Dec 24, 2021
SARANAC LAKE — While some people want presents for Christmas, USA Nordic officials just want their skis.
After competing in two separate competitions in Europe over the weekend the USA Nordic combined team returned back to the United States to prepare for the Olympic Team Trials in Lake Placid. But the team was missing one thing … their skis.
USA Nordic posted to all of their social media accounts on Monday that every single USA Nordic Sport, Nordic combined athlete competing in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Lake Placid on Christmas Eve was missing its skis.
“They just don’t have their own personal ones that they are used to and comfortable on. That could play into a role in a sense,” USA Nordic Communications Manager Riley Elliott said.
The post tagged Finnair, an airline company based in Finland, asking for help. On Tuesday the airline company finally replied back.
“Hi, I am truly sorry for this delay! They should be on their way through MUC airport today. Kind regards, Ada/Finnair,” Finnair replied on Twitter.
As of Thursday, Elliott said he was not aware whether the athletes had their skis or not. He added the earliest they could get them by is Thursday or by the first day of competition, which is today.
“Luckily if not, other teammates have brought extra skis,” Elliott said. “Extra ski jumping skis and extra cross-country skis, so they’ll be taken care of either way.”
A similar situation happened to the USA luge team on Nov. 22 when racing materials were transported from Beijing to Sochi, and 30 sled boxes were left behind in customs.
USA Luge athlete Jonny Gustafson’s sled was one of those left behind. Luckily for Gustafson, the Russian team gave him a sled for training and competition.
“The worst time of the year for Olympic athletes to be getting their stuff lost by airlines is around the holidays. Flights are busy, shipping is busy,” Elliott said.
With the competition imminent and no skis insight, the Nordic combined team might have to use borrowed equipment in an event to get to the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China. The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Nordic combined and ski jumping are today and Saturday at the Olympic Jumping Complex and Mount Van Hoevenberg outside of Lake Placid.
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