OT Photo: Doty asks, So you want to an Olympic ski jumper?

[pap49cba]

 

[johnnyc]

See all those buildings and vehicles down there? Those are medical facilities and ambulances.

 

[Icebear]

Anyone can be a ski jumper. It is much more important to be a ski lander.

 

[meyers7]

Anyone can be a ski jumper.

Vinko Bogataj had problems.

 

[grizz36]

Many years ago, I had the pleasure of going to the top of the Olympic 90 meter ski jump in Innsbruck. The view beyond the landing area consisted of one very large cemetery. Who ever said Austrians did not have a sense of humor?

 

[meyers7]

Who ever said Austrians did not have a sense of humor?

The Germans?

 

[SubbaBub]

For $10, they used to let any idiot slide down the olympic luge track in Lake Placid from about half way up.

They handed you a helmet, a wooden rail luge, and some thin foam elbow pads.

I made it out unscathed.

 

[pinotbear]

 

[cferraro04]

See the basket at the bottom of the ski jump...Doty turned around backwards and made the basket on the first try.

 

[VAMike23]

For $10, they used to let any idiot slide down the olympic luge track in Lake Placid from about half way up.

They handed you a helmet, a wooden rail luge, and some thin foam elbow pads.

I made it out unscathed.

Did you sign the release form before or after handing over the $10 ....?

 

[VAMike23]

Vinko Bogataj had problems.

I can still hear Jim McKay's voiceover like it was yesterday.........

 

[RadyLady]

Anyone can be a ski jumper. It is much more important to be a ski lander.

I shall amend this only to say it is more important to be a safe two footed (two skied) ski lander.

Anyone can land....ask Vinko...

 

[pinotbear]

I can still hear Jim McKay's voiceover like it was yesterday.........

VAMike, this reminds me of one of those peculiar "true life" moments, the little insignificant ones that stay with you for a long, long time.

When the new of McKay's death reached the airways, it was a Saturday afternoon, and I was in a hotel room in Gettysburg, watching some sort of sporting event on the TV. Half-distracted, I heard the announcer doing the event, speaking about Jim McKay's long and illustrious career, and referring to McKay as "the epitome of poise and eloquence".

What my brain thought the announcer had said was "Jim McKay was the epitome of poisoned elephants".

So, to this day, I cannot see the name, nor hear the voice, and not think of Jim McKay and his poisoned elephants.

 

[grizz36]

Typical Bear-brained response to most audio stimulation, and to which, I shall remain silent. When it comes to sniffing though ...........

 

[SubbaBub]

Did you sign the release form before or after handing over the $10 ....?

Yes there was form, but you also received a commemorative pin and about 10 seconds of "luge instruction?"

If I remember, it was "Steer opposite the turn." To this day, I have no idea what that means.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Yes there was form, but you also received a commemorative pin and about 10 seconds of "luge instruction?"

If I remember, it was "Steer opposite the turn." To this day, I have no idea what that means.

It means to go left when the cattle are on the right.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Even Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards was more graceful than that.

My sister was sightseeing in Chicago last week, wearing new, but uncomfortable shoes. At the end of the day, she experienced "the agony of da feet."

 

[cabbie191]

Many years ago when I was a planner for Eau Claire County (WI), I was assigned the task of finding something in our county worthy of getting a state historical marker designation. The place chosen was the Silvermine Ski Jump, the second oldest in the country. The current jump site, built in 1969, stands 351 feet above the Chippewa River and replaced the original jump built in 1887. The photo that Pap49 posted is great, but these views are even more impressive when the track is covered with snow and snow is falling. I had a chance to go to the top of Silvermine during a jump as part of the project - that was quite a wonderful experience.