Andover Outing Club Practices Ski Jumping Without Snow

Olympian Nick Fairall on hand for advice

November 20, 2014 • Saved under Sports
By Charlie Darling, Beacon staff
Mychal Reynolds is crouched on the rolling platform, ready to launch himself onto the big landing cushion when the platform reaches the end of its track. Olympic ski jumper Nick Fairall was on hand with many very specific pointers for each young jumper. Photos: Charlie Darling
Mychal Reynolds is crouched on the rolling platform, ready to launch himself onto the big landing cushion when the platform reaches the end of its track. Olympic ski jumper Nick Fairall was on hand with many very specific pointers for each young jumper. Photos: Charlie Darling

Nick Fairall of Andover, who competed in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Japan, has been working with Andover Outing Club (AOC) members on the roller jump on the porch of the lodge at Proctor Ski Area. “It’s nice to see all the young AOC jumpers getting excited to start ski jumping this winter,” Nick said. “The roller jump practice went well, and it was beneficial for the kids who participated.”

Matthew Reynolds in full flight, headed toward the big landing cushion. The roller jump was set up on the porch of the lodge at Proctor Ski Area.
Matthew Reynolds in full flight, headed toward the big landing cushion. The roller jump was set up on the porch of the lodge at Proctor Ski Area.

Nick continued: “Training on the roller jump provides consistent and controlled technical training. On the roller jump, the athletes and coaches can work together to make changes and improvements to technique, which can be difficult to do on the actual ski jump.”

“This type of training is something that I have been doing on a regular basis, and it helped me prepare for the Ski Jumping World Cup opener in Klingenthal, Germany on November 21.”

“It’s exciting that the Andover Outing Club has access to one of these training devices, because it’s training off the hill that allows for greater improvements on the hill. It’s training like this that will make for a fun and exciting winter for AOC jumpers at all levels, from the jumpers just starting out, to the World Cup level!”

Nick was selected this fall to the US National Ski Jumping A Team for the upcoming season. For the first time, US athletes competed in the first World Cup event of the winter in Klingenthal, Germany. Nick and his teammates competed in the team event as well as the individual events.