re: So how does one decide to be a ski jumper?

I vaguely remember watching a movie about the British ski jumper Eddie the Eagle, who captured our hearts at the Calgary Olympics.

He was a half crazy, half nerdy working class brit who saw ski jumping on TV or something and figured he would give it a try. Saved up his money and went to some ski jumping training center and when they told him no way he kind of sneaked onto the courses and tried to teach himself.