Jumping Journal: November 09, 2009

Not quite a normal finish to the summer jumping season.

 

After a fantastic weekend weatherwise today was only suppose to be better.  Highs on Saturday were in the upper 50s and then the sunny skies helped to push the temperatures into the mid to upper 60s Sunday and today started out clear before high clouds moved in during the late morning.  A strange wind hit the area around 9AM and I could feel the temperature rise very quickly with the wind.  It was the eeriest thing I have ever noticed.  From being cool one minute to down right warm the next isn't normal.  It sure did happen today though.

 

The day continued to warm up into the mid 60s even though the skies had clouded over.  I arrived at Storrs Hill for the final jump session of the summer to find Cannonball already doing an interview with the TV crew.  A couple of kids were already there and by the time we suited up to jump there were two high schoolers, three juniors, Walter and myself out jumping.  It seemed really strange to only have two adults out jumping.  It's been a while since their has been so few adults jumping at a jump session.  It must mean winter is coming quickly.

 

Everyone headed up the hill and I let the kids go first since they were all in jump suits I was jumping in blue jeans and a long sleeve shirt as usual.  I decided to continue with the idea of working on the move at the takeoff like I had finished off the Saturday session with.  The first jump seemed pretty decent.  It didn't have much power which isn't unusual but it does seem like the body position is better compared to what I had been doing most of the summer.

 

Between continuing to work on the takeoff position and trying to toss in a V I continued on with the next four jumps of the session.  They all seemed pretty much the same.  The only thing different I really noticed came on the last two or so jumps.  I was noticing that it seemed like my left leg was not only opening out for the V but it was also turning 'upward' like I was actually trying aerial stunt like you would see freestyle aerialist do off of moguls.  My feet felt like they were actually turning to a 45 degree angle to the ground.  I can't say I've ever had that feeling before.  Other than that problem the final jumps of the season went uneventful.

 

It wasn't a bad summer season.  It has to have been the second most jumped summer I've had since I started jumping in 2001.  113 jumps in over 20 session.  Not shabby to say the least.  Considering I normally end up with 80-85 jumps on plastic to finally see over 100 is a nice treat.

 

Now for the long wait until winter arrives.  Hopefully it will be an early start to the winter and I'll be able to start jumping in around a month.  Hopefully all the problems from last year won't come back this year and it will make way for a nice long winter of ski jumping.

 

Until snow flies,

Crash