LILLEHAMMER, Norway (Dec. 4) – On the eve of the International Ski Federation’s Ski Jumping World Cup tour opener, the U.S. Ski Team has named three women to its 2014-15 team. The women’s tour opens this weekend on the Olympic jumps in Lillehammer, Norway. The three named include World Champions Sarah Hendrickson and Lindsey Van, along with Jessica Jerome (all Park City, UT). Hendrickson and Van will be among five U.S. jumpers in Lillehammer. During the season the athletes will be vying for spots on the World Championship Team that will compete in Falun, Sweden in February.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The U.S. Ski Team has named three athletes to its 2015 team including World Champions Sarah Hendrickson and Lindsey Van as well as Jessica Jerome (all Park City, UT).
- The U.S. Ski Team supports top international level athletes in collaboration with Women’s Ski Jumping USA and it’s nine-member U.S. Visa Women’s Ski Jumping Team.
- Hendrickson returned from injury in October, finishing second in a pair of Continental Cup jumps with World Cup-caliber fields.
- Women kickoff their World Cup season under the lights on Friday, Dec. 5 on the HS100 Olympic jump in Lillehammer, Norway.
- Five athletes will jump for the USA including Hendrickson, Jerome, Nina Lussi (Lake Placid, NY), Nita Englund (Iron Mountain, MI) and Tara Geraghty-Moats (West Fairlee, VT). Van is recovering from an injury and won’t compete. It will be the first World Cup for Geraghty-Moats.
- The four-athlete World Championship Team will be selected primarily from World Cup results and will be named in February, in advance of the World Championships in Falun, Sweden where the women will compete in both a normal hill event Feb. 19-20 and the new mixed gender team event Feb. 22. The USA has won two of the three World Championships held for women.
2015 U.S. SKI JUMPING TEAM
Name, Hometown, Club (Skis, Boots, Bindings) Date of Birth
Jessica Jerome, Park City, UT, Women's Ski Jumping USA/U.S. Visa Women's Ski Jumping Team (Fischer, Rass, Win-Air/Slatnar) 2/8/87
Sarah Hendrickson, Park City, UT Women’s Ski Jumping USA/U.S. Visa Women’s Ski Jumping Team (Fluege, Rass) 8/1/94
Lindsey Van, Park City, UT, Women's Ski Jumping USA/U.S. Visa Women's Ski Jumping Team (Fluege, Rass, Win-Air) 11/27/84
Women’s Ski Jumping USA Coaching Staff
Alan Alborn, Head Coach
Vasja Bajc, Travel Coach
Neza Mravije, Physical Therapist
QUOTES
Sarah Hendrickson, World Champion
I have worked really hard this summer after Sochi to get where I am today. I have spent many hours in the gym and finally feel strong and healthy. I am both physically and mentally ready to compete again and my motivation is very high. It's been a hard 18 months but I'm finally ready.
Obviously the main focus for this year is to get back into competing after the stressful injury and Olympic year but I can't help but set my eyes on World Championships. I really want to defend my title but I need to focus on myself and my technique in order to make this happen. The competition is hard and it would take my absolute best jumps to come out on top! I am fortunate to have so many people and sponsors behind me after the tough year and looking forward to a fun season.
Alan Alborn, Coach, Women’s Ski Jumping USA
The team has been able to ski on snow at the Utah Olympic Park and in Lillehammer leading into Friday’s event. As the inaugural Olympic event is behind us, we are embarking upon a new chapter for the team. As this year marks another World Championship season, we are ready for, and looking forward to, the event in February. With the addition of travel coach Vasja Bajc and physical therapist Neza Mravije, we expect strong results from the 2014-15 team.
