December 14, 2015 (Soldier Hollow, UT) – American Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) summoned every ounce of energy, cutting off 25 seconds in the last three kilometers to catch tour leader David Pommer of Austria at the finish for a FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup win at Soldier Hollow Sunday. Fletcher’s victory snapped the win streak of Pommer who had been dominant in races Friday and Saturday. Austria’s Franz-Josef Rehrl was third.

Taylor Fletcher finally wins at home © USSA

It was another strong day for the Americans, with Ben Berend (Steamboat Springs, CO) sixth. Fletcher posted the fastest cross country time of the day. Michael Ward (Aspen, CO) came back from 25th in the jump to finish 12th with the fourth fastest time in the 10k.

After threats of inclement weather, Sunday’s final jump went off smoothly. Japan’s Hisaki Nagamine continued his dominance on the HS100 meter hill, leading with a jump of 96.0 meters. Berend established himself as a threat with a ride of 94.0 meters to move into second, 14 seconds back. The the real statement of the day came from Pommer, who launched his own 94.0 meter jump on the final ride of the day to put down the gauntlet to Fletcher, who was 19th at 86.5 meters – 1:02 behind the Austrian.

Ben Berend jumped to third on the final day of ski jumping in the FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup at the Utah Olympic Park. © U.S. Ski Team / Tom Kelly

Cloudy skies kept the track at Soldier Hollow rock hard and fast. Pommer and Berend went out together, 14 seconds behind Nagamine, catching him quickly and skiing together through the first lap. Fletcher, meanwhile, went out hard from the start and began moving up methodically through the field. By the second lap, Pommer had established a dominant lead, with Berend battling with Rerhl for third. And Fletcher just kept coming. By the third of five laps, Fletcher was into second but still with well over a 30 second gap to Pommer.

Pommer continued to set the pace, with his coaches shouting encouragement and giving updates on Fletcher’s progress. As the skiers crested the Soldier Hollow tubing hill with three kilometers to go, the margin stood at 25 seconds.

Fletcher turned up the heat even more, slowly but surely reeling in Pommer. As they entered the stadium, Pommer was still in control but now realized his race was in jeopardy. Rounding the 180-degree turn in the stadium, with just 20 meters to go, Fletcher took the longer outside line to maintain speed, strategically positioning himself with a ski inside the Austrian. Then the sprint was on. Fletcher had enough left in the tank to cross the line first and take the four Continental Cup win of his career.

“I felt stronger each lap,” he said. “Pommer was definitely a bit more tired than he was yesterday. I was dead but I wanted it too bad. It’s a good steppingstone to get the W we were looking for.”

While Fletcher had caught the Austrian, passing  him was a challenge. “It’s so tight in that final corner. It’s great snow but it’s also icy. Trying to keep that ski under you is difficult. I chose that wide line to carry a little bit more speed knowing he was going to want the center and try to block me. I knew if I took that wider line I would have a lot more speed. I’m not known for my sprinting but I put in a hell of a sprint and I’m proud of it.”

“Taylor was skiing so well, so fast, he deserved to win,” said Pommer. “Second place is more than good. Today there was no strategy – it was just running for survival. I just keep saying ‘push your limits, push your limits.'”

The FIS Nordic Combined World Cup tour will resume next weekend in Ramsau, Austria before taking a holiday break.

HIGHLIGHTS

• It was the fourth Continental Cup win of Taylor Fletcher’s career.
• Pommer’s second left him in the Continental Cup lead after three races.
• The USA had four in the top 15 and six in the points.
• Fletcher’s three podium finishes netted the USA a fifth quota spot on the FIS Nordic Combined World Cup tour.
• Rookie Stephen Schumann made it a clean sweep, scoring points in each of his first three Continental Cups.

QUOTES
Taylor Fletcher
It was a hell of a race – even better than yesterday. I felt stronger each lap. Pommer was definitely a bit more tired than he was yesterday. I was dead but I wanted it too bad. It’s a good steppingstone to get the W we were looking for.

It’s so tight in that final corner. It’s great snow but it’s also icy. Trying to keep that ski under you is difficult. I chose that wide line to carry a little bit more speed knowing he was going to want the center and try to block me. I knew if I took that wider line I would have a lot more speed. I’m not known for my sprinting but I put in a hell of a sprint and I’m proud of it.

The extra World Cup quota spot we earned helps our team tremendously. Those young kids have to pay for everything. We’re in a tough situation and they’re going to be taken care of a bit more on the World Cup and it makes it a lot easier on them and a lot less stressful on their parents and sponsors.

David Pommer
I’m so satisfied with second place today. It was a tough weekend. I was jumping and skiing at a high level. Taylor was skiing so well, so fast, he deserved to win. Second place is more than good. Today there was no strategy – it was just running for survival. I just keep saying ‘push your limits, push your limits.’

Franz-Josef Rehrl
I had a pretty good jump today and the cross country skiing was good – and I beat my teammate Raschberger in the last few meters. This weekend the biggest battle against my teammates because we all want to go to the World Cup.

Final results here
Ski jumping results here
Overall COC standings here