December 12, 2003 – Canada's first World Cup nordic combined athlete, Jason Myslicki, had a difficult day at 1,800 metres above sea level, with a torn hamstring, and was not able to finish the Gundersen nordic combined race in Val di Fiemme, Italy. The 26-year-old, from Thunder Bay, Ont., was ranked 35th after his two ski jumps from the K95 tower. After completing one lap of the cross-country course, he decided to stop and avoid further injury. Many international athletes were affected by altitude sickness after travelling from the last competition in Norway, where the course is at sea-level, to the high-altitude mountains of Italy.

“It was a tough day today, I'm feeling pretty beat up with some old shoulder problems and tear in my hamstring,” said Myslicki, who feels positive about his results in the first part of the season. “I tried to save myself today to have a race tomorrow that I can feel happy about before I head home for Christmas.”

Ronny Ackermann of Germany, has not lost a single nordic combined event since the start of the season. He started today's event seeded first after two jumps, and powered his way to his fourth win of the season in 35:23.1. Another German athlete, Sebastian Haseney finished second on the day, +1:05.1 behind Ackermann. Haseney was closely followed by third place finisher Felix Gottwald of Austria, who finished the 15 kilometre ski +1:06.4 back of the leader.

Canada's Myslicki will compete again tomorrow in the mass start event, which features two jumps from the K95 tower after a 10 kilometre cross-country race that pits the entire field of athletes at the start line together similar to a marathon road race. “The mass start event suits me well, it can be a little hectic at the start line, but I don't mind the intensity,” said Myslicki. “You can pick someone from the start who is skiing at your pace, or a little faster and use them to push yourself through the course.”

Men's Results

1. Germany Ronny Ackermann 35:23.1
2. Germany Sebastian Haseney +1:05.1
3. Austria Felix Gottwald +1:06.4
4. Japan Daito Takahashi +1:33.4
5. Finland Samppa Lajunen +1:57.3
6. Finland Hannu Manninen +2:03.6
7. Austria Michael Gruber +2:03.9
8. United States Todd Lodwick +2:04.7
9. France Ludovic Roux +2:05.8
10. Finland Jouni Katainen +2:06.9
27. Canada Jason Myslicki DNF