RAMSAU AM DACHSTEIN, Austria (Dec. 20, 2015) - A day after Norway swept the podium, Germany came storming back to take two of three podium spots with Eric Frenzel getting the win over Norway's Jarl Riiber. Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) was 20th to lead the USA.

Riiber went 96.0 meters to lead after the jump. The Americans were off the pace again on the jump hill, with Bryan Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) 36th with an 83.5 meter jump, starting two minutes, 15 seconds behind Riiber. Taylor Fletcher was 45th, with a 2:33 deficit.

In the 10k cross country race, Taylor Fletcher moved quickly through the ranks, knocking the margin down to 49 seconds at the finish. Frenzel, sixth after the jump, ended up controlling the pace with a 10 second win. Riiber sprinted to hold off Germany's Manuel Faisst. Norway's Magnus Krog was sixth to retain the World Cup lead. Bryan Fletcher ended up 26th with Adam Loomis (Eau Claire, WI) 40th.

The FIS Nordic Combined World Cup now takes a break before resuming in Klingenthal, Germany in January. 

RESULTS
Individual 10k Gundersen 
 

RAMSAU, Austria (Dec. 19, 2015) - It was all Norway in Ramsau as the vikings stormed to a podium sweep as the FIS Nordic Combined World Cup resumed in Ramsau. Magnus Moan took the win. It was a tough day for the USA on the jumping hill. Bryan Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) led the USA in 26th.

Bryan Fletcher jumped to 35th with an 87.0 meter ride putting him over two minutes back in cross country. He narrowed that down to just 52 seconds, skiing the seventh fastest cross country leg.

Norway's Jarl Riider soared 95.5 meters to build a 37 second over Japan's Akito Watabe. He was successful in holding his lead until third lap when the race for the lead really developed. His teammates Magnus Krog and Magnus Moan, both over a minute and a half back in 19th and 20th after the jump, moved up rapidly through the field. In a wild sprint to the finish, Moan held off Krog for the win with the same finish time. Riider, meanwhile, stayed inches ahead of Germany's Tino Edelman to capture his first career podium and make it a clean sweep for Norway. 

With his second place finish, Krog moved into the tour lead over Germany's Fabian Riessle, who was ninth.

Bryan Fletcher was the only American in the points with brother Taylor 32nd and Adam Loomis (Eau Claire, WI) 40th.

The weekend wraps up with another individual event Sunday before the World Cup takes a holiday break.

RESULTS
Individual 10k Gundersen

SOLDIER HOLLOW, UT (Dec. 13, 2015) - American Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) summoned every ounce of energy, cutting off 25 seconds in the last three kilometers to catch tour leader David Pommer of Austria at the finish for a FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup win at Soldier Hollow Sunday. Fletcher's victory snapped the win streak of Pommer who had been dominant in races Friday and Saturday. Austria's Franz-Josef Rehrl was third.

It was another strong day for the Americans, with Ben Berend (Steamboat Springs, CO) sixth. Fletcher posted the fastest cross country time of the day. Michael Ward (Aspen, CO) came back from 25th in the jump to finish 12th with the fourth fastest time in the 10k.

Ben Berend soared to second in the jump, just 14 seconds out, and went on to finish sixth. (U.S. Ski Team - Tom Kelly)

After threats of incement weather, Sunday's final jump went off smoothly. Japan's Hisaki Nagamine continued his dominance on the HS100 meter hill, leading with a jump of 96.0 meters. Berend established himself as a threat with a ride of 94.0 meters to move into second, 14 seconds back. The the real statement of the day came from Pommer, who launched his own 94.0 meter jump on the final ride of the day to put down the gauntlet to Fletcher, who was 19th at 86.5 meters - 1:02 behind the Austrian.

Cloudy skies kept the track at Soldier Hollow rock hard and fast. Pommer and Berend went out together, 14 seconds behind Nagamine, catching him quickly and skiing together through the first lap. Fletcher, meanwhile, went out hard from the start and began moving up methodically through the field. By the second lap, Pommer had established a dominant lead, with Berend battling with Rerhl for third. And Fletcher just kept coming. By the third of five laps, Fletcher was into second but still with well over a 30 second gap to Pommer.

Pommer continued to set the pace, with his coaches shouting encouragement and giving updates on Fletcher's progress. As the skiers crested the Soldier Hollow tubing hill with three kilometers to go, the margin stood at 25 seconds. 

Fletcher turned up the heat even more, slowly but surely reeling in Pommer. As they entered the stadium, Pommer was still in control but now realized his race was in jeopardy. Rounding the 180-degree turn in the stadium, with just 20 meters to go, Fletcher took the longer outside line to maintain speed, strategically positioning himself with a ski inside the Austrian. Then the sprint was on. Fletcher had enough left in the tank to cross the line first and take the four Continental Cup win of his career.

"I felt stronger each lap," he said. "Pommer was definitely a bit more tired than he was yesterday. I was dead but I wanted it too bad. It’s a good steppingstone to get the W we were looking for."

While Fletcher had caught the Austrian, passing  him was a challenge. "It’s so tight in that final corner. It’s great snow but it’s also icy. Trying to keep that ski under you is difficult. I chose that wide line to carry a little bit more speed knowing he was going to want the center and try to block me. I knew if I took that wider line I would have a lot more speed. I’m not known for my sprinting but I put in a hell of a sprint and I’m proud of it."

"Taylor was skiing so well, so fast, he deserved to win," said Pommer. "Second place is more than good. Today there was no strategy - it was just running for survival. I just keep saying ‘push your limits, push your limits.’"

The FIS Nordic Combined World Cup tour will resume next weekend in Ramsau, Austria before taking a holiday break.

HIGHLIGHTS

• It was the fourth Continental Cup win of Taylor Fletcher's career.
• Pommer's second left him in the Continental Cup lead after three races.
• The USA had four in the top 15 and six in the points.
• Fletcher's three podium finishes netted the USA a fifth quota spot on the FIS Nordic Combined World Cup tour.
• Rookie Stephen Schumann made it a clean sweep, scoring points in each of his first three Continental Cups.

QUOTES
Taylor Fletcher
It was a hell of a race - even better than yesterday. I felt stronger each lap. Pommer was definitely a bit more tired than he was yesterday. I was dead but I wanted it too bad. It’s a good steppingstone to get the W we were looking for.

It’s so tight in that final corner. It’s great snow but it’s also icy. Trying to keep that ski under you is difficult. I chose that wide line to carry a little bit more speed knowing he was going to want the center and try to block me. I knew if I took that wider line I would have a lot more speed. I’m not known for my sprinting but I put in a hell of a sprint and I’m proud of it.

The extra World Cup quota spot we earned helps our team tremendously. Those young kids have to pay for everything. We’re in a tough situation and they’re going to be taken care of a bit more on the World Cup and it makes it a lot easier on them and a lot less stressful on their parents and sponsors.

David Pommer
I’m so satisfied with second place today. It was a tough weekend. I was jumping and skiing at a high level. Taylor was skiing so well, so fast, he deserved to win. Second place is more than good. Today there was no strategy - it was just running for survival. I just keep saying ‘push your limits, push your limits.’

Franz-Josef Rehrl
I had a pretty good jump today and the cross country skiing was good - and I beat my teammate Raschberger in the last few meters. This weekend the biggest battle against my teammates because we all want to go to the World Cup.

RESULTS
Individual Gundersen 10k

NIZHNY TIGIL, Russia (Dec. 13, 2015) - Japan's Sara Takanashi was back on top Sunday, a day after handing a win to Austrian Daniela Iraschko-Stolz, extending her FIS Ski Jumping World Cup lead. Tara Geraghty-Moats (W. Fairlee, VT) was the top American finishing 21st.

No one was close to Takanashi who soared 98.0 and 99.0 meters on the HS100 meter hill at the Russian National Ski Jumping Complex. 

Geraghty-Moats flew 86.0 meters on her first jump to stand 24th after the first round. She came back strong with a 90.0 meter ride to move up to 21st. Nita Englund (Florence, WI) was 38th after the first round and failed to qualify for the final round.

The World Cup tour now takes a holiday break before resuming in Sapporo, Japan in mid-January.

RESULTS
Women's HS100 Meter Jump

SOLDIER HOLLOW, UT (Dec. 12, 2015) - Austria's David Pommer made it two in a row Saturday, but only by the slimmest of margins. Pommer solidified his FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup lead by a mere tenth of a second over a hard-charging Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO), who was second. Italian Armin Bauer was third with U.S. junior Ben Loomis (Eau Claire, WI) having a career best fourth.

It was a second straight powerhouse day for the Americans, with three in the top six and four in the top eight with Michael Ward (Aspen, CO) sixth and Ben Berend (Steamboat Springs, CO) eighth. Jasper Good (Steamboat Springs, CO) was 18th and Stephen Schumann (Salt Lake City) 27th for his second straight points-scoring finish.

In the morning jumping round at the Utah Olympic Park, Japan's Hisaki Nagamine again led with a 96.5 meter ride. Norway's Audun Hokholt was second, followed by two Americans - Loomis and Berend. Loomis, who flew 96.0 meters, started only eight seconds back in cross country and hung with the leaders the entire race, narrowly missing his first podium by only four seconds.

Pommer, who started 46 seconds back but in seventh place, wasted no time moving up through the pack. By mid race, he was controlling the pace and seemingly pulling away. But Fletcher, who was well back with a minute, 40 second deficit, was on fire. Fletcher, who was only third fastest on Friday after cramping up on lap four, kept the pressure on setting the fastest cross country time - 54 seconds faster than Pommer.

"My coaches told me Taylor was coming but I didn't see him until the final corner," said Pommer. Indeed, the American caught the Austrian by surprise and was within a meter by the finish.

The Continental Cup will wrapup on Sunday with jumping scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. with a trial and comp round, then the 10k cross country at Soldier Hollow at 2:00 p.m. Snow began falling Saturday evening and may impact Sunday's competition. Knowing the snow was coming, officials tried to run a provisional competition round jump Saturday morning but tricky winds forced cancelation.

Ben Loomis celebrates a career best fourth, just four seconds off the podium. (U.S. Ski Team - Tom Kelly)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Austrian David Pommer collected his second career Continental Cup victory to lead the tour after two events.
• American Taylor Fletcher closed a one minute, 40 second gap to nearly catch Pommer at the finish.
• The Americans had six in the points (top 30) including three in the top six and four in the top eight.
• Austria's Bernhard Flaschberger, who was second on Friday, was disqualified after the jump for a suit violation.
• The event wraps up Sunday with a final round of jumping at the Utah Olympic Park and cross country at Soldier Hollow. Snow is forecast.

QUOTES
David Pommer
I fought from the beginning by running a really good pace. But my coaches kept telling me Taylor was getting closer and closer. At the finish line, I was very lucky with my win - I’m glad it wasn’t one more meter. There was never any contact until the finish and I thought, ‘run, run.’

RESULTS
Individual Gundersen 10k

Michael Ward continued his strong weekend finishing sixth. (U.S. Ski Team - Tom Kelly)

NIZHNY TIGIL, Russia (Dec. 12, 2015) - Nita Englund (Florence, WI) soared to 20th as the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup made a weekend stop at the Russian jumping complex at Nizhny Tigil. Austria's Daniela Iraschko-Stolz took the win over World Cup leader Sara Takanashi of Japan.

Takanashi soared to a first round lead with a jump of 95.0 meters. Iraschko-Stolz came charging back in the final round to go 97.0 meters to take the victory.

Englund, the only American to qualify for the competition, went 89.0 and 88.0 meters to tie for 20th.

The women return to the hill Sunday for a second competition.

RESULTS
Women's HS100 meter jump

SOLDIER HOLLOW, UT (Dec. 11, 2015) - Austria’s David Pommer took a career first win Friday in a narrow victory over teammate Bernhard Flaschberger in a FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup event in Utah. The U.S. Ski Team’s Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) came from a minute, 20 seconds back after the jump to finish third. Austria took five of the top six places.

Despite the Austrian dominance, the USA took five of the top 16 spots and had six athletes in the top 30 points.

Japan’s Hisaki Nagamine led after the jump with a 97.5 meter ride - longest of the day. The USA’s Ben Berend (Steamboat Springs, CO) was fourth, just 22 seconds back. Pommer tied for fifth with a 95.5 meter jump while Flaschberger was close behind in eighth, going 91.5 meters. Fletcher was a bit behind in his takeoff in the morning jump, soaring 88.5 meters to stand 14th - starting a minute, 20 seconds back.

Fletcher started out hot, making up ground on the first of five laps and finding himself in contact with Pommer and Flaschberger by mid-race in the 10k. But by the fourth lap, he started to fatigue, and had to summon his reserve energy to hold off Franz-Josef Rehrl of Austria by two seconds to claim third.

The Continental Cup continues Saturday and Sunday with jumping at the Utah Olympic Park in the morning (10:30 a.m. comp round) and 10k cross country in the afternoon at Soldier Hollow (2:00 p.m. start).

HIGHLIGHTS

• Career first Continental Cup win for David Pommer
• Five Americans in top 16
• Six Americans in the top 30 points
• Second best Continental Cup for Michael Ward in tenth
• Career best Continental Cup for Ben Berend in 12th and Jasper Good in 13th
• Career best Continental Cup for Ben Loomis, helping solidify his quest to make the Youth Olympic Games team team that will be named in January.
• First Continental Cup points for Stephen Schumann in 25th.

QUOTES
David Pommer
My jumping performance was pretty good so I knew I could have a good race. Everything went well - my skis were fast, the track was hot and I’m happy with my win. I just set a good pace and get up there five times no matter how much it hurts.

RESULTS
Individual Gundersen 10k

PARK CITY, UT (Dec. 10, 2015) - American Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) will be among the favorites as athletes from a dozen countries compete in a three-day International Ski Federation Nordic Combined Continental Cup competition at the Utah Olympic Park and Soldier Hollow this weekend. The international event is a vital competition for the USA in gaining World Cup quota spots.

The Americans are coming off a weekend of World Cup competition in Lillehammer where Bryan Fletcher was 11th on Saturday and Taylor Fletcher, with the fastest cross country time, finishing 13th on Sunday. The World Cup tour is on a one-week break, with most of the Americans coming home.

Austria is bringing a full team of top athletes including Lukas Greiderer, the defending Continental Cup champion. Other U.S. World Cup skiers in the event will include Ben Berend (Steamboat Springs, CO), Jasper Good (Steamboat Springs, CO) and Michael Ward (Aspen, CO). Bryan Fletcher will sit out the weekend, while Adam Loomis (Eau Claire, WI) remained in Europe to train.

The USA will also start several others including Ben Loomis (Eau Claire, WI), Decker Dean (Steamboat Springs, CO), Somer Schrock (Cohasset, MN), Stephen Schumann (Salt Lake City), Jared Shumate (Park City, UT) and Koby Vargas (Steamboat Springs, CO).

The Utah Olympic Park jump has been open for nearly a month. Teams are also training on a 2k loop at Soldier Hollow.

“We are all psyched to host a home weekend here at the Utah Olympic Park and Soldier Hollow,” said U.S. Ski Team Head Coach Dave Jarrett. “While the field size won’t be that large, it will have great quality including a host of World Cup athletes.

“We’re especially thankful to the Utah Olympic Park, Soldier Hollow and USA Nordic for providing these athletes with an opportunity for high level competition on this side of the Atlantic.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Utah Olympic Park and Soldier Hollow will play host to three days of competition Dec. 11-13 in the FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup tour.
• Jumping will be held each morning at the Utah Olympic Park with trial round at 9:30 a.m. MT and competition round on the HS100 meter jump at 10:30 a.m.
• Cross country competition is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. MT daily at Soldier Hollow.
• The event is being produced by the Utah Olympic Park, Soldier Hollow and USA Nordic.

FIS NORDIC COMBINED CONTINENTAL CUP

Friday, Dec. 11 (all times MT)
9:30 a.m. – Ski jumping HS-100 trial round, Utah Olympic Park
10:30 a.m. – HS100 competition round, Utah Olympic Park
2:00 p.m. – 10k cross country, Soldier Hollow

Saturday, Dec. 12
9:30 a.m. – Ski jumping HS-100 trial round, Utah Olympic Park
10:30 a.m. – HS100 competition round, Utah Olympic Park
2:00 p.m. – 10k cross country, Soldier Hollow

Sunday, Dec. 13
9:30 a.m. – Ski jumping HS-100 trial round, Utah Olympic Park
10:30 a.m. – HS100 competition round, Utah Olympic Park
2:00 p.m. – 10k cross country, Soldier Hollow

LILLEHAMMER, Norway (Dec. 6, 2015) - Angered by a 42nd in ski jumping, Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) went out hard and set the fastest cross country time to finish 13th in a FIS Nordic Combined World Cup in Lillehammer. Norway's Magnus Krog took the win over World Cup leader Fabian Riessle of Germany. Bryan Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) finished 30th.

It was a tough day for the USA on the jump hill with Taylor Fletcher leading the USA in 42nd with an 88.0 meter ride, putting him a minute, 57 seconds back at the start. He closed the gap to within 33 seconds at the finish of the 10k, after dancing into the top 10 during the latter stages of the race.

"I actually had a really good jump and it should of gone farther but I didn't fly after the take off well at all," said Taylor Fletcher. "I was not pulling, causing me to lose speed and height and valuable meters. What was 88 meters really should of been past 90. That happens to everyone so I put it past me as I wasn't in a terrible position.

While the World Cup takes a one week break, eyes will turn to a three-event Continental Cup at the Utah Olympic Park and Soldier Hollow in Utah.

"I am looking forward to going back to Park City for the Continental Cup to get more spots for World Cup," said Taylor Fletcher. "It will give me a chance to focus on my jumping on a more technical level but also put some pressure on myself to perform!"

HIGHLIGHTS

• Taylor Fletcher led the USA in 13th, setting the fastest cross country time.
• Norway's Magnus Krog took the win over World Cup leader Fabian Riessle.
• Bryan Fletcher was 30th, Adam Loomis 43rd and Jasper Good 47th in his World Cup debut.
• The tour now takes a one week break, with action shifting to a Continental Cup next weekend in Utah.

QUOTES
Taylor Fletcher
The jumping was our first normal competition all year and only our second competition jump. I actually had a really good jump and it should of gone farther but I didn't fly after the take off well at all! I was not pulling causing me to lose speed and height and valuable meters. What was 88 meters really should of been past 90. That happens to everyone so I put it past me as I wasn't in a terrible position.

Dave Jarrett, Head Coach
It was tricky jumping this morning for sure. Bryan was unlucky as the conditions when he was set to go were too good and they took him off the bar twice. When he flinally got the green the conditions were significantly worse. He had a pretty good jump nontheless but the speed was set for headwind. Bryan was having a good race as well but fell on the third lap on a very icy course and lost quite a few places.  

LILLEHAMMER, Norway (Dec. 5, 2015) - Winds continued to play a role, but the FIS Nordic Combined World Cup tour got underway with Germany's Fabian Riessle setting a torrid pace to claim the win. Bryan Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) led the USA in 11th.

After winds wiped out opening weekend in Finand a week earlier, officials Saturday were forced to cancel the planned team jump due to wind. The team event was canceled and replaced with an individual competition. Sunday will be a second individual event. 

Bryan Fletcher had a strong jump on Friday, standing 15th - 47 seconds behind the leader. He moved up and was skiing much of the race in the top 10. But the pace set by Riessle was so fast that Fletcher's chase group simply couldn't close the gap. 

"It was a pretty good start," said Head Coach Dave Jarrett. "It was a good race but today the front was so fast that it was hard for Bryan’s group to close. Both Bryan and Taylor have been jumping pretty well and we are psyched for another chance tomorrow."

"Today was a decent opener," said Bryan Fletcher. "My jumping was stronger than it has been in a while and it put me in the hunt which I hope to continue. I struggled a little on the race course today. I wasn't my usual self and didn't have great legs but was able to hang tough."

Sunday's second individual event will be streamed live on NBC Sports Live Extra.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Bryan Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) led the USA finishing 11th in the FIS Nordic Combined World Cup opener.
• Wind continued to play a role, forcing an adjustment in schedule, swapping Sunday's individual event to Saturday and moving the team event to Sunday.
• Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) was 26th with the 12th fastest cross country time.
• Adam Loomis (Eau Claire, WI) was 37th with Jasper Good (Steamboat Springs, CO) 51st in his World Cup debut.
• Sunday's team event will stream live on NBC Sports Live Extra.

QUOTES
Bryan Fletcher
Today was a decent opener. My jumping was stronger than it has been in a while and it put me in the hunt which I hope to continue. I struggled a little on the race course today. I wasn't my usual self and didn't have great legs but was able to hang tough. Since today's team event was cancelled and we used the PCR, tomorrow will be another individual event. So it's another shot to chase a good result and I am really excited to have another opportunity. 

Dave Jarrett, Head Coach
It was a pretty good start. We always have high hopes for the cross country race. It was a good race but today the front was so fast that it was hard for Bryan’s group to close. We didn’t have the fastest cross country times today but we know we can ski with anyone. Both Bryan and Taylor have been jumping pretty well and we are psyched for another chance tomorrow.

STREAMING SCHEDULE (times EST) - NBC Sports Live Extra  
3:00 a.m. - Combined jump
8:15 a.m. - Combined cross country

RESULTS
Individual 10k Gundersen