Lions, NYSEF team up for annual jumping event

Ski jumpers smile at the Olympic Jumping Complex in Lake Placid on Sunday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

LAKE PLACID — Jay Rand, a local ski jumping coach, who competed in the Grenoble 1968 Olympic Winter Games, looked up Sunday at the HS10 and HS20-meter jumps tucked off on the side of the Olympic Jumping Complex, and smiled.

Towering behind those little jumps are the HS100 and HS128-meter jumps, which have played host to some of the world’s highest-caliber ski jumping events over the years.

But without the little jumps, you’d never have Olympians soaring hundreds of feet through the air and dazzling crowds around the world.

“This is where it all starts,” Rand said.

On Sunday, roughly 50 young athletes — collectively representing Eastern Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined — showed up to compete in the New York Ski Educational Foundation and Lions Club’s ski jumping and Nordic combined event for jumpers ages 10 through 18.

Tim Tourville, left, and Coach Larry Stone smile at the Olympic Jumping Complex in Lake Placid on Saturday. (Provided photo — Eastern Division Ski Jumping and Nordic combined)

The annual event, which Rand said has been running since at least the early 1980s, brings together young jumpers from throughout the eastern U.S., with athletes coming from as far away as eastern New Hampshire.

For Rand, who has part-time ski jumping coach for NYSEF, after years of running the organization, the purpose of this event purpose is to get kids excited about the sport.

“It’s to encourage kids to enjoy the sport and get involved in competitions,” he said. “And for us, just to continue to put out these programs. … It’s a great sport.”

Some youngsters like Emerson McNiff, who was fresh off from competing in the U12 Girl’s HS20 jump, were eager to jump. McNiff, who made the trip with her family from Lakeville, Connecticut — not far from the Salisbury Jump, first became interested in the sport after watching her friend do it.

“I watched her … and it looked really cool,” she said.

NYSEF Jumpers Willow Howe, left, and Adalina Weibrecht smile at the Olympic Jumping Complex in Lake Placid on Sunday. Weibrecht won the HS10 and HS20-meter competitions and Howe took second in the U10 Nordic Combined. (Provided photo — Jay Rand)

McNiff added that her favorite part of jumping is the sensation of soaring through the air.

“I really like how it feels like you’re flying and it feels really good when you are in the air,” she said.

But for some youngsters, or more accurately their parents, they aren’t as eager about taking on the jumps. Often the first-step is convincing their parents that its a safe — and fun — sport to take on. That’s where Cheryl Tourville comes in.

In addition to being a member of the Canaan, New Hampshire Lions Club, she serves as the Secretary for the Eastern Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Division, the jumping coordinator for the Andover Outing Club and administrator for the Ladies of Eastern Ski Jumping.

“My time is used to bring opportunity to kids who otherwise may not get it,” she said. “Coaches should be coaches, and I’ll handle all the other stuff.”

A ski jumper takes off at the Olympic Jumping Complex in Lake Placid on Sunday. (Enterprise photo — Jay Rand)

Tourville said parents sometimes come to her apprehensive about getting their children involved with ski jumping because of the perceived height which people fly through the air. Tourville said that the perspective looking up the hill at large jumps can be scary to parents. She said that it’s important to convey that the hills are designed to keep jumpers aligned with the hill’s slope.

“There’s a lot of misconception about ski jumping,” she said. “‘Launching’ is the word you hear. They’re actually skiing with a profile. They’re only off the ground 4 to 6 feet the entire way. They’re not launching out and over like a freestylist would.”

Additionally, Tourville said she assuages concerns by emphasizing that it’s a gradual — and informed — progression for young jumpers.

“We reassure parents that kids start with small hills,” she said. “We will not progress a child unless they’ve demonstrated abilities and capabilities and the coaches are approving it.”

Rand said his colleagues and fellow coaching staff are a big reason why this event is so successful.

Emerson McNiff smiles after competing in U10 Girls class in the HS10 competition at the Olympic Jumping Complex on Sunday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Alongside Rand are assistant coach Larry Stone and NYSEF Head Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Coach Colin Delaney. Both of whom have received recognition in past years from the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association as jump coaches of the year.

Doug Hoffman, who has been a Lake Placid Lion for the last 45 years, has volunteered to help run numerous jumping competitions in the past. He echoed Rand’s statement about the excellence and dedication of the coaches as a reason why the club is proud to continue helping to puty on the event.

“It has a long tradition and a long history with the Lions Club,” he said. “Jay and Larry Stone are fantastic coaches. They really know how to train the kids, motivate them and keep them excited about the sport. You just see the kids smiling as Larry and Jay are critiquing their jumps and helping them along.”

Gregory Bertasso lands a jump during the Open Boys HS20 competition at the Olympic Jumping Complex on Sunday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)