During Women’s History Month, we remember and look to the past to honor the trailblazers and pioneers of our community and nation.

While we celebrate those who paved the way, we can also recognize and celebrate women who are making history today. A remarkable group of female Nordic Combined athletes from Steamboat Springs are doing just that.

Nordic Combined, a sport that merges the daring feats of ski jumping with the grit and stamina of cross-country skiing, has an extensive history dating back to the 1800s and debuted in the first Winter Olympics in 1924. Despite this long tradition, women have only recently been allowed to compete at the higher levels, and are still fighting for inclusion in the Olympics. The International Ski Federation (FIS) held the first Women’s World Cup in 2020, marking a pivotal step forward.

Steamboat Springs has long been a hub for Nordic Combined talent, with the backbone of Howelsen Hill ski jumping and Nordic complex and the superior coaching and training of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. In fact, most snow sports beginnings have been co-ed in Steamboat Springs, led by coach Carl Howelsen’s founding of local women’s ski clubs and co-ed Winter Carnival events.

Today female athletes are continuing that legacy, and taking the sport of Nordic Combined to new heights.

Alexa Brabec made headlines this winter by finishing an impressive fourth place at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, proving that American Nordic combined women are competitive on the world stage.

Her performance is the best ever recorded by a U.S. female athlete in the sport, and it signals a bright future for the next generation.

Meanwhile, Steamboat local US Ski Team athlete Annika Malacinski is using her social media platforms to showcase the dedication, skill, and excitement of Nordic Combined.

Malacinski is helping grow the sport’s presence and encouraging female athletes, all while making a statement about the lack of equality in the sport.

Ella Wilson made history this past summer by becoming the first woman to win the prestigious July 4th Jumping & Jammin’ event in Steamboat Springs.

Her victory in the traditionally male-dominated competition demonstrates the rapid progression of female Nordic Combined athletes and their ability to compete—and win—on any stage, against any competitor, male or female.

Despite these incredible achievements, the road to full inclusion remains challenging. The fight continues for women’s Nordic Combined inclusion in the Olympic Games, with hopes that the 2030 Winter Olympic Games will finally break this barrier.

Steamboat’s female Nordic Combined athletes are making history and shaping the future of the sport. With every bold jump and every grueling race, they are proving that they belong at the highest levels of competition, inspiring the next generation to follow in their tracks.