Anna Hoffman soars through the air in her first jump during the U.S. Olympic Ski Jumping Trials at the Olympic Jumping Complex in Lake Placid on Christmas Day. Currently, the U.S. women do not have an Olympic quota spot. But if they gain a spot between now and February’s games, it will go to Hoffman.
(News photo— Parker O’Brien)
LAKE PLACID — The International Ski and Snowboard Federation, USA Nordic Sport and the state Olympic Regional Development Authority announced on Thursday, Sept. 22 that the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup will return to the Lake Placid from Feb. 10-12, 2023.
This village last hosted the Ski Jumping World Cup in 1990 and the last the U.S. hosted the event was in 2004 in Park City, Utah. The world cup calendar date in mid-February had become free after the initially planned venue in the U.S., Iron Mountain, had to drop out in August.
“This is a game-changer for our organization,” USA Nordic CEO Adam Provost said in a statement. “The opportunity to bring in the best ski jumpers in the world to Lake Placid will give our sport a platform for growth that we haven’t had in close to 20 years. The opportunity to bring a FIS showcase event and host world-class athletes in the United States, will bring more awareness and notoriety to the sport and inspire the next generation of Ski Jumpers.”
The Olympic Jumping Complex in Lake Placid, consisting of two hills — HS100 and HS128 — has been used as a training center for ski jumping athletes at all levels.
The event will consist of men’s ski jumping world cups, with athletes from around the world. The official schedule for the event is yet to be finalized.
“We will work out the detailed program together with the organizing committee and all partners involved in the coming days and weeks, and then communicate it accordingly. Now, we are all very much looking forward to the return of the world cup to the US, and especially to this traditional place of Lake Placid. Our thanks go to the organizers for making this event possible in such a short time,” FIS Race Director Sandro Pertile said.
The men’s and women’s Ski Jumping Continental Cup, which will be held in Lake Placid next month, now takes on an additional significance. A total of six competitions — three women and three men — will be held during the Lake Placid COC, taking place Oct. 7-9. This COC event will act as a dress rehearsal for the premier of the World Cup at the ski jumping facility.
For USA Nordic, the return of the World Cup means another important step towards the top of the world; last month, the U.S. Ski Jumping team had announced a training alliance with Norges Hopplandslaget, the national leadership organization for the original Olympic discipline of ski jumping in Norway.
“Having the world cup back on U.S. soil is very important in developing the sport of ski jumping in this country, and across the world, USA Nordic men’s and women’s ski jumping coach Anders Johnson said. “Our athletes could not be more thrilled about this opportunity, and we are excited to see the great things that will come from this event.”
