10-17-04
It has been another great summer for USA Nordic Combined. Here is a quick recap of what has happened this summer.
Todd Lodwick and Johnny Spillane finished first and third respectively in the overall Nordic Combined Summer Grand Prix. Todd won 3 times individually and once with Johnny in a Team Sprint. Johnny was on the podium twice individually, sharing an individual victory with Todd. Actually, Johnny and Todd crossed the finish line together in Oberstdorf although they gave the victory to Todd in a photo finish. Hopefully we see a repeat there this winter when it really counts!!
Bill Demong, Carl Vanloan, and Eric Camerota competed in the first 3 competitions in the SUGP. Bill finished in the top 20 in every competition with his best result 11th in Kandersteg, Switzerland. Carl's best result was 19th in Kandersteg as well. Eric jumped very well and actually had the longest jump in training in Kandersteg. However, he is not quite as proficient on rollerblades as he is on rollerskis and didn't fare too well in the rollerblade races.
A few weeks after returning from Europe, Eric Camerota and Carl Vanloan traveled to Chicago for the Super Tour Competition on the new hill at Norge Ski Club. It was a great trip for Eric as he won the Super Tour Competition there on the K70 hill.
Jed Hinkley spent 3 months in Europe on his own this summer, training with a number of different teams. He trained the Austrians in Ramsau, the French in Courchevel, and the Germans in Klingenthal. He competed in Czech Nationals in Harrachov. He jumped to 2nd and like some of his teammates doesn’t spend as much time on the rollerblades as many of the Central European teams and ended up 7th. However, that was a great jumping result for Jed.
Alex Glueck and Brett Camerota have been working extremely hard here in Park City and are going to be ready for a productive season. They traveled to Lake Placid for the 4th of July Super Tour and had some positive results against a strong field.
Bill, Jed, Eric, Alex, and Brett will be starting on WCB in the first period. We are leaving for the last summer camp in Lake Placid from October 14th-24th. Todd, Johnny, and Carl start the first period on WCA are going to do a low altitude camp in San Diego for the last 10 days of October and they go to Europe to begin an on snow training camp in Lillehammer November 6th.
World Cup A opens in Kuusamo, Finlnad November 27th-28th.
World Cup B opens in Steamboat, USA Decemeber 11th-12th.
We would like to congratulate all the athletes on their success and hard work this summer and look forward to an awesome winter!!
USA Nordic Combined Staff
In case you don't have these addresses, here are three sites that give NC results very quickly after the competitions:
http://www.klingenthal.de/vsc/Weltcup-B/wcb-home.htm
http://www.nordische-kombination.de/