipment and travel expenses for the U.S. National Team as well as to develop a sustainable model for the future of the sport in the U.S.
“This team has great potential for the year ahead,” said Jill Brabec, president of Nordic Combined USA. “We are committed to funding these athletes so that they can pursue their sport at the highest level and represent the U.S. on the international stage.”
“Our sport is facing a critical time with a decision looming from the International Olympic Committee regarding the addition of women and continued inclusion of men in the 2030 Olympics,” Jill Brabec added. “This is the only Winter Olympic sport that does not allow women. The success of our national team and our ability to promote the sport and raise awareness are critical to the future of the sport.”
The Nordic combined season begins with U.S. Nationals in Lake Placid, New York, from Oct. 12-13. The World Cup season opens in Ruka, Finland Nov. 29 – Dec. 1. The season wraps up for the women in Oslo, Norway March 14-16, and in Lahti, Finland March 21-23 for the men.