Myth #1(Mother Nature killed the sport of ski jumping) Debunked

Myth #2(NCAA killed the sport of ski jumping) Debunked Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

Myth #3(The US doesn't have the talent) Debunked Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

Mind Of A Ski Jumper Part 1, 2, 3, 4

The Ultimate Coach - Ski Jump Training Device

Jumping Season Digest: (see bottom of this page)

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Jumping Journal: February 01, 2007

It was like Ponch without Jon, Roscoe without Enos, Bo without Luke, Mork without Mindy, Butch Cassidy without the Sundance Kid.  Where are you little buddies?  LOL!!!
 
Can't resist the temptation.  The thought has been in my mind for the past couple of hours now.  It did seem strange tonight jumping without any other adults around.  Everyone left last night, leaving me behind here to jump by my lonesome in Lebanon.  They have all taken off for the 2007 US Master Championships in Iola, Wisconsin this weekend.  They left me behind practically to jump by myself.  Fortunately, I wasn't outnumbered by girls or kids.  It was Tara and myself out jumping tonight, no one else was to be found on the 50.  It was one of the nicest nights to be out jumping in a couple of weeks.  The temperature was hanging in the lower 20s most of the evening with clear skies.  Finally an evening of jumping without natural snow falling.  That's the first time in several days.
 
Jump number one was a lucky jump.  After I jumped at the take I knew I was probably in trouble.  I had definitely jumped early.  I even saw the tips drop and then come back up.  It was confirmed that it was an early jump.  Fortunately, I did get lucky with the jump.
 
Of course to make things nice even I would have to jump late on the second.  Admittedly I wasn't very late but late nonetheless.
 
Most of the evening was pretty well split between jumping late or jumping pretty close to on time.  Whenever I was jumping on time I didn't have much power, and whenever I jumped late I had plenty of power.
 
Jump number seven was the real oddball jump of the night.  I was coming down the inrun and I got right into the start of the transition.  For some reason I looked at the takeoff and instantly fell into a trance by the takeoff.  I couldn't take my eyes off the takeoff to save my soul.  I kept looking at the takeoff until I jumped.  I figured that I had jumped WAY late, but according to Nick I wasn't as late as what I thought I was.  I still can't figure out why I got so locked into looking at the takeoff.
 
On the final jump I managed to hit 35-37 meters with most of the jump falling into place.  I did end the night with eight jumps and the final jump also put me at 200 jumps for the winter off the 50.  Not bad considering I only had 204 jumps on the 50 last winter.  I used to think that last year was big year of jumping for me.  I realize otherwise now.  Each of the last six winter I must have just been goofing off all winter long, HA!
 
In retrospect, tomorrow is Groundhog Day.  Naturally, one way or another the groundhog will see his shadow and it will mean six more weeks of winter.  With 221 jumps so far this winter it looks like I should be able to match last years 441 jumps.  It doesn't look as favorable, though, to hit 60 days of jumping this winter.  It February turns out friendlier than last year I may be able to pull it off.  With only 23 days of jumping so far this winter it is way behind the 31 days I had on February 1st last year.  Last year I was only jumping every other day on average through the first half of February so I could still manage to make up some days.
 
My current consectutive day streak is in jeopardy.  It doesn't look like I will be jumping tomorrow or Sunday right now.  I had several different plans for jumping each of the next three days.  All of them have pretty much fallen apart.  Instead it is looking more and more like Saturday I may make the trip to Lake Placid for the jump meet up there.  If I do head that way I have a feeling that a jumping demon that has been haunting me for ages will finally be dealt with.  Time shall tell.
 
Crash
Winter 2010
DateLeb 25Plymouth 25Leb 50And 38
Dec 121
Jan 056
Jan 063
Feb 024
Feb 032
Feb 046
Feb 073
Mar 063
Totals133102