Marvel at the USA Nordic’s 23rd annual Springer Tournee

Annika Malacinski in the 2021 Springer Tournee at the Utah Olympic Park. Photo: Tom Kelly

PARK CITY, Utah — USA Nordic’s 23rd annual Springer Tournee, nicknamed “Springer,” will be held at the Utah Olympic Park on July 25 – 30. The competition, was started in memory of Jindro Meyer, an famous Canadian ski jumping coach.

“The Springer Tournee is a key gathering of our North American Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined community. The week includes training opportunities, a mentorship day, social events, parent resource sessions, and competitions on each hill,” USA Nordic said in a statement.

Young athletes fly to Park City from around the country for Springer. They wait in anticipation and discuss just which one of the Olympians/National Team members will be assigned as their coach and mentor for the week at the Basin Rec Fieldhouse. 

Springer week is many of the participants’ one and only family summer vacation whereby they bring grandparents and siblings along to enjoy all that Park City has to offer, on and off the hill.

The roller skiing component of the nordic combined competition will be held at the Soldier Hollow Olympic Nordic Center. Since roller skiing is such a grueling sport, the youngest groups will complete their nordic combined via a foot race at the UOP complete with a silly, giggle-inducing obstacle course ensuring none of the 6-26-year-olds takes their Springer experience too seriously. Everyone wears their custom-made bibs, emblazoned with their names, then brings them home as a beloved keepsake. It’s a brilliant way to endear connections among new teammates.

The most veteran of those teammates will be at the Springer Soiree fundraiser. It’s open, as most of the events are, to any and all members of the greater Park City community. Soiree tickets and donations may be made here.

USA Nordic Board Member Adam Loomis told TownLift, “Park City Ski and Snowboard is excited to welcome our community back for our 23rd Springer Tournee! This is our sport’s largest gathering.”

After Springer, athletes can recover with Therabody athletic recovery machines as Springer Week is bookended for some athletes with a training camp in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and the U.S. National Championships in Lake Placid, New York.

There will be lots of jumping for all ages and abilities on the “small” hills. Spectators are welcome to watch the ski jumping for free at the UOP. The “big” hills schedule is as follows:

• Friday, July 29, 7:00 – 9:00 a.m. jumping the HS 68 hill
• Saturday, July 30, 7:00 – 9:00 a.m. jumping the HS 100 hill, U.S. Cup 

Check out USA Nordic’s website for a full schedule of the weeks events.