PARK CITY, UT (July 30, 2016) - USA Nordic ski jumper Will Rhoads (Park City, UT) won an action-packed competition Saturday at the Utah Olympic Park to claim a repeat title on the HS134 meter large hill during the 2017 L.L.Bean U.S. Ski Jumping Championships. Kevin Bickner (Park City, UT) of the Norge Ski Club in suburban Chicago took silver with fellow Norge jumper Casey Larson (Barrington, IL) claiming bronze.
Against a tight field, Rhoads took the first round lead, jumping last and soaring 132.5 meters to lead over Bickner 138.0 to 135.9, despite Bickner’s 133.0 meter ride. Canadian Maken Boyd-Clowes pushed his first rounder out past the hill record at 139.5 meters, but crashed on landing.
Junior Larson flew 129.5 to put himself into third position overall after the first jump, with Glasder fourth.
Norge Ski Club junior Casey Larson soared to a bronze medal. (USSA-Tom Kelly)
Kevin Bickner flew to silver. (USSA-Sarah Brunson)
In the second round, Boyd-Clowes landed a 133.0 meter jump to move up to third overall. Bickner went 130.5 meters, Larson 126.0 meters and Glasder 122.5 meters. Rhoads sealed the win with a 132.0 meter flight for gold. Only Americans counted in the medals.
Rhoads and his teammates knew they had an opportunity to fly in the first round with a higher start position and more speed. "In the first round, I thought the speed was a little high," said Rhoads. "We joked about going for the hill record and Mackenzie almost had it. It wasn’t my best technical jump of the week but I had the lead. I knew in the second round I needed a good jump to stay on top and I had one."
Despite coming in as the favorite and defending large hill champion, Rhoads was prepared. "The pressure is coming from our whole team doing so much better," he said. "It says a lot about how far we’ve come with our program."
A good crowd was on hand for ideal jumping conditions at the Utah Olympic Park. "This event is always exciting for me because it’s my one event at home. I always try to dial in my performance - it’s a special place," said Rhoads.
Saturday's U.S. Championships kicked off the World Championship season, with a host of athletes vying for spots to compete in Lahti, Finland this February. Rhoads made his Words debut two years ago in Sweden. "I’m more excited this time as it will be my second appearance and we’ll have a stronger showing from four or five guys."
Nordic combined skiers Bryan Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO), Ben Loomis (Eau Claire, WI), Ben Berend (Steamboat Springs, CO) and Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) took spots six through nine.
The normal hill U.S. title will be determined this October in Lake Placid, NY
RESULTS
2017 L.L.Bean U.S. Ski Jumping Championships - HS134meter
Park City, UT
Official Results
