January 20, 2018 (Oberstdorf, Germany) – USA Nordic athlete Kevin Bickner (Wauconda, IL) tied his best result of the season so far, finishing 24th in the Flying Hill Individual on Jan. 19 at the 2018 Ski Flying World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany. Canada’s Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes (Altius Nordic Ski Club) finished 36th.

Windy conditions and a looming storm led to the decision to cancel the fourth and final round of the two day competition. Bickner, who was the only American to move on to the second day, had a strong third jump of 181 meters to start the day, but it was not enough to move him up the standings. Though he was hoping for another shot in the last round, the weather had other ideas.

The last round was cancelled after only three jumpers. Rather than wait to see if the weather would improve, forecasts made the decision a quick one.

Daniel Andre Tande of Norway is the new Ski Flying World Champion. After only one round on Saturday, the 23-year-old crowned himself the new champion with a 200m jump. Poland’s Kamil Stoch and Richard Freitag of Germany came in second and third.

“We were expecting a little bit more today,” said Head Coach Bine Norcic. “The first round was a little unlucky for Kevin, and we were hoping for another shot but when it started to snow and blow it was pretty obvious what was going to happen.”

Now the team will travel back to Slovenia for a few days of training, before heading to World Cups in Zakopane, Poland  next week.

Results
1. Daniel Andre Tande (NOR)
2. Kamil Stoch (POL)
3. Richard Freitag (GER)

24. Kevin Bickner (USA) Norge Ski Club
36. Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes (CAN) Altius Nordic Ski Club
38. Michael Glasder (USA) Norge Ski Club