Liberec, Czech Republic – Steamboat Springs, Colo.’s Bryan Fletcher scored a career best nordic combined skiing World Cup result on Sunday, finishing fourth in an individual Gundersen in Liberec. Akito Watabe of Japan topped Sunday’s podium.

“Bryan is getting closer and closer to the podium. It will come,” said a confident Dave Jarrett, Nordic Combined Head Coach for the U.S. Ski Team. “He did a good job today but wasn’t quite as strong as Jason [Lamy-Chappuis] and Mario [Stecher],” Sunday’s respective second and third place finishers.

The originally scheduled penalty race format for this weekend was canceled and replaced with an individual Gundersen due to poor weather conditions. At the midway mark, Fletcher stood in sixth with a 40-second deficit, and managed to ski strongly to land one off the podium. Teammate Billy Demong, of Vermontville, N.Y., broke the top 10, finishing eighth after jumping to 24th in variable weather conditions. Bryan Fletcher’s brother Taylor also had a strong day, finishing 20th after starting a minute and 52 seconds back in 38th position and skiing the seventh fastest cross country race. Steamboat’s Johnny Spillane finished 38th while Nick Hendrickson, of Park City, Utah, was 44th with Brett Denney, also of Steamboat Springs, 47th.

“Billy and Taylor also did a good job and we are psyched,” added Jarrett. “Jumping conditions were a little up and down but they stayed focused and performed. We are on the right track.”

The FIS Nordic Combined World Cup now moves to Lahti, Finland for a team sprint and an individual Gundersen March 2-3.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Nordic Combined World Cup
Liberec, Czech Republic – Feb. 26, 2012
Individual Gundersen