PARK CITY, UT (Nov. 24, 2015) – Olympians Bryan and Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) were named to the 2016 U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team. They will open the 2015-16 season this weekend with the kickoff to the International Ski Federation’s Nordic Combined World Cup tour in Ruka, Finland.
The brothers are coming off good seasons, but both are also looking to improve on jumping. The 2015 season was a breakthrough for Taylor, who landed his first podium (second in Sapporo). Bryan was fifth at World Championships and scored six individual top tens. But both know that jumping is holding them back – especially Taylor, who is consistently one of the fastest in the world in the cross country phase of nordic combined.
“My biggest goal (this summer) was to make some headway with the jumping,” said Taylor Fletcher. “This spring we took a different approach with jumping and it has seemed to work. Of course with every sport you have good and bad days. To come away from the day's competition and feel that I had a good result on both aspects of our sport will be important.”
“Summer has been a building period for me,” added brother Bryan. “Knowing that the cross country side is pretty much where it needs to be, the focus was very much on jumping this year. I needed to start over with new feelings and new ideas to hopefully build a solid base again and reach a higher level in competition performance.”
“Bryan has been working hard on jumping,” said Head Coach Dave Jarrett. “He is in good shape and will be fighting for high places. Taylor’s jumping has improved significantly and now he needs to perform well in each and every qualification and comp on the hill to the best of his ability and potential. We all know he is one the fastest cross country guys on the circuit so the closer he starts to front the easier it will be for good results.”
The nordic combined World Cup team poses at the jumps at the Utah Olympic Park jumps. (USSA-Tom Kelly)
In addition to the Fletcher brothers, who have qualified for national team selection criteria, four other athletes will be competing on the World Cup tour. They include Ben Berend (Steamboat Springs, CO/Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club), Jasper Good (Steamboat Springs, CO/SSWSC), Adam Loomis (Eau Claire, WI/Flying Eagles Ski Club) and Michael Ward (Aspen, CO/Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club).
The U.S. Ski Team will enter four skiers into the opening World Cups including Bryan and Taylor Fletcher, Loomis and Good. They will compete Thanksgiving weekend in Ruka, then head to Lillehammer, Norway. It will be the first World Cup for Good, who was on the 2015 Junior Worlds Team and had a strong season on the Continental Cup. Loomis will be returning to the World Cup, where he had three points-scoring finishes a year ago and made the World Championship team.
The World Cup then takes a timely one-week break as the FIS Continental Cup tour opens with three events at the Utah Olympic Park and Soldier Hollow Dec. 11-13. Early season snow and cold has blanketed the region with great conditions anticipated for the start of the Continental Cup season.
The U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team is supported by the U.S. Ski Team in partnership with USA Nordic.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Olympic veterans Bryan and Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) were named to the 2016 U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team.
- The team will open its 2015-16 campaign beginning this weekend with a World Cup in Ruka, Finland.
- In addition to the World Cup tour, a key focal point will be a series of three Continental Cup events Dec. 11-13 at the Utah Olympic Park and Soldier Hollow where a top contingent of U.S. skiers will be on hand to secure World Cup quota positions.
- The U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team is supported by the U.S. Ski Team in partnership with USA Nordic.
QUOTES
Bryan Fletcher
Summer has been a building period for me. Knowing that the cross country side is pretty much where it needs to be, the focus was very much on jumping this year. I needed to start over with new feelings and new ideas to hopefully build a solid base again and reach a higher level in competition performance. So the hope is to maintain the cross ountry performance but improve the jumping to put myself in better contention with more opportunities at the podium. I don't expect to see results overnight but my hope is to see some gains that I can build on through the season.
Last season was a great year but I was still not happy with the season. I want to improve consistency this year and land in the Top 10 more often. Obviously my sights are set on the podium and standing on the podium again this year is what I have been working towards. To accomplish this goal I will need strong jumping and cross country performances consistently so I have a number of opportunities at the podium.
Taylor Fletcher
My biggest goal was to make some headway with the jumping. This spring we took a different approach with jumping and it has seemed to work. Of course with every sport you have you good and bad days. But, in general, I feel like I was able to limit those for the most part. We had a few large international competitions in Europe that I felt was a great stepping stone for the upcoming winter.
To come away from the day's competition and feel that I had a good result on both aspects of our sport will be important. I will be focusing and working hard to make sure after the jumping I am in a position to use my strength in cross country to land myself on the podium more often.
The summer preparations went pretty well. The cross country side of my sport has been my strong suit for as long as I have been skiing, but I was able to make some great strides in my racing and fitness as a whole. I feel that my technique is very solid and I can control my races a little better pacing wise now.
Dave Jarrett, Head Coach, U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team
Bryan has been working hard on jumping and I feel good about getting the season started. He is in good shape and will be fighting for high places. Taylor’s jumping has improved significantly and now he needs to perform well in each and every qualification and comp on the hill to the best of his ability and potential. We all know he is one the fastest cross country guys on the circuit so the closer he starts to front the easier it will be for good results.
Beyond Bryan and Taylor we have four strong guys coming up including Adam Loomis, Ben Berend, Jasper Good and Michael Ward. We are expecting World Cup points on a consistent basis from these guys. While Jasper and Ben are still young, we expect them to perform well on Continental Cup but mainly on World Cup. It is also time for Michael to be a consistent World Cup point scorer like Adam showed last season.
2016 U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team
Name, Hometown, Club (Skis (jumping/cross country), Boots (jumping/cross country), Bindings, Eyewear, Helmet, Poles, Gloves) Date of Birth
* Olympian
** World Championship Team
*** Current or past participant in the Westminster College program
A Team
Bryan Fletcher, Steamboat Springs, CO, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (Sport 2000/Madshus, Rass/Madshus, Rotefella, Rudy Project, Madshus, YOKO) 6/27/86 * ** ***
Taylor Fletcher, Steamboat Springs, CO, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (Fluege.de/Atomic, Rass/Atomic, Rudy Project, One Way) 5/11/90 * ** ***
Other World Cup Athletes
Ben Berend, Steamboat Springs, CO, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (Sport 2000/Madshus, RASS/Madshus, Rudy Project, Julbo, One Way, Yoko)
Jasper Good, Steamboat Springs, CO, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (Fluege-de/Madshus, Oakley, POC, One Way, Yoko) 5/10/1996
Adam Loomis, Eau Claire, WI, Flying Eagles Ski Club (Sport 2000/Atomic, RASS/Atomic, Atomic, Julbo/Rudy Project, Julbo, One Way, Yoko) 3/19/1992 ** ***
Michael Ward, Aspen, CO, Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club (Elan/Madshus, RASS/Madshus, Slatnar/Rotafella, Rudy Project, POC, One Way, Yoko) ***
Coaching Staff
Dave Jarrett, Head Coach
Greg Poirier, Assistant Coach
Martin Bayer, Continental Cup/Development Coach
World Cup Service Team
Matjaz Dobrovoljc
Andrej Jezeršek
Tomaz Matura
