Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Athletes Podium at Youth Olympic Games Qualifier
The SSWSC ski jumping and nordic combined teams competed last week, October 10-11, 2023, at the USA Nordic National Championships and Youth Olympic Games qualifier. Athletes competing against the nation’s top athletes in ski jumping and nordic combined events at the Olympic Jumping Complex in Lake Placid, NY. It was the first of two qualifiers for the 2024 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). The Youth Olympic Games occur every four years and are limited to athletes under 18. This year, it’s being hosted in Pyeongchang, South Korea, the site of the 2018 Winter Olympics. At the Youth Olympic Games qualifier, SSWSC athletes had strong results. The boys swept the ski jumping podium with Jason Colby in 1st place, Sawyer Graves in 2nd, and Arthur Tirone in 3rd. SSWSC’s Ella Wilson was 4th, and Haley Brabec was 5th in the girl’s ski jumping competition. In nordic combined, SSWSC athletes Ella Wilson and Arthur Tirone both won their events, and Haley Brabec was 3rd. With these results, Jason Colby and Sawyer Graves are currently in a solid qualification position for a spot on the Youth Olympics Game team for ski jumping and Ella Wilson and Arthur Tirone are in a solid position for nordic combined.

The Youth Olympic Games team for ski jumping and nordic combined has very limited spots, two per gender per sport—two nordic combined boys, two nordic combined girls, two ski jumping boys, and two ski jumping girls. Of the eight total spots, four SSWSC athletes are currently sitting in qualification position. The final qualifier is on the home venue in Steamboat Springs at Winterstart, December 9-10, 2023.

Ski Jumping - Boys
1st Jason Colby
2nd Sawyer Graves
3rd Arthur Tirone

Ski Jumping - Girls
4th Ella Wilson
5th Haley Brabec

Nordic Combined - Boys
1st Arthur Tirone

Nordic Combined - Girls
1st Ella Wilson
3rd Haley Brabec

Immediately following the Youth Olympic Games qualifier, Jason Colby flew to Romania for a FIS Cup. Scoring points at a FIS Cup event allows athletes to compete at an even higher level during the winter. There were two ski jumping competitions on Saturday, October 14, and Sunday, October 15, and Colby placed 5th on Saturday and landed a podium spot on Sunday, placing 3rd.

2023 USA Nordic National Championships – Men’s & Women’s Nordic Combined
The 2023 USA Nordic National Championships took place on October 10 at the same venue in Lake Placid, NY last week, and SSWSC alumnae Annika Malacinski placed first overall in the women’s competition, followed by Alexa Brabec in second. In the men’s competition, SSWSC alum Niklas Malacinski place second. MORE DETAILS

2023 USA Nordic National Championships – Men’s & Women’s Ski Jumping
The 2023 USA Nordic National Championships took place on October 11 at the same venue as with the HS128 Large Hill event. SSWSC alumnae Annika Belshaw placed first overall in the women’s competition and her brother Erik Belshaw finished first overall in the men’s competition. MORE DETAILS