Parkite Stephen Schumann has posted solid results through the first two World Cups of the Nordic combined season, but he’s got his eyes set on bigger goals. Schumann is currently ranked 39th in the world through those Cups, he’s targeting a top-20 year-end finish.
Schumann is in his third year on tour this winter. The 24 year old had his career-best season last year, finishing the year ranked 30th. Schumann is staying locked in, despite the future of his sport and its funding being in jeopardy.
Schumann posted his season-best result at the Lillehammer Cup this past Sunday, finishing 28th in the individual compact large hill event. Schumann also finished 37th in Lillehammer’s Gunderson Normal Hill event last Saturday. The Parkite and the rest of the tour were in Ruka, Finland, Nov. 29-Dec. 1 to open the season.
“The first few races were not quite what I was hoping for to kick off the year, but things are moving in the right direction,” said Schumann. “My skiing is feeling great and the jumping is coming along. I’m doing everything I can to build upon the season best result from Sunday.”
Added goals for Schumann this season include finishing top-15 in an event at the late-season World Championships in Trondheim, Norway, and podiuming a team event at some point. The U.S.’s results this season are especially important, as they look to lock in bids for next winter’s Milan Olympics. The individual qualification for those spots will begin early next season.
Schumann is a 2022 Olympian, having finished 25th in the individual Gundersen Normal Hill event. He’d absolutely like to make a return and compete in Milan.
Schumann is currently hitting the gym in preparation for the next Cup, next week in Ramsau, Austria. In Ramsau the men will just have one Mass Start Normal Hill event.
“Lots of work in the gym and technique room working on fine-tuning my jumping technique so we can start the cross country races in a better position,” added Schumann. “On the cross country skiing side, we will continue to build speed and power for the next month or so, shooting to be at my fastest in February.”
With only seven more events (six Cups and the World Championships) on Schumann’s schedule, he knows he has to make the most of them all. He said his favorite stops on tour are typically Lillehammer, Oslo and Seefeld. Schumann said all three of those Cups bring the best courses and atmospheres.
Schumann manages the grueling season away from home in Park City by confiding in his teammates. He said the Norwegian team that the U.S. is partnered with is also extremely supportive and that the sport as a whole is tight-knit.
Schumann was in Park City for the majority of his offseason, also spending time training in Norway. He said he and others spent countless hours preparing in Trondheim with their coaches based there, now feeling well-prepared for the season and World Championships there.
Schumann reiterated that he and the team are still seeking further funding through Nordic Combined USA, as they’re still paying for lots of their own expenses. Having proper funding could take a real weight off a lot of the athletes’ backs as they compete.
“The funding situation in the U.S. for our sport is extremely challenging still, we receive absolutely no funding from the U.S. Ski Team and have an established organization called Nordic Combined USA that is now taking charge of finding funding, although most costs such as flights and hotel rooms are still covered by the athletes individually,” said Schumann. “We are currently in a position where it is possible for us to compete throughout this season with the coaches and staff that we need. However, we are still searching for corporate sponsors and donors to make our situation sustainable long term for both the athletes and the organization.”
To track Schumann’s results in Ramsau and beyond this season, see his FIS page. For more information on how to watch all of the Nordic combined Cups this season, see the U.S. Ski Team’s website. After Ramsau, the tour will take about a month-long break for the holidays, picking back up with the Schonach World Cup Jan. 17-19.