PARK CITY, UT (Dec. 23) – Top U.S. nordic combined and ski jumping athletes are set to compete for spots on the U.S. Olympic Team this Saturday and Sunday when the 2014 U.S. Olympic Trials for Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined come to the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, site of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Among the top contenders will be Olympic nordic combined champion Billy Demong (Vermontville, NY) and World Champion ski jumper Lindsey Van (Park City, UT). The winner of each event will be nominated for the U.S. Olympic Team. The events will air in a broadcast special on NBC with live coverage of ski jumping featuring the historic first-ever Olympic Trials for women and a fresh look at the U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team that won four medals in Vancouver.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Top U.S. nordic combined and ski jumping athletes are set to compete for spots on the U.S. Olympic Team Dec. 28-29 when the 2014 U.S. Olympic Trials for Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined come to the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, site of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.
- The event will be broadcast Sunday, Dec. 29 at 1:30 p.m. EST on NBC with a 90 minute special featuring live coverage from ski jumping and a next-day recap of nordic combined.
- In a winner-takes-all format, the champion of each event will receive a nomination to the 2014 U.S. Olympic Team.
- Women’s ski jumping will make its Olympic Trials debut with the winner becoming the first female ski jumper to qualify for the historic 2014 U.S. Olympic Team.
- The remainder of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Team in ski jumping and nordic combined will be selected from existing World Cup and Continental Cup events. The announcement of the full 2014 Olympic Team nominations will be Jan. 22.
- World Champion Sarah Hendrickson (Park City, UT) will sit out the competition in order to continue recovering from a knee injury she sustained in August.
- The Nordic Festival, happening in conjunction with the trials, will help celebrate the events on Saturday by showcasing local business and Nordic organizations in a variety of booths, food and music. The USOC will also provide a Road to Sochi Interactive Fan Zone with winter sports activities, Olympic athlete autograph signings and live entertainment.
- The free festival will be open to the public and take place from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sat., Dec. 28 in the Basin Rec Loop area across from the Kimball Junction Visitor Center and near the entrance to the Utah Olympic Park.
- Also on Saturday, the U.S. Ski Team will unveil the Olympic competition uniforms for the cross country and nordic combined teams.
- The U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team, which also makes its base in Park City, won four medals in Vancouver including an historic first gold for Billy Demong (Vermontville, NY).
- The 2014 U.S. Olympic Trials are a partnership between the United States Olympic Committee, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation and the Utah Sports Commission.
QUOTES
Jessica Jerome
Competing in Olympic Trials in my hometown is something I have imagined for a long time. This is such a historical season already with the first chance for women to jump in the Games. Now to be able to compete with the nation's top field to earn our nomination to the Team will turn one of our lifelong dreams into reality.
Billy Demong
I'm really looking forward to having a domestic event that will showcase our sport going into the Sochi Olympics, especially having it at the home of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. It really shows longevity and legacy here in Salt Lake City and Park City for the Olympics. Above all, I think it's going to be really exciting to have an event here in the Olympic season with a lot of guys fired up to try to make the team as well as showcase the sport on NBC.
SCHEDULE
All events at Utah Olympic Park
Saturday, Dec. 28 – 2014 U.S. Olympic Trials – Nordic Combined
Nordic Combined Trial Jump – 9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. MST
Nordic Combined Competition Jump – 10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. MST
Nordic Combined 10k (4x2.5k) – 2:00 p.m. – 2:35 p.m. MST
Nordic Combined Awards Ceremony – 2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. MST
Sunday, Dec. 29 – 2014 U.S. Olympic Trials – Ski Jumping
Men’s and Women’s Trial Jump – 11:10 a.m. – 11:38 a.m. MST
Men’s and Women’s Competition Jump 1 – 11:50 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. MST
Men’s and Women’s Competition Jump 2 – 12:36 p.m. – 12:52 p.m. MST
Men’s and Women’s Awards Ceremony – 1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. MST
BROADCAST
Sun. Dec. 29 1:30-3:00 p.m. EST – Nordic combined recap and LIVE ski jumping, NBC
LINKS
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