Alpine Ski Jumping

[Johnskiismore]

For a while now I have been wondering about what exactly happened to alpine ski jumping in New England, or for that matter, the northeast region. All over the area there are abandoned ski jumps. There were many ski/outing clubs that offered Nordic and ski jumping, but over time the ski jumping seemed to wane in popularity. It used to draw big crowds and fearless jumpers. Just look at the jump in Berlin, NH, it was for a long time the largest ski jump in North America! Look on NELSAP and you'll find lost jumps, or even at your favorite ski area they probably had a ski jump once upon a time. I'm curious to what AZer's think happened to the popularity of ski jumping? Did liability slow it down? No interest? What do you think, and did any of you ever ski jump?

Here is a link to current areas that offer ski jumping, and clubs and schools that offer it too:

Ski Jumping In the East

 

[ski_resort_observer]

For a while now I have been wondering about what exactly happened to alpine ski jumping in New England, or for that matter, the northeast region. All over the area there are abandoned ski jumps. There were many ski/outing clubs that offered Nordic and ski jumping, but over time the ski jumping seemed to wane in popularity. It used to draw big crowds and fearless jumpers. Just look at the jump in Berlin, NH, it was for a long time the largest ski jump in North America! Look on NELSAP and you'll find lost jumps, or even at your favorite ski area they probably had a ski jump once upon a time. I'm curious to what AZer's think happened to the popularity of ski jumping? Did liability slow it down? No interest? What do you think, and did any of you ever ski jump?

Here is a link to current areas that offer ski jumping, and clubs and schools that offer it too:

Ski Jumping In the East

I think it was because Americans basically do very badly in top competition. I don't think any American in decades, maybe ever, who got a medal or a podium spot. You need a few winners to gain public interest.

BTW, ski jumping is a nordic event and one of the two sports in the nordic combined competition. There is an alpine version called galande which we did in Putney, Vt many years ago. The jump was closed many years ago. Drink a bunch of that fruity warm glue wine and you'll do anything. There was also a small nordic ski jump in Putney next to the Putney School.

The Harris Hill jump in Bratt is being fixed up for ski jumping again in the near future which is very cool.

 

[wa-loaf]

Franky I'm surprised there are as many as there are on that list. I don't think there is that much appeal when you compare it against aerials and the big air comps they have these days. They are much more audience friendly.

 

[deadheadskier]

They still have it as a Nordic discipline at most Lakes Region New England Boarding Schools. I went to Vermont Academy and tried it out. It is a lot harder than it looks. My school had a 5 meter, 15 meter and 30 meter hill. I was able to do the 15 meter hill, but never felt comfortable enough to go off the 30 meter hill with those GIANT free healed skis. I did 'pouch' the 30 meter hill several times with my downhill skis though.

 

[gymnast46]

Gunstock

I think the same thing when I see the old jumps at Gunstock. I bet watching ski jumping in person would be awesome ..

My dad took me to Belknap (before it was called Gunstock) in 1959 and introduced me to jumping. He had been a competitive jumper at Iron Mountain in Michigan and smaller jumps in northern Wisconsin in the 1930s. Anyhow on that spring day, he was trying to convince me that I should follow in his footsteps. At the time there was a 10 meter, 20 meter, 40 meter, and the 65 meter Torger Tokel jump named after the Finnish legend who had fought for the US in WWII.

I opted for the 20 meter jump. I remember climbing the stairs and staring down the seemingly interminable length to the lift off point. I recall thinking that 13 was too young to die. After a lot of coaxing from dad, I took off and flew forever (or so it seemed). In the history of that small jump they probably recorded worse landings but not many. It was a wipeout for the ages and convinced me that I'd find another pursuit.

Next month we're having a family reunion in South Carolina. I'll remind dad (about to turn 87) about the time he introduced me to ski jumping. :-o

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

It would be cool if you could do tricks when ski jumping..and if it wasn't on specialty skis..