SKIING NEWS ITEM

Olympics Spur Women Jumpers to Fly Farther

SUNDAY, 25 JUNE 2006

PARK CITY, Utah (June 22) - Having a possible chance to see women's ski jumping included in the 2010 Olympics, and be part of that pioneering move for their sport, will spur them to re-dedicate themselves and extend their training and competitive drive, three women jumpers said Thursday.

The International Ski Federation approved the inclusion of women's jumping in the 2009 World Nordic Ski Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic, a necessary step before gaining approval for the 2010 Games in Vancouver. Earlier this month, the U.S. Ski Team, for the first time, nominated five women to its ski jumping squad. The team will be formally named later this summer.

Meanwhile, Olympic organizers in Vancouver have indicated they were receptive to adding women's jumping and, said U.S. Nordic Director Luke Bodensteiner, "We feel very positive about the IOC's decision in October." Bodensteiner, women's Coach Casey Colby and three of the women jumpers - Jessica Jerome, Alissa Johnson and Abby Hughes (all Park City, UT) - participated in a national teleconference to discuss women's jumping. The highest level of women's jumping is the Continental Cup, which will return to Utah with the opening events of the women's 2007 season July 21-22 at Utah Olympic Park.

This is a portion of the news item that was originally posted at the United States Ski Team's website. Read the entire report at www.usskiteam.com.

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