Alumni Earn Silver Medals In FIS Nordic Junior World Championships

Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club alumnae Alexa Brabec earned two silver medals in Nordic Combined and Erik Belshaw earned a silver medal in Ski Jumping at the FIS Nordic Junior World Championships on February 7-11 in Planica, Slovenia. Both athletes make history as the first ever in the United States to podium at World Junior events.

Alexa Brabec earned her first silver in the HS102/5km Nordic Combined individual event on February 9 and brought home the first-ever medal for the United States at Junior World Championships in Nordic Combined individual event. (stats according to USA Nordic)  SSWSC’s Haley Brabec, Alexa Brabec’s sister, finished 26th, and with a promising career ahead at just 15 years old, Ella Wilson finished 27th. On the men’s side in Nordic Combined, SSWSC’s Arthur Tirone finished 27th in the HS102/10km.

Alexa Brabec earned her second silver in the Team Sprint HS102/2×4.5km event on February 10 with US teammate Kai McKinnon—the first-ever medal in a women’s Nordic Combined team event at Junior Worlds for the United States. McKinnon has also spent some time training with SSWSC. Strong jumps by both McKinnon at 84 meters and Brabec at 89.5 meters secured the team fifth position for the sprint relay just 29 seconds back from first place. The team of Brabec and McKinnon fought back time on each kilometer, finishing just behind first place Japan. Alexa Brabec was also part of the Nordic Combined mixed team relay on February 7, the United States placed 7th in this event.

Women’s Results -  FIS Nordic Junior World Championships Nordic Combined
Men’s Results -  FIS Nordic Junior World Championships Nordic Combined

In ski jumping, on February 8 at the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships, SSWSC alum Erik Belshaw finished second overall in the men’s Individual HS102, also making history as the first-ever American to podium in men’s ski jumping at the Nordic Junior World Championships with the longest jump of the day of 104.5 meters. Belshaw was 4th going into the final jump. SSWSC athlete Jason Colby finished 23rd overall. For the women, SSWSC’s Estella Hassrick was 35th. SSWSC’s On February 10, Sawyer Graves finished sixth overall as part of the U.S. men’s ski jumping team event, and on February 11, Erik Belshaw was also part of the U.S. team, placing 5th overall in the mixed team ski jumping event.

Men’s Results - FIS Nordic Junior World Championships Ski Jumping
Women’s Results - FIS Nordic Junior World Championships Ski Jumping