Olympic crossroads: The uncertain future of Nordic Combined

Nordic Combined could lose its spot in the 2030 Olympics, marking a major hurdle for the program. Photo: USA Nordic

PARK CITY, Utah — In the world of winter sports, Nordic Combined faces a critical juncture that threatens its presence in the Olympics. This multi-disciplinary sport, which combines ski jumping and cross-country skiing, stands at the edge of exclusion from the Olympic Games for men, while efforts to include women’s Nordic Combined in the 2030 Olympics encounter resistance. Amidst these challenges, a passionate community under the United States Nordic Combined & Ski Jumping (USANS) banner is rallying to secure the future of a sport that has been an Olympic staple since 1924.

The Nordic Combined Pathway to Success (NCPS) initiative is spearheaded by a coalition of parents, former athletes, coaches, and stakeholders. The NCPS aims to ensure the inclusion of both men’s and women’s Nordic Combined in the 2030 Olympic Games and push the need for collective action to safeguard and promote the sport’s legacy and its future prospects on the global stage.

According to the NCPS, the potential removal of Nordic Combined from the Olympic roster does not merely symbolize the loss of a sporting event; it signifies a change in the landscape of winter sports, threatening to dismantle established athlete development programs and diminishing the visibility that propels young talents into international arenas.

“Park City has been a leader in generating Nordic combined athletes such as Stephen Schumann, currently one of the top U.S. Nordic combined competitors on the World Cup circuit,” Tom Bickner, chair of USA Nordic board of directors, said.

“Most importantly, Park City is home to the up and coming generation of athletes with Olympic dreams of competing in Nordic combined.  The exclusion of Nordic combined from the Olympics would be devastating to the sport and would ultimately curtail funding and opportunities to compete at the national and international level.”

The NCPS’s strategy to avert this predicament includes a marketing and communications plan aimed at boosting domestic and international interest in Nordic Combined. By securing significant sponsorships and private donations, the initiative seeks to provide vital financial support to the U.S. Nordic Combined team, enhancing its competitiveness and visibility.

The NCPS also hopes to get a World Cup event in the U.S. on the calendar by 2025 to increase the sport’s appeal to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Inclusive representation is a major goal for NCPS, which advocates for both men’s and women’s Nordic Combined at the Olympic level. This aligns with the IOC’s own agenda for promoting diversity and inclusion within the Olympic Games.

“USA Nordic and its recently formed task force are laser-focused on ensuring that both men’s and women’s Nordic combined will have a place in the 2030 Olympics and beyond,” said Jill Brabec, attorney and parent to U.S. Women’s Nordic combined team member Alexa Brabec. “Nordic combined is one of the coolest sports around. With the skill and mental toughness of ski jumping and the endurance and grit of cross country skiing, this sport has it all! We need to spread the word and remind the Olympic committee why this sport, with a 100-year-old history and a young generation of ambitious and gritty male and female athletes, is the best out there!”

The initiative’s leadership, led by Brabec, invites the wider Nordic Combined community to join in on their efforts. A Zoom meeting open to the public is scheduled for April 2 at 6:30 p.m. MDT and will share insights on the challenges ahead and outline how individuals can contribute to the cause.

For those looking to contribute directly to USA Nordic, donations can be made on their website.

To enter the Zoom meeting, use ID: 843 8881 4018 and Passcode: 277921.