The Austrian Special Jumping Team,
who can be seen Hereare seemingly unstoppable. Hats off to them and the tremendous program that Toni Innauer has put together.
To talk about why's and hows I would reach back 30 years to the era where they really burst on to the scene in Toni Innauers time and the Austrian program was doing everything that had not been done before. Early plastic hills, skiing at high elevations very early in the fall, speed training on the glaciers in the summers, developing the first (later made illegal) air suits, building skis in 2 of the best factories, and most importantly, building a national development program that remains tremendously effective 35 years later.
The Austrian program is much about the "Ski Gymnasium" (Similar to an American Boarding School)in Stamms Tirol, but it is also about the feeder program that gets kids there. To my understanding there are regional coaches who are out with the clubs helping to identify and invite promising kids when they are 12 and 13 years old.
Much like the Gymnastics world, Ski Jumping is a sport where teenagers need to be in break through mode if they are going to be competitive by at 16, 17 and 18 years old. This is likely difficult on "family life" and more normalized upbringing, but Austria is a small enough place that kids can get home for weekends and parents like wise can visit often.
But this is not just about school. It is also about having an effective training an sports development program - that clearly, in Jumping and Alpine Racing, the Austrians are very good at. Time on skis, time in the gym, time learing the art is as important as developing the craft, and Stamms has the ability to impart this knowledge and skills in a consistent and powerful way.
It probably also doesn't hurt that those who make it through the gauntlet become nationally and internationally known names.
This is the part of the equation that we need to put together with the effective Nordic Combined Program in Steamboat, as well as with the programs Lake Placid and Park City. Hats off the the US Nordic Combined Program! 3 Gold Medals is remarkable! We won't forget this effort!
Go Billy, Todd, Johnny and Eric, and congrats to the coaching team led by Dave Jarrett!
Lets step up our development efforts in Jumping now as well. We are not a true skiing powerhouse unless we can be competitive in all disciplines. And as noted above, competitiveness demands development and I don't know anyone opposed to that!
