Park City’s Paige Jones ski jumps in mixed team at the Milano Cortina Olympics

(L-R) Jason Colby, Annika Belshaw, Paige Jones, Tate Frantz Photo: TownLift // Michele Roepke // USA Ski Jumping

CORTINA, Italy — Park City’s Paige Jones, along with three of her USA teammates, competed in the Milano Cortina Olympics in the mixed team normal hill ski jumping event.

Jason Colby and Annika Belshaw, both from Steamboat Springs, and Tate Frantz from Lake Placid, rounded out this fresh-faced foursome of first-time Olympians.

Gold went to Slovenia, silver to Norway, and bronze to Japan as the team from the United States placed seventh in the final round, sixth in the first round, a result they talked with TownLift about in the finish area.

“I love mixed team events, so to be able to participate in it was definitely one of my goals for these Games,” said Jones. “A lot of my family hasn’t seen me compete internationally in some time, so they’re kind of living up the environment, because it’s not like we pull these kinds of crowds back home.” 

It won’t be long before this Olympian becomes part of a mixed team of Olympians herself. Her fiancé is an American luge Olympian, and the two are set to be married this summer. Jones grew up in Park City, and graduated from Park City High School. She competes for the Park City Ski & Snowboard Team and simultaneously attends classes online at the University of South Dakota. These days, Jones is taking classes in engineering.

“It was great being with the team. I feel like we ended up with a solid result, and we’re making history.” Belshaw explained, “It’s the first U.S. team to jump for the mixed event in the Olympics. So, it’s really cool.”

“Oh, it’s wonderful. We’re all rookies here at the Olympics, and ending up with a really, really solid seventh place is amazing.” Frantz said. “Hopefully we can kind of keep this ball rolling.” Talk turned to Frantz’s connection to the Utah Olympic Park. “I grew up traveling to Park City each July for the Springer Tournee and enjoying jumping the hills. It was my first large hill I ever jumped there, so it’s one of those stepping stones on the path to being here. I’m just grateful to be here and excited for the opportunity.”

“The hill here is really incredible. They’ve done a nice job with the facility and the preparation, I have nothing but good things to say about the hill. I’m having a great time,” Colby said. “Traveling to Park City for a lot of competition weekends has been very beneficial to my ski jumping career.” 

A unique facet of this Milano Cortina Venue is that there is a funicular that brings athletes up to the top, not a chairlift, gondola, or elevator as seen throughout the USA.  

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