Steamboat Loves Nordic Combined
02/12/2025 12:47PM ● By Haley Watkins
WATCH LIVE! Watch Nordic combined and ski jumping live from Lake Placid, New York as the mountain town hosts the Junior World Championships. The event features 21 nations and showcases future Olympians for the 2030 and 2034 Winter Games.
https://watch.fis-ski.com/section/Nordic%20Combined
The event comes at a critical time for Nordic combined, which is under review by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for its future in the Olympics. The IOC will decide whether to keep the men’s event in the Olympics, with implications for the inclusion of a women’s competition, the only major Winter Olympic sport without one. A decision is expected this summer.
Steamboat Springs has a rich history in Nordic combined, with the town once hosting World Cup events in the late 90s, drawing large crowds to support athletes. This was during a period when local athletes, including those heading to the Vancouver Olympics, gained international success. Steamboat remains a critical pipeline for the sport, with three of the six U.S. National Team members hailing from there: Alexa Brabec, Annika Malacinski and Niklas Malacinski. Niklas is set to compete in the upcoming Olympics, but Annika won’t be eligible, because the sport isn’t an Olympic Sport for women.
The local Nordic combined program has helped nurture this strong pipeline, with a focus on community involvement and athlete development. Parents of younger participants speak highly of the program, noting its positive impact on their children’s growth. The sport is incredibly technical and demanding, requiring athletes to excel in both cross-country skiing and ski jumping, two skills that are hard to master simultaneously, making it one of the toughest in the Winter Olympics.
The IOC’s upcoming decision reflects broader concerns about viewership and the sport’s future. While the men’s Nordic combined competition’s inclusion could open the door for a women’s event in 2030, the IOC's focus on global viewership in a highly distracted media landscape is key. As niche sports like Nordic combined fight for visibility, innovations in broadcasting and compelling storytelling are essential to attract audiences and secure their place in the Games.
With Steamboat’s deep-rooted connection to Nordic combined, it’s clear that local programs, athlete development and community support play a vital role in keeping the sport strong and thriving. You can support Nordic combined and ski jumping by watching the events in Lake Placid via livestream: https://watch.fis-ski.com/section/Nordic%20Combined. The event runs Tuesday-Sunday, Feb. 11-16, 2025.
And, check out our writer Eugene Buchanan’s story on the future of the sport in our Ski edition here.