Steven Schumann of the U.S. Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Championships at the Springer Tournament/USA Nordic. Photo: @usskiteam // @steven_kornreich @USANORDIC
PARK CITY, Utah — In the world of winter sports, Nordic combined is facing a critical juncture that threatens its Olympic presence. The combined sport, which combines ski jumping and cross-country skiing, is on the verge of excluding men from the Olympic Games, while efforts to add women's Nordic combined to the 2030 Olympics have met resistance. Amid these challenges, a passionate community is coming together under the banner of United States Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping (USANS) to secure the future of the sport that has been an Olympic staple since 1924.
The Nordic Combined Pathway to Success (NCPS) initiative is led by a coalition of parents, former athletes, coaches and stakeholders. The NCPS aims to ensure the inclusion of both men's and women's Nordic combined events in the 2030 Olympic Games and promotes the need for collective action to protect and promote the sport's heritage and prospects on the world stage. That's what I'm aiming for.
According to the NCPS, the potential removal of Nordic combined from the Olympic roster does not simply represent the loss of a sporting event. It means a changing landscape for winter sports, with established athlete development programs at risk of being dismantled and the profile that propels young talent onto the international stage reduced.
“Park City has been a leader in producing Nordic combined athletes like Stephen Schuman, who is currently one of the top American Nordic combined athletes on the World Cup circuit,” said Tom Bickner, chairman of the USA Nordic Board of Directors.
“Most importantly, Park City is home to an up-and-coming generation of athletes who have Olympic dreams of competing in Nordic Combined. If Nordic Combined were to be excluded from the Olympics, it would be devastating to the sport.” This will ultimately lead to a reduction in funding and competitive opportunities at the national and international level.”
NCPS' strategy to avoid this predicament includes a marketing and communication plan aimed at increasing national and international interest in the Nordic Union. This initiative aims to provide critical financial support to the U.S. Nordic Combined Team and increase its competitiveness and visibility by securing significant sponsorships and private donations.
NCPS also plans to host a World Cup in the United States by 2025 to increase the sport's appeal to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Ski Federation (FIS).
Inclusive representation is a key goal of NCPS, which advocates for both men's and women's Nordic combined at Olympic level. This is in line with the IOC's own agenda to promote diversity and inclusion at the Olympic Games.
“USA Nordic and its recently formed task force are committed to ensuring that both men's and women's Nordic combined compete in the 2030 Olympics and beyond,” said Roberts, an attorney and member of the U.S. Women's Nordic Combined team. said Jill Brabec, who is also Alexa Brabec's parent. . “Nordic Combined is one of the coolest sports out there. With the skill and mental strength of ski jumping and the endurance and grit of cross-country skiing, this sport has it all. We need to spread the word and remind the Olympic Committee why our sport, with its 100-year history and young generation of ambitious, gritty male and female athletes, is the best in the world.”
The initiative's leadership, led by Brabec, is inviting the broader Nordic Union community to join its efforts. His Zoom meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled for his April 2nd at 6:30pm MDT, where he will share insights on the challenges ahead and how individuals can contribute to this cause. I'll give you an overview.
To join the Zoom meeting, use ID: 843 8881 4018 and passcode: 277921.
