Men’s ski jumping COC takes place in Lake Placid
Lake Placid native Tate Frantz earns personal best
LAKE PLACID — Lake Placid native Tate Frantz recorded a new Continental Cup personal best on his home jumps at the men’s ski jumping competition this past weekend.
The event featured three Continental Cup, or COC, competitions on the 128-meter jump over two days in Lake Placid. Frantz’s best finish was ninth overall on Saturday.
Erik Belshaw of Steamboat Springs, Colorado also recorded a new Continental Cup personal best. The U.S. was represented by Andrew Urlaub of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Casey Larson of Barrington, Illinois, Decker Dean of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and Kevin Bickner of Lake Forest, Illinois.
The competition started on Friday, with the HS128 Continental Cup. Belshaw jumped to 117.5 meters for 120.8 points in the first round, while Frantz went 117.0 meters for 118.3 points. Larson then went 114.5 meters (112.9 points), followed by a 117.0-meter jump by Dean (125.8 points), and Urlaub with a 112.5-meter jump (106.4 points). Bickner wrapped things out for the United States going 103.0 meters for 102.6 points in the first round.
In the final round, Belshaw went 116.5 meters (120.3 points, 241.1 total points), earning a 12th-place finish and a new COC personal best. Frantz was right behind in 13th place, going 117.0 meters in the final round (120.4 points, 238.7 total points), carding a new COC personal best. Larson then came in 16th place, followed by Dean in 17th, with Urlaub in 23rd and Bickner in 25th.
Due to inclement weather, the two final HS128 Continental Cup events were held on Saturday. The day started with one round of competition because of the strong winds and rain. Frantz notched another COC personal best, finishing ninth overall, as he soared to 121.5 meters for 122.2 points in the first round. Belshaw finished 15th overall, jumping to 119.5 meters for 116.4 points. Dean was close behind in 17th (118.5 meters, 115.1 points), with Larson in 18th place (117.5 meters, 111.5 points) and Bickner rounding things off in 23rd place (113.5 meters, 104.7 points).
Later in the day, athletes competed in the final HS128 Continental Cup of the weekend. Frantz finished 14th overall, jumping to 117.0 and 119.5 meters for 237.0 total points, capping off his dominant weekend in Lake Placid. Larson was right behind in 15th, jumping 16.0 and 120.0 meters, scoring 235.9 total points on the day. Belshaw came in 17th place, putting together jumps of 114.5 and 119.5 meters while carding 231.2 total points. Dean rounded things off for the United States, with jumps of 111.0 and 113.5 meters, scoring 216.5 total points on the day and finishing 20th overall.
Following the Continental Cup event, USA Nordic athletes were slated to compete in the ski jumping and Nordic combined U.S. National Championships at the Olympic Jumping Complex and Mount Van Hovenberg in Lake Placid on Tuesday and Wednesday.