RAMSAU AM DACHSTEIN, Austria (Dec. 15) – Bryan Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) notched his best finish so far this season, the second-fastest time of the day and the top result for the USA, finishing seventh in the nordic combined World Cup on Sunday. U.S. teammate Billy Demong (Vermontville, NY) also posted his season-best result in ninth, while Germany’s Eric Frenzel won the 10k race. The nordic combined World Cup moves to Schonach, Germany Dec. 21-22 while Demong heads to the U.S. for the FIS Continental Cup in Park City and Soldier Hollow in Utah Dec. 17-19.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Bryan Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) notched his best finish so far this season, the second-fastest time of the day and the top result for the USA, finishing seventh in the Ramsau nordic combined World Cup on Sunday.
- U.S. teammate Billy Demong (Vermontville, NY) also posted his season-best result in ninth, while Germany’s Eric Frenzel won the 10k race.
- Demong jumped into 16th and started 49 seconds back, while Fletcher jumped into 30th and 1:09 back.
- Norway's Haavard Klemetsen won the jump with Germany's Eric Frenzel third, just eight seconds back. They went on to control the cross country race.
- Demong began to move up slowly but by the midway mark Fletcher had cut the gap to just 20 seconds. He was still in 20th because of the congestion of everyone in one big pack.
- Fletcher caught Demong at around kilometer six of the 10k race and they skied together in a pack about 10-12 seconds back before Fletcher moved ahead in the final kilometer.
- The nordic combined World Cup moves to Schonach, Germany Dec. 21-22, while Demong heads to the U.S. for the FIS Continental Cup at the 2002 Olympic venues in Park City and Soldier Hollow in Utah Dec. 17-19.
QUOTES
Bryan Fletcher
Today was an awesome day on the XC course. We had great skis from our techs and both Bill and I skied a tactically solid race. It's definitely tough racing in packs as tight as it was today. With so many people fighting for the same position, both Bill and I were blocked out a little at the end of the race and potentially could have been better. However, overall I think we both felt like today was a success.
Moving forward, I am looking to hopefully continue my strong streak of racing as well as improve my jumping in Shonach for next weekend’s World Cups. I have not been at my best on the jump hill but I am making progress with each and every day, and I look forward to more chances/opportunities to improve!
Billy Demong
Today was a good step in the right direction. I've had some really good jumps on snow this year and I was excited to be able to show it after having kind of a rough start with disqualifications. I am driving to Munich now and will be racing at soldier hollow on Tuesday!
Dave Jarrett
Billy is beginning to jump more like the form he is capable of jumping. Todd has been very strong, especially in training, but hasn't brought the same form to competition jumps. Bryan has been working hard and still figuring out some equipment issues but I think his is on the right path. Both Billy and Bryan skied a great race and were in lead group on the last lap but couldn’t quite match Erik and Haavard's final kick. Bryan had the second fastest time and had in fact led Mikko for a good portion of the race.
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