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features, team rosters,
hill information, and
>> LIVE SCORING <<
for fans of ski jumping!
You can find the most
current news on the
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Isn’t Ski Jumping
Awfully Dangerous?
The PERCEPTION is
that ski jumping is an
extremely dangerious.
sport. The reality is far
different ... learn more!
** READ ARTICLE
How Do People
Start Ski Jumping?
Nobody just picks up a
pair of skis and gives it
a try. Not on big hills,
anyway. Ski jumpers
start young, on very
small jumps, and learn
incrementally, moving
gradually to larger
jumps as their skills and
confidence develop.
** RECRUITING VIDEO
Here’s a short video
from a junior jumping
event in St Paul MN at
their annual Christmas
Beginner’s Camp ...
** LITTLE KID VIDEO
The following video was
an 20th Century Fox
Newsreel feature in
about 1950.
** HISTORIC VIDEO
Here’s another, from
the St Paul Ski Club
** 1939 NATIONALS
When Do People
Hang Up Their
Jumping Skis?
The answer to this one
is quite simple ... when
they want to! Once a
jumper is 30 years of
age or older, he or she
becomes eligible to
participate in “Masters”
competition. Jumpers
age 30-39 are class M1,
40-49 M2, 50-59 M3, 60-
69 M4, 70-79 M5, etc.
Don West retired in 2011
as the oldest jumper in
the US. A resident of
Plattsburgh NY, Don is a
retired college professor.
He was an M5 jumper
(in his seventies), and
in recent years he has
competed in Masters
World Championships
in Europe.
Another active Masters
jumper is Tom Ricchio,
a semi-retired corporate
jet pilot, who is also the
coach of the junior
program in Iola WI; he
jumps in class M4. Tom
has also competed in
the Masters World
Championships.
** READ ARTICLE
about Tom, and his
recent participation in
the 2010 US Masters
Nat’l Championships in
Coleraine MN.
For those who enjoy ski
jumping, it can be a
lifetime sport. Some like
to continue competing,
others become coaches
or volunteers.
If you live anywere near
one of the clubs listed on
our Regional Clubs page,
make an effort to see
some live ski jumping,
and if you’re inclined to
give it a try, talk to one of
the coaches. Although
most jumpers start very
young, there are adults
who would like to try it,
and they’re welcome, if
they’re willing to “start
small” and work their way
on up, just like kids do.
FIS Home Page
Ski Jumping
FIS Jump Schedule
FIS Jump Results
Nordic Combined
FIS N/C Schedule
FIS N/C Results
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“In the Spotlight” Feature to Return for the Summer
We have several features in the works, and will also be posting the dates for summer competitions soon.
Legendary Ski Jumper Coy Hill Passes Away at 85
Lifelong resident of Ishpeming MI, he was a force in US jumping in the 1950s
Clarence “Coy” Hill was a fierce competitor in the 1950s, and supported ski jumping in
many capacities after hanging up his skis. He was elected to the US National Ski Hall
of Fame in 1974, and the American Ski Jumping Hall of Fame in 2007 (read bio). He
was a regular at major meets, most recently attending the 2012 Continental Cup in Iron
Mountain (where he’s pictured at left). Click to read full obituary.
Kirsten Erickson photo ... click image to see larger view.
Alissa, Sarah, Jessica, Abby, Lindsey, Coach Paolo ... BEST IN THE WORLD!
C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S . . . V I S A U S W O M E N’ S S K I J U M P I N G T E A M
Sarah Hendrickson Wins in Oslo ... Finishes Season With 9 Wins, 1169 Points
Takanashi 2nd, Sagen 3rd, Van 4th, Iraschko 5th ... results ... final standings ... article on wsjusa.com
They say “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” The first-ever Women’s World Cup was
a smashing success in many ways. It started in Norway, with a big win by Sarah Hendrickson at
Lillehammer, and ended with Sarah winning in Oslo, her 9th win in 13 events. But Japan’s Sara Takanashi,
who had one podium (third event) then missed four events, came roaring back to battle Hendrickson for the
top spot in the final six events, finishing 2nd in five, winning one. She provided a big change, scrambling
the standings.
On this final day, Hendrickson had a twelve-point lead after the first round. She flew 104 meters to
Takanashi’s 99.5, and had a three-point advantage on technique from the judges. Norway’s great champion
Anette Sagen was 3rd going into the final round, with Austria’s Daniela Iraschko and Jacqui Seifriedsberger
4th and 5th, respectively. Big story on Berkutschi.com (official FIS news site) ... click logo above right!
The final round lived up to expectations, except for Iraschko, who dropped to 5th. Lindsey Van had the
third-best jump of the round, bringing her up to 4th in the final results. Sagen held onto third. With only
Sara and Sarah remaining, Takanashi blasted out the longest jump of the day, 108 meters, tying Iraschko’s
hill record set several years ago. Hendrickson then sailed 99.5, and with another near-flawless jump and a
big lead from the first round, finished with 254.1 points to Tanashi’s 250.7. Jessica Jerome placed 13th,
Abby Hughes 27th, and Alissa Johnson 34th.
In the overall standings for the season, Hendrickson amassed 1169 points (out of 1300 possible). Iraschko
had 779, Takanashi 639, Germany’s Ulrike Graessler 546, Van 482, Sagen 454. Jerome also finished the
season in the top ten, at 9th with 395 points. The US dominated in Nations Cup standings, amassing 2228
points to Germany’s 1601 and Japan’s 1251. Story on team website ... click WSJUSA logo above left!
A pair of special spectators were on hand to watch today’s event and see Sarah put this final exclamation
point on the season ... her mom, Nancy, who’s watched her 17 year old daugher grow to become the world’s
best female ski jumper, and her grandma, Arlene Bownes, who hadn’t seen Sarah jump since she was 9
years old, on a backyard hill!
Even though Takanashi was far back in the points going into this final stretch, the battles between the two
of them separated them the rest of the pack, gave fans and media an exciting stretch run, and elevated
Takanashi to 3rd overall. Between them, they set hill records at multiple venues, and showed the world
performances that lived up to what proponents of womens’s ski jumping had been saying ... the best are
REALLY good, and the rest are rapidly growing in both talent and numbers. By any measure, this first
season of Women’s World Cup was a resounding success. It’s exploding worldwide, and has even been
drawing massive media attention ... even a lot of exposure in the US media, which rarely notices this sport.
Let’s hope that continues ... we’ve got the best jumper, and the best team ... we’re very proud of ‘em!
The Holmenkollen in Oslo is arguably the most celebrated venue and event in all of ski jumping. It is the
most-visited tourist destination in Norway. It draws huge crowds, and it’s a media sensation in all of the
snow-sports world ... except here.
The US women’s team and the Norwegian team were among the most determined groups behind the
growth of women’s ski jumping, and the push to have them included in the Olympics ... and to get a World
Cup series for the best athletes. They have shown this year that they indeed belong on the biggest stages
in this sport ... and this weekend will be just that ... a culmination of all their hard work and dedication. It’s
rather fitting that the first event in this inaugural Women’s World Cup season was held here in December ...
and that Hendrickson blasted her way to that historic first win. The season’s come full circle.
It’s clear that other nations are developing individual talent and team depth to rival the US ... the rivalry this
season between Hendrickson (age 17) and Japan’s Sara Takanashi (15) has been electrifying, with both of
them setting hill records several times. The depth of other teams has improved, too. Japan looks especially
strong. Veterans Daniela Iraschko of Austria and Ulrike Graessler of Germany, plus Van and Jerome, are
always podium threats, and rarely finish out of the top ten. Irascho took the gold at the 2011 World
Championships, and Van won it in 2009, first ever championship for women. What many predicted has
come true ... open the doors to women at the top level, and the numbers and level of talent will skyrocket.
USA Ski Jumping Announces Team for 2012-13 Season
Eight athletes named to team for summer & fall 2012 and winter 2013
USA Ski Jumping CEO Jeff Hastings announced on May 9 at the USASJ Convention held in Park City,
site of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the USASJ National teams for the coming winter.
As no jumpers reached the criteria for selection to the National “A” team, which includes, either FIS World
Cup or Grand Prix points or a top ten in an international Continental Cup, no one will be named at this time.
Selected to the National “B” team will be returning athletes Anders Johnson, Park City, UT, Pete Frenette,
Saranac Lake, NY, Nick Alexander, Lebanon, NH and Chris Lamb, Andover, NH, who has been attending
college and training in Trondheim, Norway.
Named to the USASJ National Development squad are Christian Friberg, Roseville, MN, Nick Fairall,
Andover, NH, Mike Glasder, Cary, IL and Brian Wallace of Woodbury, MN. Additional athletes will be
selected to a junior development team later this summer.
Hastings said “We are delighted to announce this talented group of athletes who have truly committed
themselves to ski jumping excellence on a world-class level. We are continuing to build on the progress
our jumpers made last winter during the upcoming FIS World Championships season.” Coaches Casey
Colby and Clint Jones, both former US Olympians, will continue with their respective responsibilities this
coming season.
USA Ski Jumping Announces Points Totals for 2012 Season
Click links for more info: website ... article ... points list
The season’s point totals have been released by USA Ski Jumping. Visit their new website, created in
partnership with Burgess Advertising, to see the season standings based on US domestic competitions.
SEE OUR EXTENDED NEWS PAGE FOR RECAP OF 2011-12 SEASON ... GO >>>
For more information related to ski jumping ...
USASkiJumping
www.usaskijumping.org
(US Men’s Team).
Carol Keck Photo - Iron Mountain MI
wsjusa.com photo
USA Ski Jumping
Announces Signe
Jordet as Director
of Development ...
click for full story