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)

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Jumping Journal: November 07, 2009

The Northeast Slopes crowd has shrunk in size but also increased by one.
 
Little did I expect another day just like the last time I was out jumping.  At least I wasn't expecting it to occur until next summer but Mother Nature provided yet another opportunity to extend two season at once.
 
After what turned out to be a real nice morning/afternoon out having some fun I arrived at Storrs Hill around 4PM for the jump session prior to the fundraiser for Nick Alexander who is getting ready to leave in a couple of weeks for Europe to compete on the World Cup circuit.
 
Upon arrival I saw quite a few cars were already there.  Jonathan was walking up to the lodge and Walter was outside starting to stretch with the lone high school jumper who showed up for the evening.  I walked inside and changed my clothes and got ready to jump.  I walked back outside and found Colin(1) was there as well.  All of a sudden a new face had popped up on the scene.  I didn't think I recoginized the face but I couldn't tell for sure.  Turns out another of the Northeast Slope skiers had been talked into coming out and try ski jumping.  Now I can add Tony to the list of the late 20/early 30 year old ski jumpers here in Lebanon.  Yes, I can add another name to the list of people who have come out to try ski jumping for the first time ever and do it for the first time on plastic.
 
In discussion throughout the evening it seems several of the guys have already left for their winter getaways.  In fact Jonathan was leaving out tonight after the fundraiser to head out to Utah for the winter.  He is planning on coming back sometime, probably in February, to do some jumping on snow.  It sounds like Colin and Tony will be the only ones left in the area come winter.  They are all planning on being back out next summer though.
 
Walter started making his way up the landing hill and I quickly followed.  In all their was one high schooler, two juniors, Walter, Jonathan, Colin, Tony and myself out jumping this evening.  Several other faces like Bill, Dan and Mike were around during the evening but didn't jump.
 
After watering down the inrun I was the first person to go.  I got the signal from Cannonball and headed down the inrun.  I was just planning on spending the evening working on the telemark landing.  The first jump seemed to go pretty smooth.  I did manage to put in a bit of a telemark, not much of one though.  Nothing unusual.
 
The second jump caught me off guard and I ended up with a nice jump and manged to get the arms swinging trying to back out of the jump.  I would have went real close to 20 meters if I wouldn't have back out.
 
As could be expected I didn't repeat the same thing on the third jump, unfortunately.  Instead I ended up landing a bit crooked and a quite a bit stiff.  Tara took over coaching for Cannonball as he had to go inside to help get ready for the fundraiser.  After my fourth jump she mentioned about how I was jumping a bit with the upper body so I ended up spending the rest of the evening working on it.
 
Jump five I had too much chest.  Jump six I had lost the power at the takeoff even though I kept the chest down.  On the seventh and final jump it seemed like I kept the chest the down and may have managed to split up the jump at the takeoff.  Tara had mentioned that maybe I should try to make an initial move before giving to jump the full power.  The takeoff on the seventh jump did seem a bit different.  More than likely it wasn't, knowing my luck.
 
I decided to call it quits.   I was going to to no more than five jumps this afternoon.  Boy, how plans change.  After changing clothes I walked on back out to the main room in the lodge and I was almost ready to leave when I thought I saw someone I knew that I hadn't seen in several years.  I walked over and lo and behold if it wasn't who I thought it was.  I haven't seen Ken in probably four years.  Andrew graduated from high school four years ago and I don't think I have seen his dad since then.  Turns out both Ken and Andrew were there.  Next thing I know I start seeing quite a few faces I haven't seen in years.  All people/former jumpers turning out to help Nick.  I spent a couple of hours at the fundraiser talking with several folks I haven't seen in quite a while.
 
All in all it was one of the nicest days I've had in a long time.  Now to get ready for the last ski jumping session of the summer coming up on Monday afternoon.  WOW, another summer come and gone.  It doesn't seem possible.
 
Keep the ski tips up,
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