USSA Nordic
By Tom Kelly
PARK CITY, Utah (July 31, 2021) – Casey Larson (Barrington, Ill./Norge Ski Club) and Annika Belshaw (Steamboat Springs, Colo./Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) swept to back-to-back titles on day two of the 2022 U.S. Ski Jumping Championships on the HS134m large hill at the Utah Olympic Park. Belshaw remained dominant in the women’s field while Larson had to come from behind with a stunning second round jump to clinch the title.
The large hill competition at the U.S. Championships attracted a field of 31 men and 13 women to the Utah Olympic Park in Park City. The event is sponsored by the Utah Office of Tourism and the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation and produced by Park City Ski & Snowboard and the Utah Olympic Park, along with USA Nordic.
Down by 9.2 points after the first round to teammate Decker Dean (Steamboat Springs, Colo./Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club), Larson came roaring back with a massive 127.5m second round jump to take gold by 258.9 to 249.9 over Dean. Andrew Urlaub (Eau Claire Wis./Flying Eagles Ski Club) was third.
Belshaw led both rounds and had the two longest jumps of the day for the women, soaring 121.5m in the first round and clinching the victory with a 120.0m jump. Anna Hoffmann (Madison, Wis./Blackhawk Ski Club) was second with jumps of 117.0m and 110.0m with Nina Lussi (Lake Placid, N.Y./New York Ski Education Foundation)
Both Larson and Belshaw picked up their career-first titles in the opening HS100m competition, doubling up in the HS124.
The U.S. Ski Jumping Championships kicked off the Olympic season, and were the first in two years.
Official Results – U.S. Ski Jumping Championships, HS134, July 31 2021
