We just returned from the final Summer Grand Prix (Summer World Cup) of the 05 season in Hakuba Japan. Clint Jones and I traveled over the week before with a plan of competing at the highest level in September, to check the progress in a good window. We jumped in a typhoon, then sun, and for the comp days, pouring rain and tricky winds, but we came out with some solid results and knowing that we are right on track with our year plan.

We started the season with the plan to build up some confidence and results on the summer Continental cup for the first few months, then build up to the Grand Prix by the end of the tour. With that experience we could then finish up the summer season with Continental cups here on our home hillls in Park City and Lake Placid. This was a good rhythm for our team, and allowed us to bring more club skiers on all but the SuGP trips (where we only have 1 quota spot). Clint started out with three to 10's in the July COC's, with the rest of the US team showing rapid improvement, and a real focus on inernationally sound jumping. The next month, in Lillihammer, Norway we stepped up to where this talented team should be; with Clint getting two second places, one each day, and Tommy Schwall making some big technological improvements and finishing 12th earing some valuable COC points. Not only did we have 2 podiums from Clint, but starting to have a bit of depth with 2 in the top 15.

After a week home to train in Park City, we stuck to the original plan and set sail for Hakuba, Japan and the final weekend of the Summer Grand Prix tour. Clint is the only one with a quota spot, so he would have to be the lone wolf representing the US team this week. The weather was tricky, and Clint can now say he has literally jumped in a typhoon....and lived to tell about it. In typical Japanese fashion, it was nice the day before, and for the competitions, was pouring rain and windy. Usually when the rain is coming down that hard, it quells the wind, and at least makes for a fair competition. This was mostly the case on Saturday, a few got a lucky gust of headwind, and a few got the opposite, but Clint was right in the middle, and had the 10th and 11th best jumps of the round for a finish of 12th place; his best result in over 3 years. On Sunday, the rain started up just in time for the comp, and this time, the wind was a major factor. With the speeds so low, and the international level so high, every breath of air counts. In the first round, a few early Japanese jumpers got 3 meters per second of head wind, enough to send anyone to the bottom of this Olympic hill. By the middle, the tides had turned, and a group of about 7 skiers got the green light with over 3 meters of tail wind......unfortunately, Clint was in that group. Luckily, he squeezed in to the last spot for the next round, 30th place. With his new jump, and totally calm skies, he went 118.5m for the 9th best jump of the round. This shot him up in the order, 13 places, from 30 to 17th, and was a great redemption. Of course, the few top guys got more headwind, they always do, but for Clint to keep his composure and have a top 10 jump, with no help from the wind, was a great sign that he is becoming a contender again. At the end of the weekend, after only competing in two SUGP's, Clint is 36th in the overall, ahead of some of the sports biggest names.
This weekend was a big success for our team and program. Getting the exposure to the highest level, and being confidently in the hunt, was a great feeling. Now we are back for a short break, and to get the rest of the team, including the comeback of Alan Alborn, ready to keep up our progress and finish the season strong on our home hills for the COC's in October.
Thanks for your support of the US Ski Jumping Team. Keep believing, and well see you out at the jumps!

Corby Fisher
Head Coach
US Ski Jumping Team