February 22, 2013 (Val di Fiemme, Italy) – Bryan Fletcher led the U.S. Ski Team finishing 14th in the opening Nordic Combined event at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Val di Fiemme. The Steamboat Springs, CO native jumped to 19th and powered his way through the field finishing 14th.

France’s Jason Lamy Chappuis won gold in a hard-fought battle with Austria’s Mario Stecher, and Germany’s Bjoern Kircheisen and Eric Frenzel that lead to a breathtaking final sprint that ended in a near dead heat. The photo-finish battle for silver and  bronze was so tight the jury had to wait for several minutes before deciding that Stecher won silver and Kircheisen the bronze with Frenzel fourth, losing by only a few centimeters.

Haavard Klemetsen (NOR) landed the best jump of the day but Stecher, Frenzel, Magnus Moan (NOR) and Lamy Chappuis were close behind with the USA’s Fletcher in 19th.

“I was happy with the race today. It’s a strong race and, obviously, I wasn’t in optimum jumping position at the end. I was just really going out there just to see how I felt and open up World Champs with just a good solid opening race and that’s exactly what it was,” said Fletcher. “I felt strong and think that if I can continue to race this strong throughout the rest of the races and with a little better jumping I’m in the fight. So I’m happy.”

Sporadic winds created significant gaps from the jumping competition which was accentuated by a grueling course that featured significant climbs on each of the four 2.5k loops through the stadium in Lago di Tesero. Billy Demong (Vermontville, NY) was 23rd, Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) 25th and Todd Lodwick (Steamboat Springs, CO) was 35th.

“I guess today I tried to trial a good race and just pace myself well. It’s a tough course. I think it’s important to have the mentality that I’m going to jump better and be in a position in one of these next races,” commented Demong. “I felt like I started pretty controlled and just tried to negative split the laps and had a lot of energy in the last couple rounds and made up a lot of time when everybody else started to kind of slow down a little bit. Yea I think it was a good unfortunate training day, but I have good confidence for the next couple races.”

This Lodwick’s 9th World Championships and the veteran was psyched that he jumped over 90 meters. “It’s a good thing – I never like to see an eight (scores). The hill is in awesome shape. Having this be my ninth World Championships, I take every day as it is and it’s a blessing that I get to come here and do this and perform in front of people. I do what I love to do and I’m fortunate that I have the teammates and coaches and the ability and help to be able to do this.”

Lamy Chappuis was pleased with his performance. “After the ski-jumping session I wasn’t really satisfied, but I had great materials for the cross-country race and I was able to win. I felt really strong on the last lap and there I realized I could fight for the gold» told the Frenchman right after the race,” told Fiemme2013.

Nordic combined action continues Sunday with the 4x5k team event.

With files from USSA and Fiemme2013.

Full results HERE