We went into Lillehammer (Scene of the 1994 Winter Olympics) yesterday to meet our daughter off the Oslo train. Whilst there, we visited the Olympic ski jump. We were very lucky to see some of the young athletes training on the 'smaller' jump alongside the Olympic jump. Whilst watching, we were chatting with one of the young men - he told us that they begin around age 3-5 on small jumps, working up to this one from about age 13. I'm not sure how I'd feel if one of my kids was doing this type of thing - it looks absolutely terrifying!
My heart rate increases just thinking about it. I've watched ski jumping on skiing holidays. I love the tiny little people at the bottom of the ski jump and the one solitary jumper on the right hand side.
that does look scary - but I guess it's exhilarating to ski, if you get it right. All these Olympic sports need to be started young to do well in them.
