Nick Fairall Wins National Ski-Jumping Crown

Nick Fairall (center) and Chris Lamb (right) took first and third in the US Ski Jumping Championships in Utah. Nick Alexander of Lebanon took second, making it a New-Hampshire-only podium. Photo: Peter Graves, USASJ

Reprinted with permission from USASkiJumping.org

August 4, 2013 was a day for the record books in ski jumping as a trio of ski jumpers from New Hampshire – two from the Andover Outing Club! – swept the podium at the Large Hill US Ski Jumping Championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Utah. It was a day that would make Granite Staters especially proud. Abundant sunshine provided the perfect backdrop at the venue of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

Winning his first-ever US National title was Andover’s own Nick Fairall of the US National Team, who took the win with jumps of 125.5 and 131.5 meters and total points of 260.0.

Nick Fairall of the Andover Outing Club, winner of the Large Hill US Ski Jumping Championships in Utah. Photo: Peter Graves, USASJ

“Winning the national title feels great,” said Nick, who competes out of the Andover Outing Club. “I am really excited, that’s for sure.” [Two days after winning the national title, Nick was back in Andover, helping coach kids on the Andover Outing Club’s roller jump.]

Second place went to Lebanon’s Nick Alexander, who displayed his improving form with jumps of 122.5 and 124.5 meters and points of 242.1. Alexander, a 2010 US Olympian, competes for the Lebanon Outing Club. He credits hard work on his take-off move as a key to his continuing improvement, noting, “I’ve tried to stop killing the take-off. It’s a more subtle move now than before. It’s made a huge difference, and I have been working on my flight position, too. I’ve got a ways to go, but it’s coming.”

Chris Lamb Takes Third

Another Andover-based jumper, Chris Lamb, placed a solid third with a pair of jumps of 115.5 and 121.5 meters on the HS (Hill Size 134 meter jump) and points of 218.1. Chris has recently returned to the US after having spent two years training and going to school in Trondheim, Norway. Following the event, Chris said, “It does feel good to get the bronze medal today, but my jumping still isn’t 100%. I need to work on a few things; still, it’s a good feeling.”

US Head Coach Clint Jones was impressed by the showing of the American flyers today, noting, “Nick Fairall’s jumping has been improving all summer, and he’s getting more consistent. He’s stepped it up. I am excited to get him back to Europe.”