Malacinski 13th in World Cup Opener
The men’s U.S. Nordic Combined Team kicked off the 2024-25 World Cup season in Ruka, Finland, this weekend with exciting performances, including a top-five jump, two athletes in the top 20 overall, a new PR and all four men scoring World Cup points.
The weekend consisted of three events, each with a different format and some fast, exhilarating ski races. Thursday, Nov. 28, was a double PCR, or Provisional Competition Round, part of every event as a back-up in case jumping is canceled on the day of competition. Niklas Malacinski got the world’s attention with a jump of 126.5 meters, landing him in fifth place overall.
Friday’s race was the Individual Compact Large Hill HS142, a 7.5k ski race with start times compacted into a tighter window. This makes for a more exciting ski race that typically benefits fast skiers, of which the U.S. men are ranked. All four U.S. men landed in the top 40, with Erik Lynch scoring his first World Cup points: Malacinski 21, Loomis 25, Schumann 33, Lynch 40.
Malacinski made headlines again in Saturday’s race when he held tight with the second lead pack to finish in 13th place. This was another Gundersen Large Hill HS142 with a 10k ski race this time. Malacinski jumped 126 meters, which landed him in 12th place after ski jumping, and he followed that up with an incredible ski, sticking with the best athletes in the world to finish 13th place overall and a new personal best. Following closely behind was Ben Loomis in 17th, giving the U.S. men an impressive start to the season.
Next, the U.S. Nordic Combined team will head to Lillehammer, Norway, where the women will join the men for another weekend of World Cup competition.