Jumping Journal: July 9, 2006

WOW!  Finally jump for the first time in almost a month...and it felt like it on the first jump.  This definitely isn't like last year when I was jumping every week all summer long.  This reminds of the bad old days of summer jumping.

 

I finally did get around to putting the bindings on the heavy weight skis.  They sure seem like a boat anchor when climbing up the stairs at this time of the year when its in the high 80s to low 90s.  The new bindings make it so I can use a far better pair of boots.  The boots I have used most of the time are pretty much junk.  They provided no support whatsoever.  Instead of letting the boots do most of the work of keeping the ankles cocked, I had to do 100% the work or the ski tips would just dangle in the air.  The ankles on the old boots were completely split right down the center along the ankles.  I decided to sticks with the heavier skis since they have seen jumping on plastic and the skis I was using at the end of the winter hasn't seen plastic.  Since I'm not overly worried about how far I go I figure why bother put any summer wear and tear on the longer skis.  So I'm jumping on a pair of 250s when I'm on 262 during the winter months and I should be on 270s+ given my height.

 

Today, one of the hottest days that I've ever jumped would be the first day for using the new bindings/boots during the summer months.  Yes, I would be carrying the heavy weight skis up the stairs as well.

 

It appeared that I would be the only one out jumping today but that changed shortly before I headed up the tressel.  So it ended up being two 30 year olds out jumping on this hot Sunday in July.

 

My first jump showed I wasn't used to the heavier skis.  I was quite surprised I didn't end up crashing the jump.  To say the ski tips didn't say up would be an understatement.  It ended up not being a very good jump to say the least.

 

The second jump was much better, the timing was better and the ankles were cocked.  I just pulled out early instead of letting myself go further.  I did end up laying down forward as I went to stop.  I didn't keep my weight behind the feet and got pulled forward out over the tips before I came to a stop.

 

The third jump went even better and I was probably down around 15-16 meters, approximately.  I was noticing by this time that it seemed like I was landing with my feet wider apart than normal.  I was getting the feet back under me by the time I got to the transition but I knew it was something I had to watch or it would probably end up biting me.

 

I had only planned on taking three jumps from the time I got to the hill.  I decided though to say the heck with it and go for another jump.  This is what normally causes me nothing but problems.

 

Fortunately the fourth jump went pretty decent, no crash.  I did end up throwing the knees back at the takeoff and then reacted to that by wave the arms around in the air to try to regain control.

 

I decided to definitely call it quits while I was still ahead.

 

Until the last jump the sun had went behind the clouds and that helped to cool things off a little.  Amazingly I didn't really notice the heat very much like I would have several years ago.  I was taking one jump after another just like it was winter.  Hopefully, I'll keep myself in decent shape and won't miss a beat once winter gets here.

 

Crash

 

The third