LAKE PLACID, NY (Oct. 12) - Bryan Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) added another jewel to an already star-studded nordic combined career, winning his first national title at the U.S. Nordic Combined Championships in Lake Placid. Fletcher parlayed a strong jump to take the win in roller skiing over brother Taylor, who won the roller ski. Adam Loomis (Eau Claire, WI) took bronze.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Bryan Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) won his first career national title, jumping to a one minute, 34 second lead then hanging on to hold off brother Taylor in roller skiing by 56 seconds.
- Career Perspective: Despite a career marked by a World Championship medal and King's Cup victory, it was Fletcher's first U.S. title after a host of bronze medals.
- Analysis: Bryan Fletcher soared 90.5 meters on his morning jump to give him a nearly insurmountable lead. Brother Taylor was fastest on the roller ski track.
- World Cup: The World Cup season opens Nov. 29-30 in Ruka, Finland.
MEDALISTS
2014-15 U.S. Nordic Combined Championship
Gold: Bryan Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO)
Silver: Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO)
Bronze: Adam Loomis (Eau Claire, WI)
QUOTES
Bryan Fletcher, U.S. Champion
This is awesome! I’ve been chasing the national title for a while. I think that I’ve been third like four or five times. Every time, including last year, I was really disappointed with my jumping. I would have an amazing (roller ski)race, but still wind up in third place because I was quite a bit back.
I could feel him (fast approaching brother Taylor) and I could see him on a couple of sections. There were a few places where we would pass each other going opposite directions, and every time he was inching a little bit closer, so that was a little bit nerve-racking. But in the end, even with him chipping away hard, I was getting more excited reaching the finish line and I came in hot.
Taylor Fletcher, Silver Medalist
I was making up time; I think that I made up 45 seconds, that’s a lot for this course. That being said, it wasn’t good enough to catch Bryan. I needed to jump better and really focus on that, because I know I’m skiing really well, but it’s jump a matter of continuing that and improving my jumping.
I had good hopes going into today, I’ve been skiing fast. I hadn’t had too many consistent weeks, but I had some good jumps before today. This hill is different. It’s special and it’s hard and I’ve always had some trouble with it. I tried really hard, I thought I had a good jump, but it didn’t really carry like I was hoping, it felt like I was dragging a bit, so that was a bit of a bummer when I saw Bryan jump 92 and I knew that it was pretty close to over.
RESULTS
