ERIC CAMEROTA
CFO, USA Ski Jumping
ecamerota@usaskijumping.com
I’m Eric Camerota, CFO of USA Ski Jumping, and I grew up as a nordic combined skier in Park City, Utah. For the past three years, I’ve had the opportunity to bring USA Ski Jumping supporters to Planica, Slovenia each March to attend the Ski Flying World Cup Finale. Not only is this trip a fundraiser for our athletes, but It’s truly a bucket list experience, one that most people don’t even know exists, and almost no one has ever had the chance to see ski flying in person before. This one week trip also brings much needed financial support for the athletes, team and organization.
The trip begins with our arrival in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, where we spend the first night exploring the historic old town and taking in views of the medieval castle perched above the city. Located just about an hour from Planica, Ljubljana makes the perfect start for our group. We usually gather for dinner at the Hotel Vander, where everyone connects for the first time and we walk through the ski flying events and the exciting plan for the days ahead.
From Ljubljana, we travel on to Kranjska Gora and Planica, home to the legendary ski flying hill. For most of our guests, it’s their first time ever seeing ski jumping in person and no one has experienced ski flying before. On the opening day of competition, as we head to the venue to watch the U.S. team take flight, the group gains a whole new appreciation for the sheer size and intensity of the sport. Guests are given special access to ride the chairlift and walk the inrun and landing hill, offering a rare, behind the scenes look at the massive scale of where the athletes truly fly.
The competition concludes with viewing the event from the VIP grandstand at the base of the hill while cheering on Team USA.
Throughout the weekend, we also host a special end of season dinner with the members of the U.S. and Norwegian teams. This unforgettable evening is often the highlight of the trip, giving guests the opportunity to share a meal with the athletes, hear their stories, and gain real insight into their lives on and off the hill. (no picture but I’ll get one this year) The next day’s competition has a late start so we take the group to Lake Bled in the morning and hike to the castle and see the views of the lake.
Last year, we had the incredible experience of witnessing Slovenia’s Domen Prevc break the ski jumping world record with a 254.5 meter jump. A high pressure moment that left the crowd in awe and showcased the very limits of the Planica Ski Flying hill.
After Sunday’s competition concludes, we return to Ljubljana, usually reflecting on what an incredible experience the weekend has been. The trip remains intentionally small, typically hosting just 8-10 guests. Proceeds go directly toward the team turning every cheer from the outrun into tangible support for the future of USA Ski Jumping. More than just a trip, the Planica fundraiser has become a cherished tradition built on supporting the future of the team, inside access and the shared thrill of witnessing greatness of ski flying year after year. If anyone is interested in joining the annual USA Ski Jumping trip to Planica please contact me, Eric Camerota at ecamerota@usaskijumping.com.
You can also Venmo this year! To donate, find us at @usaskijumping
Or send a check to:
USA Ski Jumping
PO Box 982331
Park City, UT 84098
