"Aude Volare" -- Dare to Fly! New Heights, Online the electronic newsletter of Eastern U.S. Ski Jumping Fall 2003 Issue

NEWS from the not so distant past ...

Also traveling to Europe for training with Coach Kari Ylianttila was Brian Welch who trained with Tommy Schwall and US Ski Team jumper Clint Jones in Predazzo and Innsbruck. Francis and Kessler joined Kari's group after the Alpen Cup for the Innsbruck camp.

Longtime Eastern star jumper Jonathan Kling has become a college student. Jonathan is in his freshman fall term at WPI studying engineering. We wish him well with his studies! Jon plans to continue jumping for the East whenever his studies allow it. Kling's parents, Paul and Lisa, longtime popular fixtures on the Eastern circuit, have promised to continue to be a part of Eastern jumping, both as GNA members and as Lake Placid Summer Saturday Series distance judges where they were a hugely popular part of the entertainment.

Lake Placid's Jay Rand Jr. was inducted into the Lake Placid Hall of Fame in October for his role as a Jumping competitor (Olympic Team 1968) and for his continuing service to the Lake Placid region. Jay is currently the manager of Whiteface Mountain after a long tenure as manager of the Olympic Jumping Complex. Larry Stone and Vern Lamb were the presenters at the induction.

Nick Alexander flies to a new Personal Record!

 
THE OFFICIAL LINE
by Art Tokle, Jr.

Again, the winter season is upon us, and as usual, it seems that the previous winter season just ended. The show goes on... With young athletes emerging every season, I often wonder where the retirees went? The ranks of officials are always looking for new blood, and our best pool is from those athletes that have the knowledge of their respective disciplines. Former athletes sometimes become coaches and trainers; few, however pursue the "Official Line". Those that make the events "happen", preparing the tracks and ensuring a safe exciting competition, are unfortunately dwindling. The time has come to find interested individuals, take them under our wing and become mentors to assure the future of our sport. I implore every official to encourage all potential candidates to take a serious interest in what goes on "behind the scenes". Currently, programs are being developed that outline a progression from candidates through recommendation for FIS level competitions. As hard as a coach works to develop his athletes, we too, as officials, must continue the development of future officials. I encourage your responses, and look forward to your input that will assist in the development programs. Thank you for all the support you have given over the years. Have a great and prosperous winter season.

(Ed. Note: Any interested individuals interested in becoming a ski jumping/nordic combined official, please contact: Art Tokle, Jr. at atoklejr@att.net or 973-625-1973)

STONEY'S CORNER
by Larry Stone, NYSEF/Eastern Jumping Coach
Eastern Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined is getting ready for the 2004 Winter. It was a busy summer for our athletes and coaches. two trips to Park City, two trips to Coleraine and lots of jumping and training. Thanks to Marianne Fairall, Eastern Fund Raising continues to raise money and create opportunities for our athletes, and she continues her logistical support making life so much easier for those of us in the coaching ranks. Matt Cook has brought a level of consistency and expertise to our Nordic Combined skiers training as well. My personal thanks to both of them.

Many thanks to Bard Elden and Kari Ylianttila for their visits to Lake Placid this summer. Both camps went well (see article) and it was awesome to see a crowd of skiers around Kari who was like the proverbial mother hen with his brood of seventeen flyers (not fryers). Tracy Lamb deserves our appreciation for not only facilitating camps at the OTC but also for the OTC's support for the NYSEF training group on an ongoing basis. We are very fortunate to have these resources for our athletes and coaches. Among these OTC resources, I am going to miss the OTC Strength and Conditioning guru, Kevin Ebel, who is moving on with his wife Sara to a new venture in Ohio where he will be running a training facility for several professional teams. He has been a big help in our physical training programs and we will miss the gentle giant.

Another highlight to this summer's training in Lake Placid was a beefed up "Soaring Saturday Summer Series" which offered more prize money thanks to ORDA. Taking home the bulk of the prize dollars were Evan Bliss, Taylor Hoffman, Brian Welch, Jonathan Kling and Matt Delaney with David McCahill and Peter Roland also taking home cash. These competitions teach our jumpers how to deal with competition pressure, provides a fun setting with appreciative crowds, and the bonus of immediate rewards. It gives visitors to the Olympic Jumping complex a better understanding of ski jumping and what a great facility ORDA operates in Lake Placid.

It's on to winter now with high hopes for all our jumpers. We saw good improvement this summer in our younger skiers like Alex Madden, Ryan Short, Nick Alexander and Das Fass (Andrew Bliss). The East will field some competitive teams this coming winter! See you on the hill!

U.S. SKI TEAM COACHES
pitch in at Eastern Camps

At the Nordic Combined Camp (left to right)
back: Bard Elden, Carl VanLoan, Matt Cook, Matt Delaney, David McCahill,
front: Peter Friere, Robbie Goodwin, Willy Graves.

This project marks a welcome step for US Skiing to invest some of their resources in the development level in these sports. Perhaps some of these participants will make it to the National Team and work with these top coaches again. Eastern heartily thanks Kari and Bard for taking the time to come to Lake Placid!

NEWS & NOTES

EASTERN STORE: Logo t-shirts ($13), Property of Eastern Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined t-shirts ($13), Under Armour t-shirts ($28), Eastern polar fleece vests ($48), logo lapel pins ($5), and bells ($5) are available. Contact Marianne Fairall at mfairall@tds.net for sizes/quantity discounts. All sales directly support our athletes.

Competition results, calendars, Masters info, committee minutes, equipment for sale, links to other jump sites; all are posted at the Eastern web site: http:/dot.etec.wwu.edu/skijump Don West, webmaster.

Tax deductible contributions: Eastern Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined Foundation, 8 John Brown Road, Lake Placid, NY 12946. No contribution is too small or too big! THANK YOU!

(Right) Jere Linehan and his wife Hilary (speed skater and soccer enthusiast) live in Strafford, Vt. with their two young sons-these fella's should be able to fly, skate, and kick ... future nordic combiners?!