The US Nordic Combined National Championships wrapped up this past weekend in Lake Placid at the Lake Placid Olympic Ski Jumping Complex and Mt Van Hoevenberg. Two new National Champions were named. Alexa Brabec claimed her first national title in the women’s competition, racing from second place after the jump to secure victory with the fastest time of the day. In the men’s event, Niklas Malacinski won his first national title, edging out Ben Loomis in an exciting sprint finish.
National team athlete, Alexa Brabec, started the cross-country portion of the competition in second place with a 77-meter jump, while Ella Wilson of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club led the way after an impressive 81-meter jump. Brabec briskly raced her way to the top step of the podium with the fastest race time of the day. She chased down Wilson, who finished in second place, with Brabec’s younger sister, Hailey Brabec, rounding out the women’s podium in third. When asked about her first national title, Alexa Brabec said she is “quite happy with how these Nationals went” and with the first World Cup events around the corner is “looking forward to continuing into the winter season.” Wilson “felt good about my performance, especially in the jumping” and is “excited to keep this upward trend going this winter.” Hailey Brabec shared that “Nationals was an exciting start to the season” and she “felt strong in the race.”
National team athlete Ben Loomis was “thrilled with the jumping” and led the way after a massive 102-meter jump, with Niklas Malacinski not far behind, jumping 101.5 meters. Loomis had a 32-second lead on Malacinski going into the race, with Malacinski closing the gap, making for an exciting fight and an even more exciting finish. The two athletes pushed the pace on the last lap, going swing for swing, with Malacinski finishing 2.5 seconds ahead of Loomis for his first US National Title. Loomis enjoyed the competition, saying, “Racing together with Niklas made for an exciting finish and a fun day of competition.” After the competition, Malacinski said he was “thrilled with this weekend’s performance, claiming his first national title. It was a huge milestone,” and he’s “feeling confident as (he) gears up for the upcoming season.”
The fight for the third step on the podium had multiple athletes in close contention, with Arthur Tirone, Carter Brubaker, Henry Johnstone, and Stephen Schumann competing. Schumann, with the fastest race time of the day, attempted to close the gap to the leaders, working his way through the field to round out the podium in third place. Schumann said, “I am satisfied with my race, but am searching for a bit more on the ski jump going into the coming World Cup season,” but also that “he is excited to see the level of his teammates.”
Nationals is a unique opportunity to bring the whole community together and build more excitement around the sport. Ben Loomis said, “It was great to have the whole team together and everyone put on a great show.” Beyond the national team, there were impressive performances from junior athletes like Ella Wilson (2nd), Hailey Brabec (3rd), and Arthur Tirone (8th). When asked about his performance, after impressing on the jump to go off the start line in 3rd knowing Olympians were starting behind him, Arthur Tirone said, “The race was very eye-opening, but it has made me more ready than ever to start taking my training to the next level.” With the Nordic Junior World Championships in Lake Placid around the corner, Tirone is excited to “start preparations following an amazing weekend.” With other athletes such as Anders Giese, Ella Wilson, and Hailey Brabec competing by his side, they are set to impress.
