Park City, UT – The 2011 backcountry.com U.S. Nordic Combined Championships concluded Sunday evening at Soldier Hollow in Utah with Park City’s own Brett Camerota coming across the finish line first, marking his first U.S. Championship title.nAfter the jumping portion, held at nearby Utah Olympic Park, Brett Camerota was seeded 1:14 ahead of 2011 runner-up Todd Lodwick, of Steamboat Springs, Colo. Lodwick went into the cross country portion starting third behind brothers Brett and Eric Camerota, also of Park City.
“After the jump, I knew I would have a little bit of a lead, so that means I would be out there by myself,” said Camerota. “My plan was to take the first lap kind of easy and try to have the last lap my fastest because you really don’t have anyone to race with. It was good to just hold everyone off.”
Lodwick made up ground moving from a third place start to finishing second. Lodwick started 53 seconds behind Eric Camerota. Pressing full steam ahead, he made up the difference in the first lap, going into the second lap in second place.
“It’s hard to be disappointed in not winning when you have so many young kids coming up in the program pushing us older guys,” said Lodwick. “It’s encouraging for the years to come for this program. If I can still compete against the young guys half my age and still have the gusto and drive then so be it. I’ll be out here trying my best every day, but it’s nice to see those young kids push us day-in and day-out. It’s a testament of the growing program we have in nordic combined.”
Billy Demong of Vermontville, N.Y., started the race in fifth. Demong let it fly during the roller-ski portion making up time and places to finish on the podium in third. Demong started 1:50 behind Brett Camerota and 36 seconds behind Lodwick.
“I haven’t been roller-skiing much, but I’m pretty fit coming off a bike race last week,” said Demong. “I kind of had to go for it since I jumped so short today. I ended up hanging on for a pretty good time and got on the podium, it was kind of unexpected, but it was a good fight.”
Sunday’s nordic combined competition wrapped up the weekend long 2011 backcountry.com U.S. Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Championships. Events were held under a hot summer sun at the Utah Olympic Park and Soldier Hollow, with cheering fans.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2011 backcountry.com U.S. Nordic Combined Championships
Utah Olympic Park and Soldier Hollow, Park City, UT
Nordic Combined
1. Brett Camerota, Park City, UT, 21:37.00
2. Todd Lodwick, Steamboat Springs, CO, 21:58.00
3. Billy Demong, Vermontville, NY, 22:25.00
4. Eric Camerota, Park City, UT, 22:34.00
5. Bryan Fletcher, Steamboat Springs, CO, 22:49.00