Star-studded Springer Tournee showcases ski jumping, nordic combined Olympians

Park City Ski & Snowboard nordic combined athlete Augie Roepke in his black suit flying over the white top corner of the big hill snowflake on the Utah Olympic Park ski jumps during the 26th annual Springer Tournee. Photo: TownLift // Michele Roepke

PARK CITY, Utah — The 26th annual Springer Tournee’s podiums were topped by Park City nordic combined athletes, Olympians Ben Loomis and Stephen Schumann. Other medals, including for ski jumping were given out to Park City Ski and Snowboard Nordic athletes Liam Demong, Donovan Toly, Logan Cadman, Daisy Schmidt, Tally Schnell, Nicky Meyers, Kier Taylor and Augie Roepke, and Josie Johnson.

“Springer is always special but this year in particular since it’s my 20th year.” Schumann Told TownLift. “It’s a great opportunity for the whole community to come out and experience these Olympic level sports at this Olympic venue. At the same time, Springer is a fun gathering of the youngest athletes from accross the country to get together with their counterpart families.” 

Canada, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Illinois all sent teams to this year’s Springer. Often this is a comp and a camp all-in-one as developing athletes are given their first opportunity to jump these, some of the biggest hills in the country.

“For me, Springer’s special to be able see my brother Adam organize this complex competition as the leader of the club,” Loomis Told TownLift. “And entertain the hundreds locals and visitors who buy tickets to spectate the awesome Target Jump event.”

Both nordic combined Olympians talked to TownLift about this winters’ cross country and ski jumping Olympic venues for the Milano Cortina Games. Loomis sayd he’s excited for the potentiality to represent the USA for his third time, his personal best World Cup finish in the cross country portion was on the same course. Schumann said that they haven’t had a chance to try the ski jump in Italy just yet but looks forward to an opportunity to do so.

Whether working at the Utah Olympic Park, volunteering for this event, or simply showing up the Springer, other Olympians there included Lindsey Van, Alan Alborn, Anders Johnson, Taylor Fletcher, Kevin Bickner, Jared Shumate, and Casey Larson.

On one day of the week-long event, young athlete’s get assigned a mentor, one of their idols, as seen in the photo below taken at Basin Rec.

Todd Wilson has competed in two nordic combined Olympics. For the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club he’s the coach, the program director, and a girl dad of a world-class, elite, teenage, international athlete. So, no one was too surprised when he personified the Springer Magical Moment at the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center’s roller ski/run portion of the nordic combined competition. 

One of the six-year-old girl athletes he coaches was on the starting line, and when it was time for her to run the 1 k against the rest of the young runners, she froze. Todd, in coach mode with his full backpack on, not necessarily running shoes, cell phone in his hand, looked down at her, said you got this, then, instead of a coaches usual role of standing there and sending the runners forth, took her hand an walked slowly across the start line. He held on, quickened the pace, but she wasn’t really running yet. Wilson’s walk went faster, then his stride changed to a jump-up-and-side-click the heels together, she was having fun and that’s all that matters at Springer. Finally Wilson evolves into a sort of Monty Pythonesque School of Silly Walks sketch, and that did the trick as she started giggling then jogging then running. They went up the trail, and out of sight, so most people assumed Wilson took any of the many off ramps of the course but when she rounded the visible corner for the finish line, there they were, still running two-by-two together to the end.

The only unforseen glith in the entire week was when a two-foot garter snake crossing then stopping in the middle of the green plastic jump on the small hills. It was chased away and the competition resumed.

One social component was the Famous Red Banjo Pizzaria Main Street Scavenger Hunt, by reservation only, the winners were Augie Roepke and Arther Tyrone in the cross-club bonding game. While the kids explored main street, four-time Olympian Taylor Fletcher, a former employee there along with his three-time Olympian brother, Bryan, was seated underneath the nordic combined memorabilia of bibs, photos and torches on display.

When not volunteer co-announcing, Olympic multi-medalist Billy Demong was roller skiing with his son Liam.

Miles Warnke of Steamboat Springs won the big Target Jump in fron of the ticketed crowd with Olympian announcer Billy Demong, we won $1,250. In second place was Park City’s Liam Demong taking away $750, and in third place, all the way from Calgary, Canada earning $500 was Dyllon Crawford.

One of the vendor’s at the Target Jump event was Heber Valley Brewing Company, and one of the Park City athletes who placed a very high, eight, on the finish list of that competition was Seth Rothchild. Also, Rudger Klug’s tapped into a strength of his, consistency.

The below slideshow includes Ben Loomis putting medals around the winners neck’s, the Target Jump spinning wheel, and Springer Tournee Trophies. All Photos By: TownLift // Michele Roepke

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Park City Ski & Snowboard podium RESULTS:

• Tally Schnell, 1st pl, female u10, nordic combined, small hill
• Josie Johnson, 2nd pl, female u20, ski jumping, k90 big hill
• Liam Demong, 1st pl, male u16, nordic combined, k90 big hill
• Logan Cadman, 2nd pl, male u20, nordic combined, k90 big hill
• Augie Roepke, 3rd pl. male u20, nordic combined, k90 big hill
• Stephen Schumann, 1st pl, xc, Snr male, nordic combined
• Daisy Schmidt, 1st pl, female u12, k18 small hill 
• Nicky Meyers, 3rd pl, male u12, k18 small hill
• Donovan Toly, 1st pl, male u14, nordic combined, k40 small hill
• Kier Taylor, 1st pl, male u12, k18 small hill, whose family makes the hour=long commute, to regular club trainings, from their home up near Snowbasin Ski Area