Eau Claire native Ben Loomis is a member of the U.S. National Nordic Combined Team this season. Above, he's shown competing at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. (Photo via DVIDS)

A pair of Eau Claire natives are carrying the city’s century-plus tradition of ski jumping excellence into international competition this winter.

While ski jumpers – and their fans – typically would be descending on Eau Claire this January for the traditional Silver Mine Ski Invitational, that event was once again put on ice for 2024 because of much-needed safety upgrades at the historic facility just outside town.

However, ski jumping enthusiasts can console themselves by basking in the achievements of Flying Eagles Ski Club alums Andrew Urlaub and Ben Loomis.

Andrew Urlaub.

Andrew Urlaub, 22, one of four members of the U.S. National Ski Jumping Team, earned silver and bronze medals at the 2023 U.S. National Championships. This winter, he’s been trotting the globe to take part in Ski Jumping World Cup events, competing in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, and the United States. To date this season, Urlaub’s highest finish came in December in Lillehammer, Norway, where he placed 27th with jumps of 91.5 and 90 meters. Overall, Urlaub ranks 51st in World Cup standings.

Urlaub is scheduled to compete in the 2024 FIS Ski Flying World Championships in Austria, which will run Jan. 25-28. Ski flying is related to ski jumping, but the sport is slightly different: The hills are steeper and longer, allowing even greater distances than traditional ski jumping. Interested fans will be able to watch the competition live on the Peacock streaming service (login to peacocktv.com to watch).

Ben Loomis.

Another high-profile Eau Claire native is 25-year-old Ben Loomis, who was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team at both the 2018 and 2022 Winter Games, as well as a member of multiple World Championship teams. Currently, Loomis is a member of the U.S. National Nordic Combined Team. As the name suggests, Nordic combined is an event that combines two sports: ski jumping and cross-country skiing.

Loomis has crisscrossed northern Europe this winter for international events, competing in Germany, Austria, Norway, Finland, and beyond. Most recently, on Jan. 14 he placed 25th overall in a Nordic Combined World Cup event in Oberstdorf, Germany. He is also currently 25th overall in World Cup standings.

In addition to representing the United States in the Olympics, Loomis has been named U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Nordic Combined Athlete of the Year three times, most recently in 2022.

To keep up with Loomis, Urlaub, and the rest of the U.S. team, visit usanordic.org.