[ad_1]
Jason Colby, 17, of Steamboat Springs, became the youngest ski jumper to compete in the World Cup competition, which was held Feb. 16-19 in Sapporo, Japan.
After finishing in the top 25 at the Continental Cup in Lillehammer, Norway earlier this month, Colby was approached by U.S. Nordic Men’s Ski Jumping Head Coach Torre Suneri, who offered Colby his first World Cup appearance just two weeks later. requested.
It was a step in the right direction for Colby, who dreams of scoring points at a World Cup by the age of 19.
Colby had to make some adjustments to his jump schedule, but he happily accepted the offer. He said the surreality of the opportunity didn’t feel right away.
“It didn’t really hit me until I got there,” Colby said.
The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club jumper had a chance to speak with some of his American teammates before the World Cup, and they offered advice and insight on what to expect at this level of competition. .
“It’s definitely a higher level,” Colby said. “People are much more focused and some people make a living doing it, so they’re definitely focused on the job. It was definitely different than a normal competition in the United States.”
In his qualifying jump on Feb. 16, Colby soared 104 meters to finish within the top 50 with a chance to qualify for the first World Cup of his career. On February 17, the day of the World Cup, Colby jumped 91.5 meters on the HS137 Large Hill, placing him 48th in the competition.
Colby said that more important than any result, the weekend was a learning experience, getting used to the rules and regulations of the World Cup, which are different from many smaller tournaments.
SSWSC’s Estella Haslick will have the same learning opportunity this weekend that earned her the first World Cup invitation of her career with the U.S. Women’s Ski Jumping Team. She Hasslick will join Steamboat’s Annika Belshaw on the HS90 hill in Hinzenbach, Austria, on Saturday and Sunday.
Colby is currently actively competing in the final jumping competition of the season, the Continental Cup in Iron Mountain, Michigan.
If this is indeed the last competitive weekend of 2024, it was a milestone season for Colby. Colby placed 17th in the men’s individual jump event in South Korea, earning him a spot in the U.S. Ski Jumping Youth Olympics. He also made his debut in the Continental Cup and World Cup, capping off his memorable year.
“It’s definitely an experience that I’ll remember for a while,” Colby said. “Overall it was a good season.”
[ad_2]
Source link
