In attendance were athletes Taylor Fletcher of Steamboat Springs, Colo. and Nick Hendrickson of Park City, who chatted with the 120 students present for the demonstration. It was a unique chance to interact with the athletes and learn about the sports of ski jumping, nordic combined, and cross country skiing.
"The athletes in our nordic programs are committed to sharing their passion for their sports. This school visit was a great chance to get this group of students fired up about the U.S. Ski Team and the coming Olympic Winter Games," said U.S. Nordic Program Director John Farra. "Nick and Taylor represent the future of our nordic combined program and are great role models for setting goals, working hard and committing to being best in the world."
Fletcher and Hendrickson took the opportunity to show the students a couple training techniques that they use to prepare themselves for competition. Vertical "hops" as well as standing long jumps are common practices for nordic athletes in order to prepare their bodies for the rigors of competition.
Fletcher also used the visit to show students proper ski launch technique, which consisted of Hendrickson catching him in mid-air becoming one of the few "do not try this at home" practices that the athletes performed.
Hendrickson also showed the students how winter athletes spend their summer days preparing for the snow. He took out a pair of cross country ski boots and roller skis and proceeded to "ski" around the gym. Along with displaying the summer gear the athletes exhibited their winter equipment showing the difference between the enormous ski jumping skis and the lightweight cross country skis.
After the demonstrations the students engaged the athletes in a question and answer session. To the amusement of the students, Farra, Fletcher, and Hendrickson also used the visit to entertain their hosts by telling personal stories.
Hendrickson told a story about how he started ski jumping at around six years old. He had a good grasp of jumping but was so young that he was unable to hold the handle on the poma lift to get him back up to the top of the run. In one particular case he remembers grabbing the handle and falling onto his face, but his refusal to let go resulted in him getting dragged to the top on his stomach rather than his skis.
Fletcher talked about the tenacity it takes to perform at the highest levels. He talked about a roller ski race in downtown Steamboat Springs with over 4,000 people watching when his roller ski came off his boot causing him to land hard onto the street. He escaped with no lasting injuries and got bandaged up for the ski jumping competition that afternoon. Farra followed with a humorous story about being chased by a moose in Fairbanks, Alaska.
After the event the athletes signed posters for the students to put in their class rooms and they also were available for photos.
