|
 |
Can Americans make move?
By Jason Swensen
Deseret News staff writer
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. — Sometime between now and the 2002 Winter Games, U.S. Nordic combined coach Tom Steitz has to find way to convince his team that Salt Lake City is just a distant suburb of Steamboat Springs.
The Americans have a habit of landing solid performances in Steamboat. A trio of U.S. nordic combiners finished in the top-10 of a World Cup event here Sunday, a historic first. Local boy Todd Lodwick made yet another visit to a Steamboat podium, finishing second behind last season's World Cup champ, Felix Gottwald of Austria.
Lodwick's teammates Matt Dayton and Bill Demong finished sixth and 10th, respectively, after a morning of strong jumping on the K90 hill.
"Two, six and ten (individual finishes) at home — what more can you ask for?" asked Steitz Steitz hopes the Steamboat karma stretches to the Olympic Nordic combined venues at Utah Olympic Park and Soldier Hollow.
"Home is never going to be any closer than Park City is right now," he said.
Nordic combined blends two nordic disciplines — ski jumping and cross country skiing — into one event. The Yanks' success Sunday began on the ski jump at historic Howelsen Hill. Lodwick was third in the 39-man field following a pair of strong leaps during the jumping segment. But Gottwald was a bit better and was rewarded with a 50-second head start over Lodwick in the 15-kilometer cross country race.
An aggressive Lodwick carved almost 40 seconds from Gottwald's lead over the course of the race, but it was not enough to catch the steady Austrian. Current overall World Cup standings leader Ronny Ackermann of Germany finished third Sunday, crossing the finish line 39 seconds after Gottwald.
"Today was really a perfect day for me," Gottwald said. "My jumping was very good and, in cross country skiing, it's nice to ski in front." Lodwick hoped, of course, to win his third career Steamboat World Cup victory Sunday — but seemed pleased with his strong performance in front of his hometown crowd, particularly with his jumping.
"I always come to Steamboat with high expectations," Lodwick said.
Dayton's sixth place finish comes following a layoff from competition after suffering a concussion while jumping in Europe several weeks ago. Always a strong cross country skier, Dayton continues to improve his jumping. The Breckenridge, Colo., native did not start ski jumping until he was almost 19.
The World Cup tour through Steamboat Springs concludes Tuesday with a sprint competition. Skiers will take one jump on the large K114 hill before competing in a 7.5-kilometer cross country race.
E-MAIL: jswensen@desnews.com
|
|
December 17, 2001
|
