Cheryl Tourville
Secretary for Eastern Division Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined
Ski Jumping Communications Coordinator for Andover Outing Club
Administrator for Ladies of Eastern Ski Jumping
CBTourville@gmail.com
BABY BIRDS LEARNING TO FLY YOUNG
Here in the Eastern Division, we have some very young birds learning to fly but don’t worry they are under the guidance of our certified coaches!
Its 4:30 pm and in the parking lot a little blonde girl jumps out of the car and grabs her pink helmet. She patiently waits for her mother to get her younger brother out of the car. Sometimes she gets lucky and spies one of her coaches or a fellow jumper walking thru the parking lot and bats her eyelashes. Her way of saying wait for me! Of course, everyone grabs her equipment and walks her to the lodge. As soon as she can she starts heading out across the outrun and up the hill carrying own her skis. Loreleigh has been jumping since age 3 – unassisted! Meaning no parent jumping with her! Today Loreleigh travels to other hills for competition and enjoys trying new hills. While we do not have ski jumping boots small enough for her, we do have a pair of jumping skis with alpine bindings mounted and ready for her this coming season. We have two more “baby birds” in training with us and we love the friendships that are being built in addition to the love of the sport.
1 Comment
The sooner the better… of course I’m talking about the parents. While these parents are former competitors and current coaches who know and love the sport as well as the athletes who participate in it, having their children involved in the sport at an early age reduces their anxieties regarding introducing their children to something they love. It’s also a great stamp of endorsement of the sport. It’s all good for everyone involved as well as other young Ski Jumpers, Nordic Combiners, and their parents.