Northwood’s 2024-25 Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Team is the biggest team the school has ever had. The team is not only making noise with their size but also their results. Earlier this month, Mitchell Penning ‘25 traveled to a FIS (Federation of International Skiing) Cup in Einsiedeln, Switzerland, where he scored his first career FIS Cup points. The FIS Cup is the first level of international competition; to score points in it, you must get top-30 in a competition. Mitchell is “really happy to get some points,” and it “opens the door for me to be able to go to Continental Cups,” which is the second level of international competition in Ski Jumping.
Henry Loher ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.
From Switzerland, Mitchell traveled to Otepaa, Estonia, where he met up with Henry Loher ‘26. Otepaa was Henry’s first FIS Cup. Henry competed in three competitions in Otepaa, and his best result was 33rd. Henry says he “wishes he had scored points” since it was the goal of the trip but is “happy to experience competing against some of the best in the world.” In the same competitions, Mitchell scored more points, securing another 30th place.
Mitchell and Henry returned to Lake Placid from Estonia just in time for Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined USA National Championships. Luckily, they didn’t have to travel far as the competition was right here in Lake Placid, New York, as a part of the 2024 Flaming Leaves Festival. On the first day of the competition, Northwood had four athletes in the top 30 on the Normal Hill. Henry had the best result, getting 13th. That afternoon, Jack Kroll ‘25 and Max Fey ‘28 competed in the Nordic Combined race. The race was Max’s first ever 10k Nordic race and he got 9th. Henry, Jack, and Mitchell competed in Sunday’s Large Hill event, and all three finished in the top twenty, with Mitchell getting 10th.
Henry Loher ‘26 on the HS128, Photo by Nancie Battaglia.
Jack Kroll ‘25 on the HS128, Photo by Nancie Battaglia.
NYSEF Northwood Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined head coach Colin Delaney is “happy that the team is growing and getting great results.” Delaney says he “can’t wait to see what they do this winter.”