December 20, 2008 (Ramsau am Dachstein, Aut) – American Nordic Combined ace, Billy Demong of Vermontville, NY (near Lake Placid) landed one of his best jumps ever to win his 4th World Cup on Saturday at this mountain village high above Schladming in this grueling sport that combines ski jumping and xc skiing. Demong, who will be the subject of a profile in the next issue of SkiTrax, bested Bjorn Kircheisen (Ger), while third place went to Norway’s Jan Schmid. US Ski Team former World Champion, Johnny Spillane of Steamboat Springs, CO was 44th. Read more on this story in the USSA press release below.

USSA Release – Demong Takes Fourth Career World Cup Win

The U.S. Ski Team’s Billy Demong (Vermontville, NY) landed one of the best jumps of his career to win his fourth career World Cup nordic combined event in Ramsau on Saturday.

“On the jump hill it was tough conditions. It was a little bit windy and snowy. I think it was a decent competition, but in those kind of conditions you just have to have confidence and go for it,” Demong said. “On the cross country course it was dumping and it was windy but I was able to just go out and ski my own race and hang on to the victory.”

“Bill did great today. He was given an opportunity and he took advantage of it,” Nordic Combined Coach Chris Gilbertson said. “There was some luck involved, but he jumped well so he was able to use it.”

Germany’s Bjoern Kircheisen finished second and Jan Schmid of Norway was third. According to Demong, who finished second in the jumping portion, his first win of the season leaves him with encouragement that athletically he is where he is supposed to be.

“It’s pretty reassuring because it was a rough start but we did have a really good summer of jumping and training,” Demong said. “It’s good to get a podium and reinforce the fact that you did do the right things over the summer.”

Gilbertson echoed Demong’s sentiments about training. “It’s a boost. It gives him confidence and we know we were doing the right things in the summer. We’ll just keep building on it.”

According to Demong, he not only plans to build on this win for other World Cup victories, but he also wants to use it to bolster him for the World Championships in February. “I think this gives a little bit of a boost, but also I think I’m looking up and up this season towards the World Championships,” Demong said. “I have a ton of World Cups to come and hopefully I’ll just be able to carry this momentum forward.”

For now, though, Demong is focusing on Sunday when he will compete again in Ramsau. “It was a way better day on the jump hill but cross country was tough so I’ll try to have a better race day tomorrow,” Demong said. “Tomorrow is another day and I hope to take another step from here.”

Full results here.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
2009 DKB FIS WORLD CUP NORDIC COMBINED
Ramsau, Austria – Dec. 20, 2009
Nordic combined (HS98/10K)

1. Billy Demong, Vermontville, NY, (2/23)
2. Bjoern Kircheisen, Germany, (6/4)
3. Jan Schmid, Norway, (8/6)
4. Wilhelm Denifl, Austria, (1/38)
5. Mario Stecher, Austria, (9/9)
–
44. Johnny Spillane, Steamboat Springs, CO, (52/12)