Jumping Journal: January 28, 2008

SWEET! with fresh snow to go with it.  Talk about a nice night of ski jumping.

 

1.5 inches of real light snow feel yesterday.  Yes, it took most of the day for all of it too fall, it didn't come all at once.  It started snowing early in the morning 8-9AM and it snowed most of the day, but only 1.5 inches fell at my house.  I noticed this morning that other areas got way less than what I did.  It was very sporadic as to how much any particular area received.

 

With today being the last day before the 'boys' return home from Chicago I figured I might as well have another nice jump session, maybe in a bit more peace and quiet than normal, maybe not.  It would all depend on how many kids showed up.  I knew if two or more kids showed up I would be the minority jumping tonight instead of the usual majority.

 

I arrived at the hill around 3PM as usual and after helping with lift I headed on over to the 50 to tracolate the inrun.  I didn't realize how easy the job was really going to be.  I knew it would be simpler than before but I wish I knew even back on Thursday what I now know.  The iced down track makes things so much easier to get fresh snow out of the track.

 

As I was finishing up the tracolating Nick came up the side of the landing hill and proceeded to rake down the landing hill so it would be ready.  I walked on down to the jump inn and quite frankly I didn't like was I saw when I opened the door.

 

Nothing, notta, zip, zero, zilch, no one in the jump inn.  It was looking like I might be the only person jumping tonight.  I was hoping for at least one other kid to jump with.  I didn't want to make Nick stand out in the near freezing temperatures and coach me and me only.  I felt guilty.

 

After stretching, suiting up, and killing a little bit of time hoping for someone to show up, I headed on up the jump.  I got up and put on the skis.  Something was giving me a feeling that this might be a slow night.  I was forgetting I had tracolated the snow off the iced down track.  The iced down track makes all the difference in the world.

 

I started down the inrun, expecting it be slow on the first jump as I ski any remaining snow out of the track and get it all the way down to the ice.  I was surprised to find that it wasn't slow.  I did notice that it seemed like I did hit a bit of a slow spot right around the transition on both jump one and two.  Afterwards jump two I didn't notice it the rest of the night.

 

Each of the first four jumps built on the jump before.  By the time jump four came around I was actually hitting the takeoff with the best timing I've had all season.  I was a bit surprised how on time I was.  I was loving it.  About the only real problems I noticed were not looking where I wanted to land, stiff upper body/arms, and I wasn't cocking the ankles as hard as I should be and I wasn't putting in a V.  I was getting down in the 38 meter range or better.  The distance I was getting seemed long compared to what I was expecting to see given what I was perceiving the quality of the jumps to be.

 

Jump five.  I hit the takeoff again with beautiful timing.  I did manage to loosen up the upper body.  I think I might have finally figured out how I can tell when my upper body is stiff...I don't notice my arms.  It's almost like I don't have any arms at all when I'm jumping stiff.  When I'm loose and relaxed and not keeping my hands back by my butt I can actually tell where my hands are at.  Otherwise I can't recognize hand position at all.

 

I still have a V on jump five but I did manage to cock the ankles better and it didn't seem like I was wanting to twist in the air like it had on the previous couple of jumps.  I wasn't noticing much height on the flights and I wasn't reacting to any of the jumps and trying to pull out of them.  I was starting to press the 40 meter mark and it was surprising me quite a bit.

 

Jump six. Timing was a bit later than the previous jump but it was further than the previous jump.  I planned to throw in a V but it didn't go quite as nicely as what I would have liked.  I did managed to have the ankles cocked nicely and the upper body relaxed.

 

This jump wasn't even going to happen.  When I saw I was going to be the only jumper I figured I would only taken five jumps and call it a night.  Nick informed me after jump three that he had other plans for me.  He didn't know my plans.

 

Jump seven.  Better yet.  The timing still seemed a small bit late.   I was a bit stiff in the air but I still managed to make it down close to 40 meters once again.  I did drop the ankles quite a bit before I landed or I would have ended up with an even longer jump.

 

Jump eight...the final one of the evening.  The timing wasn't bad.  I was loose in the upper body.  I did manage to cock the ankles and kept them cocked.  I did put in a decent V.  The only thing I did was back out right before I landed.  Instead of a VERY solid 40 meters I probably would have been closer to 42-43 meters if I would have held the jump.

 

I was surprised to see how quickly I managed to jump right back into the 50 meter style of jumping after having spent last week switching around hill sizes every night.  I know going down to the smaller hills plays tricks on my mind.  I always find myself asking the question, "Where's the rest of the inrun?"  I ask that especially when jumping the K25 at Lebanon.  I didn't notice the effect at Kennett last Friday night on the K25 or K35.  Granted looking at the side profile on the K35 makes you think you are about jump on the K50 landing hill.  It just looks a lot bigger than it really is.

 

I guess I better get ready.  I have plenty more small hill transitioning over the next three weeks.  A K34 on Wednesday this week, a K38 next Wednesday and the following Friday.  High school jumping season must be winding down.  Darn!

 

Keep the ski tips up,

Crash