Nordic Junior Worlds Team Named

PARK CITY, UT (Feb. 3, 2016) – The U.S. Ski Team has named 14 nordic combined and ski jumping athletes to compete in the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships in Rasnov, Romania February 23-28.

Jasper Good (Steamboat Springs, CO/Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) will lead the five-member nordic combined squad, competing in his fourth Junior Worlds. Kevin Bickner (Park City, UT/Norge Ski Club) heads up a four-man men’s ski jumping team, taking a break from competing on the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup tour to participate in his third Junior Worlds. Logan Sankey (Steamboat Springs, CO/Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) returns for a second time to Junior Worlds, joining her teammates for the five-woman jumping team. The five women from clubs around the country have come through Women's Ski Jumping USA's Fly Girls development program.

Casey Larson, Sankey and Loomis are also members of the Youth Olympic Games team that will compete this month in Lillehammer, Norway, prior to Junior Worlds.

Competition begins in Rasnov February 24, the first time the event has been in Romania. In 2017, the Junior Worlds will come to the USA, with Utah playing host to the event at the Utah Olympic Park and Soldier Hollow Olympic venues.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships (athletes 19 and under) are taking place in Rasnov, Romania Feb. 23-28.
• Athletes were selected based on competition results this season.
• Athletes from five different USSA club programs are on the team, including five from the Norge Ski Club in suburban Chicago.
• The team includes three 15-year-old athletes.
• The 2017 FIS Nordic Junior World Championships will be held at Utah’s Olympic venues in Park City and Soldier Hollow.
• The Junior Worlds has been held only once previously in America, on the Olympic venues of Lake Placid in 1986. It will be the first time in the USA for the U23 Championships.
• The National Nordic Foundation has provided support for the Junior Worlds teams.

2016 FIS NORDIC JUNIOR WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM
Name, Hometown, Birthdate (USSA Club)

NORDIC COMBINED

Jasper Good, Steamboat Springs, CO 5/10/96 (Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club)
Ben Loomis, Eau Claire, WI 6/9/98 (Flying Eagles Ski Club/Park City Nordic Ski Club)
Stephen Schumann, Salt Lake City 3/14/00 (Park City Nordic Ski Club)
Jared Shumate, Park City, UT 3/6/99 (Park City Nordic Ski Club)
Koby Vargas, Steamboat Springs, CO 5/31/98 (Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club)

Coach: Martin Bayer

SKI JUMPING

Men

Kevin Bickner, Park City, UT 9/23/96 (Norge Ski Club)

Patrick Gasienica, Spring Grove, IL 11/28/98 (Norge Ski Club)  

Casey Larson, Barrington, IL 12/16/98 (Norge Ski Club)

Nate Mattoon, Eau Claire, WI 9/22/98 (Flying Eagles Ski Club)

Coaches: Blake Hughes, Scott Smith

Women
Gabby Armstrong, Lake Placid, NY 12/6/98 (New York Ski Education Foundation)
Mollie Immens, Fox River Grove, IL 3/23/00 (Norge Ski Club)
Sophia Nester, Park City, UT 12/17/99 (Park City Nordic Ski Club)
Cara Larson, Barrington, IL 11/5/00 (Norge Ski Club)
Logan Sankey, Steamboat Springs, CO 5/28/98 (Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club)

Coach: Lindsey Van

COMPETITION SCHEDULE

Rasnov, Romania

Feb. 23 – Opening Ceremony

Feb. 24 – Nordic combined HS100/10k
Feb. 25 – Men’s/women’s HS100-meter ski jump
Feb. 26 – Nordic combined team event HS100/4x5k

Feb. 27 – Men’s HS100-meter team ski jump
Feb. 28 – Mixed gender HS100-meter team ski jump
Feb. 28 – Nordic combined HS100/5k

Feb. 28 – Closing Ceremony