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Steamboat Springs — American Nordic combined skier Bill Demong is an early riser.

It's a good thing for him, because all this week the members of the U.S. Nordic Combined Team, U.S. Special Jumping Team and a huge class of future hopefuls will be getting up less than an hour after sunrise for the Chevy Trucks U.S. National Championships.

The trial round for the first event, the K-90 jumping and Nordic combined competition, will begin today at the eye-opening hour of 6:30 a.m.

The first official round will kick off at 8 a.m. and the final jumping round will begin at 9 a.m.

"I don't mind if it's necessary," Demong said about getting up early Tuesday after wrapping up a training session. "But it's a little bit strange to be all done at 10 a.m."

The field at this year's championships is expected to include 90 athletes. Some of those skiers will be national team members and Olympians while others will come to Howelsen with hopes of moving up the U.S. Ski Team ladder.

"I'm kind of hoping for a surprise," Demong said. "It's great to ski with these young guys and I think it would be great for one of them to win."

Last year, Demong was somewhat of a surprise as he beat Todd Lodwick to win the national title. Lodwick had won three straight national titles (1998-2000) to bring his career total to five.

Both skiers are expected to battle today in the event that includes two jumps in the morning and a 10-kilometer cross race that starts at 5:30 p.m. today.

The special jumpers will also take the hill today to compete for the normal hill battle. The large hill battle will take place starting with a trial round at 6:30 a.m. Thursday.

Among the favorites in the special jumping events is local jumper Clint Jones.

Jones and fellow World Cup teammate Alan Alborn just arrived in Steamboat from Europe late Monday night. They elected to skip Tuesday morning's training session at Howelsen.

"We just got back into town, so we didn't get any jumps on the hill," Jones said. "But at this point of the season a few more jumps is not going to make the difference."

Jones said his goal this week is not to win a national title but just to finish in front of teammate Alborn, who has dominated most of the American jumping team's success this season.

"I would like to be in the top two," Jones said. "If I can beat Alan I think there is a pretty good chance I will be in there."

This is one of the few times when the special jumpers will go head to head with their combined counterparts.

Jones and Demong both said the national championships are a laid-back event, but both teams' pride will show on the hill as they battle for the titles and the couple of thousand dollars in change that goes to the winners.

"Our unofficial goal is to have one of our skiers on the podium in each of the special jumping events," combined coach Tom Steitz said.

Olympians who are expected to compete include Lodwick, Demong, Johnny Spillane, Matt Dayton and Carl Van Loan. Nathan Gerhart, Alex Glueck and Brian Fletcher will also be shooting for a title along with a host of Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club skiers. Kris Erichsen has been battling ankle problems all year and is doubtful for this week's events.

Alborn is considered the favorite to win both special jumping events and will be the top special jumper this week. Teammate Jones will give him a run along with fellow Olympians Brendan Doran, Tommy Schwall and Brian Welch.

"I don't think that anybody will touch Alan (Alborn) this week," Steitz said. "He is jumping too well right now."

However, the coach said Steamboat's Schwall also looked good in training this week and should raise a few eyebrows on the jump hills.

The national championships have long been a stage for the two U.S. teams to battle in what Steitz calls a friendly grudge match.

"The guys are all the best of friends, so nobody really likes to talk about it," Steitz said. "But there is a lot of pride out there on the hills."