So how does one decide to be a ski jumper?

You could say the same about luge, skeleton, bobsled…

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Kids sled all the time. Most kids don’t say hey pops I’m going to jump off a roller coaster that has fake snow on it

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I don’t know, maybe I was just a dumbass as a kid but if I had skis and a ramp I would go over it. Couldn’t tell you how many “ramps” I found on my bike and just blindly went over them

The first thing a kid does when they can ski blues is try to get air. As soon as you experience it for some it becomes like a drug and you want bigger and bigger air. It is logical to expect a small group to wind up ski jumping at some point. It is like every extreme sport, some are wired that way and some are wired to avoid danger.

If you remember the incredible ski jumper, the Flying Finn, he started jumping at a very early age on a dare from his father. He became obsessed with ski jumping and I believe he won three gold medals and became a huge celebrity in his country.

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.

Eddie the Eagle, GOAT.

What’s really crazy about the sports is that it’s not just about pure distance. There is style component

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for little or no money compared to other Nordic/Alpine sports

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Lots of money in sponsorships.


And it looks fun. Not sure how you train for that once it's time to hit the real ramp.

Can’t even convert it to a drinking game.

Unlike curling

The agony of defeat.