Ski jumping associations from the United States and Norway have forged an unprecedented partnership.
USA Nordic Sport and Norges Hopplandslaget announced Wednesday that their national ski jumping teams will share coaches, training facilities, sports science data and sponsorship efforts under a four-year deal.
The combined team is led by Norwegian Clas Brede Bråthen.
A traditional power in sport, Norway leads the world with 12 Olympic gold medals and 36 medals overall. At the Beijing Games in February, Norway’s Marius Lindvik won Olympic gold in ski jumping on the large hill.
“Our goal is to consolidate Norway’s position as the most important ski jumping nation in the world,” said Bråthen, the national team manager for Norwegian ski jumping. “The combination of the resources of the US and Norway will help fulfill our intense desire to be leaders and take the sport of ski jumping to the highest possible level worldwide.”
The US won its only Olympic ski jumping gold medal at the inaugural Winter Olympics in 1924. American Anders Haugen exited the Games without hardware but was awarded bronze 50 years later after a hit miss was confirmed.
“Our common goal is to make our sport more relevant and exciting for young women and men around the world,” said Tom Bickner, who chairs the board of USA Nordic Sport in Salt Lake City.
The International Ski Federation said the partnership will also help other ski jumping teams around the world.
“FIS applauds the unprecedented agreement between Norway and the United States to work together to achieve sporting greatness,” said Sandro Pertile, the governing body’s ski jumping race director.
Italy will host the 2026 Olympic Games, with venues being widely spread across the northern part of the country, including Trentino for ski jumping.
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