The United States Nordic combined program’s coaching and training budget was recently cut. Athletes in the sport, both male and female, are now frantically trying to bring the sport back via a new charity. On Thursday, USA Nordic Sport declared that it had notified its Norwegian counterpart that it would not be able to continue their relationship for the 2019 season due to financial constraints. Two years into the intended four-year arrangement, this decision terminates the pact.
What is Nordic Combined?
The Nordic Combined sport is the combination Cross Country Skiing and Ski Jumping. The depressing news was shared with the impacted sportsmen virtually last week by the Park City, Utah-based company. This financing dilemma resulted from the organization’s failure to raise the $150,000 needed for fundraising.
Stephen Schumann, a member of the U.S. Olympic team in 2022, shared his feelings about the situation. He mentioned that during a training break in Lake Placid, New York, he felt disrespected by the organization. Schumann emphasized that the team had a good season, in some ways better than the other side of the organization that still receives support.
The Role of USA Nordic Sport
In order to promote ski jumping and Nordic combined, USA Nordic Sport was founded in 2007. The organization’s goal is to guarantee these sports’ continued existence and prosperity. But board chairman Tom Bickner clarified that USA Nordic Sport would have gone bankrupt if the collaboration had been extended with Norway. The board made the decision to divide the funding across the specialties.
Bickner explained that while they love the Nordic combined athletes, the sport does not attract enough sponsors and revenue. This lack of financial support is mainly because it doesn’t have a large following on TV. Although it was a tough decision, the board believed it was necessary to avoid putting the organization in a position where it couldn’t fund anything.
Limited Support from USA Nordic Sport
Despite the financial constraints, USA Nordic Sport will provide a financial contribution for non-training activities. This includes paying for the insurance and the director’s expenses who works with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the national governing organization for the sport.
Several well-known athletes have responded to the budget reduction by taking action. Bill Demong became the first American to win a gold medal in Nordic combined at the Olympics in 2010. He paired up with four-time Olympian Taylor Fletcher and three-time Olympic medalist Johnny Spillane. To bring the sport back, they established Nordic Combined USA, a nonprofit organization, with the help of parents of active players.
Fundraising and Awareness Initiatives
During the Fourth of July Ski Jumping Extravaganza in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the new nonprofit intends to raise money and exposure for its cause. Alexa Brabec, one of the athletes, expressed gratitude to everybody for the support. She said that having support from individuals who actually care about the sport felt fantastic. Although Nordic combined is the only Olympic sport without gender equality, Brabec and Annika Malacinski are nonetheless able to participate on the biggest platform in the world.
The hope among the international Nordic combined community is that American athletes will be able to keep competing. If nothing changes, there’s a chance the sport won’t be included in the 2030 Olympic schedule. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation’s (FIS) Nordic combined race director, Lasse Ottesen, stressed the significance of US participation in Nordic combined at all levels. In order to assist the further growth of Nordic combined in the United States, FIS hopes to collaborate with American skiing in light of the potential for the Olympic Games to return to the nation in 2034.
Hope for Continued Partnership
If U.S. athletes cannot secure funding, they hope to continue the partnership with Norway. Ivar Stuan, the sport director for Team Norway, emphasized the importance of U.S. participation in the Olympics. He stated that it is crucial for the United States to compete in the Nordic combined family. Stuan expressed regret over the current funding situation. He noted that the U.S. team showed significant improvement last winter. The team also reached personal bests during that period. Despite the challenges, Norwegian trainers and coaches remain ready to help raise the level of U.S. skiers.
The funding crisis in the U.S. Nordic combined program has prompted immediate action to revive the sport. Through the formation of Nordic Combined USA and support from the international community, there is hope that American athletes can continue to compete and excel. The upcoming fundraising efforts and continued determination of athletes and supporters will play a crucial role in the future of Nordic combined in the United States.
