Alexandria Loutitt Wins Canada’s First-Ever Ski Jumping World Championships Title
Planica, Slovenia – Alexandria Loutitt edged out Norway’s Maren Lundby in the Large Hill event at the 2023 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships to claim Canada’s first-ever Ski Jumping World Championships title.
After a first-round jump of 134.5m/130.9 points, the Canadian would be tied with Norway’s defending World Champion Lundby.
“I was nervous after my first jump, but me and Janko (Zwitter) have a system where we only focus on what I need to do on the hill to have a great second jump, not what I need to do to win,” said Loutitt. “I wanted it to happen, and when I’m able to just focus on my jumps and go into my bubble the outcome is phenomenal”.
Despite the pressure of a World Championship title on the line, her second jump flew her down to 136m/133.5 points, propelling her to the top of the podium.
“Right off the takeoff I knew it was a good jump, I’ve always struggled with landing, so for the second half of the flight I was really just preparing for a solid landing, I knew I had the distance, but wanted to make sure I had the style as well”.
Loutitt is no stranger to high-pressure situations. Earlier this season she became Canada’s first woman to win a Ski Jumping World Cup, and Canada’s first woman to win a World Junior Championship title.
“I felt a lot of pressure going into the Normal Hill event, I didn’t have the best first-round jump and knew I would have an amazing jump in the second round to make it to the podium, I think I just got way too in my head,” said Loutitt. “After the Normal Hill event I had some time to relax, and jumping in the team event with teammates, and having fun really helped me to gain some confidence back”.
Loutitt took gold with 264.4 points, Norway’s Maren Lundby finished in second with 254.0 points, while Germany’s Katharina Althaus finished third with 245.9 points.
“Since I started in this sport, I’ve always dreamt of becoming a World Champion, I remember watching Lindsey Van (USA) win the first-ever Women’s Ski Jumping World Championship event in Norway, and at that time hoped I would be there one day.”
“I think it hasn’t really sunk in yet, but this means so much to me, and for the Canadian Ski Jumping community”.
Since the closing of Winsport’s year-round Ski Jumping facility in Calgary AB, the Canadian Ski Jumping team spends the majority of the year living and training in Slovenia. While it isn’t a true home competition for them, it is as close as they will come without operational facilities in their home city.
“Being able to compete in Planica is great, we spend most of our time training on these hills, so it feels like a home competition in a way” said Loutitt.
Canada’s Abigail Strate jumped to 15th with 215.5 points after a top 10 result in the Normal Hill event, while Natalie Eilers and Nicole Maurer finished 41st and 47th in qualification.
“We are so proud of our Canadian women, and what they have achieved this year”, said Ski Jumping Canada’s Co-Chair Kelly Johansson. “They have continued to shine amongst the strongest nations in the sport, and their grit and determination to compete with the best is proof that passion will trump adversity every time”.
Just this season alone, the Canadian Ski Jumping women have racked up 2 World Cup podiums, multiple top 10 World Cup finishes, a World Junior Championship title, and now a World Senior Championships title. Their results have had an impact across Canada as young athletes begin to gain an interest in the sport. With seasonally operated small hills in Calgary and Red Deer AB, along with Squamish and Whistler, BC, there is no shortage of athletes wanting to follow in the footsteps of Strate and Loutitt. The biggest barrier the sport faces in Canada is no year-round facilities that enable athletes to develop from small hills to Olympic-sized hills. With increased funding from Sport Canada and Own the Podium, Ski Jumping Canada along with its stakeholders hopes to create more facilities across the nation, securing the future of the sport in Canada for generations to come.
Photos (all rights reserved): Nordic Focus / Dolores Lazic
For Further Information:
Nathaniel Mah
Communications
Ski Jumping Canada
T: (403)700-4927
E: nmah@skijumpingcanada.com
Ski Jumping Canada is the governing federation for ski jumping in Canada. It is responsible for the governance of all ski jumping competitions in Canada and for the operation of the national team.
