Lussi selected to national team
PARK CITY, Utah — Lake Placid native Nina Lussi was among the women selected by USA Nordic as members of the first USA Nordic sports women’s ski jumping national team. After coming to an agreement with Women’s Ski Jumping USA to take over the day-to-day operations earlier this month, the organization named five women to the inaugural team.
Nita Englund, Tara Geraghty-Moats, Sarah Henderson and Abby Ringquist were named to the “A” team based on results accumulated over the past year that meet the criteria established by USA Nordic. Lussi was named to the “C” team following her winning performance at the US National Championships in Lake Placid earlier this month.
“We are really excited to matrix in the women’s team after a really successful summer of working together more,” USA Nordic Executive Director Billy Demong, originally from Vermontville, said in a press release. “Moving forward they will be able to support each other and work together to ensure that all of our athletes are getting the best support and opportunities USA Nordic can offer.”
While the addition of the women’s team is a significant change for the organization, USA Nordic and a large segment of the ski jumping and nordic combined community have felt for some time it is in the best interest of both men and women to work together. This change is expected to be beneficial to both female and male athletes, who shouldn’t notice any changes or disruption in their day-to-day training and preparation.
“I’m really looking forward to being one team this winter,” Geraghty-Moats said. Geraghty-Moats was raised in Vermont but came up through the ranks of the New York Ski Education Foundation, as did Lussi. “In my experience, more ski jumpers working together leads to more fun and better results.”