Strong Start for Good at Junior Worlds
RASNOV, Romania (Feb. 23, 2016) - Jasper Good (Steamboat Springs, CO, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) opened the FIS Nordic Junior Ski Championships strong on Monday, finishing 11th in the opening nordic combined event. Austria’s Bernhard Flaschberger took gold. It was a career best Junior Worlds finish for Good and matched the sixth best finish in U.S. history.
Good, 19, soared 88.5 meters on the HS100 meter hill, putting him into 15th. He started a minute, 22 seconds back in the 10k cross country.
“My performance in the first individual event was what I would consider a solid representation of my average level of competition,” Good said. “I have been consistent on the hill, which I was pleased with. However, I didn't feel as if I had a very strong race. With that being said I had a solid performance that I am happy with.”
Snow conditions in Rasnov have been challenging, with organizers bringing in snow to cover a narrow cross country track. Monday’s event had been moved up from its scheduled spot on Tuesday because of weather. A second individual competition, originally set for Sunday, has now been moved up to Wednesday on the HS100 meter hill with a 5k cross country. It will wrap up with a four-man team event, now scheduled with the jump Tuesday and cross country on Thursday.
Warm temperature and lack of snow have resulted in a shuffling of the event schedule. (Jeff Good)
American Ben Loomis (Eau Claire, WI, Flying Eagles Ski Club), who won a silver medal last week at the Youth Olympic Games, will be joining the team now in Rasnov.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Jasper Good’s 11th in the opening nordic combined event at the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships matched the sixth best finish in U.S. history.
- Good, 19, was 21st in the event at last year’s Junior Worlds, his best previous finish.
- The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club athlete is competing in his fourth Junior Worlds.
- It was the best U.S. nordic combined finish at Junior Worlds since Michael Ward (Aspen, CO) was ninth in 2012.
QUOTES
Jasper Good
My performance in the first individual event was what I would consider a solid representation of my average level of competition. I have been consistent on the hill, which I was pleased with. However, I didn't feel as if I had a very strong race. With that being said I had a solid performance that I am happy with.
As this is my last year of World Juniors I was very excited to see where I stack up against my age group.
This year's snow is scary at best. I’m happy that the organizers were able to pull off the events. Although it is not ideal conditions, I will take what I can get as everyone else is dealing with the same conditions and it's better than not competing at all!