Winter Olympics preview: Nordic Combined

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History

Nordic Combined has been around forever, an Olympic sport since the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France in 1924. The sport is a combination of ski jumping and cross-country skiing - which, let's face it, is the best combination of all - and has a long and proud history.

The sport's origins trace back to 1890s Norway, and the Holmenkollen Ski Festival in Holmenkollen, Oslo, Norway. The festival began in 1892, with Nordic Combined the feature event, and takes place every March, to this day.

Nordic nations, believe it or not, have traditionally dominated the sport - Norway has won 26 medals, including 11 Gold, and Finland 14 medals. But the Austrians and Germans, and in 2010 the Americans, have made a name for themselves in Nordic Combined.

Making Nordic Combined more exclusive is the fact that is is a men's-only competition. It's the only winter Olympic sport in which women do not compete.

Events

Individual normal hill/10 km, individual large hill/10 km, and team large hill 4x5 km relay.

Venue

Nordic Combined at the Sochi Games will take place at the RusSki Gorki Jumping Center, north-east of Sochi, in the village of Esto-Sedok, on the northern slope of the Aibga Ridge. The events will start and finish at the jumps, unlike in Vancouver, where the cross-country skiing and jumps were held in different locations. The 2014 setup is a lot better for fans.

The Top Stories

German Eric Frenzel is the man to beat in individual competition. He won the 2012-2013 Nordic Combined World Cup, and is on track to repeat as champion in 2013-2014. The 25-year-old heads to Sochi on a roll, having won the last four individual World Cup events - including three events in three days, the first Nordic Combined Triple Competition - in January. He's ready.

Flip a coin between Germany and Norway in the relay competition. There’s very little between the two countries.

The course at this year's games, built into the side of a mountain, is being called a tough one, and competitors are excited the by the challenge it'll pose. "I think it's a hard track and I like hard tracks because not everyone can go at such a high tempo," Frenzel said.

"It goes basically back and forth and up and down the side of the mountain next to the jump hill," said American Bill Demong, who won gold in the individual large hill event in Vancouver in 2010. "There are not only hard climbs but also there are some pretty nasty descents. So I'm excited by it."

There's a chance artificial snow will have to be used, and that the real snow will be slushy, due to the fact the course has been built at relatively low altitude. That poses a different challenge for the competitors involved. "It takes a different type of finesse," said Demong.

Five Names to Remember

1. Eric Frenzel (Germany): Frenzel, at 25, is at his peak right now, and is the favorite thanks to his 2012-2013 World Cup title, and his exploits in this season's World Cup competition.

2. Jason Lamy Chappuis (France): Lamy Chappuis, 27, comes into the Sochi Games with the best name -- say it out loud, in your best French accent -- in Nordic Combined, and as the defending gold medalist in the 2010 individual normal hill event. He finished second to Frenzel in last year's World Cup standings, and ranks fourth this year.

3. Akito Watabe (Japan): Watabe finished third in last year's World Cup standings, and currently ranks second behind Frenzel in this year's standings, thanks to five individual podium finishes. He’s expected to contend for a medal.

4. Bill Demong (United States): Bill Demong won two medals in Vancouver in 2010, a gold in the individual large hill event, and a silver in the team large hill relay. He made history - it was the first time the U.S. medaled in Nordic Combined. Four years is a long time, though, and at 33, he's considered a longshot to repeat as a medalist.

5. The Norwegians: Haavard Klemetsen, Mikko Kokslien, Magnus Moan, and Magnus Krog. In four team events on this season's World Cup schedule, the Norwegians have won twice and finished second twice. They lead the Nation Cup over Germany this season, and finished second to the Germans in 2012-2013. Klemetsen ranks third in this year's World Cup standings, while Kosklien ranks sixth, Moan ranks seventh, and Krog ranks eighth. There's more: Norwegian Jan Schmid ranks ninth, and Norwegian Jorgen Grabak ranks 11th. The Norwegians aren't to be messed with when it comes to Nordic Combined.

Four Terms You Need to Know

1. Gundersen: The Gundersen method changed everything, and was developed by Norwegian Gunder Gundersen. In short, it changed Nordic Combined from a points-based competition to a finish-line competition. And finish-line competitions are always more exciting. So, thank you, Mr. Gundersen. Ski-jump results are used to determine where competitors begin the 10 km individual cross-country skiing competition. Race starts are staggered based on jump scores - a 15-point difference equals a one-minute advantage. Then the race for gold is on.

2. Large hill and normal hill: Two hills will be used in Sochi. Yes, a large hill, and a normal hill. The large hill is 140 meters high, and the normal hill 105 meters high.

3. K-Point: Ski jumps are all about the K Point, a marked line that is the distance from takeoff equivalent to the height of the hill. It's the point jumpers are aiming for, and they're awarded or deducted points based on where they land in relation to the K Point.

4. Jumping skis and cross-country skis: Competitors use two different pairs of skis in Nordic Combined. Jumping skis for, you guessed it, their ski jumps, which can be a maximum length of 146 percent of the competitor's total body height. (Jumping boots are also used, and competitors employ the V-Style jumping technique.) And, finally, cross-country skis for the cross-country skiing portion of Nordic Combined, which can be up to two meters long.

Previews for each individual event below.