Most. Fun. Ever.
Holy flirking shnit.
As you know, silvrayn and I have taken up ski jumping.
There are three jump sizes at the Minneapolis Ski Club. K10, K30, and K70.
"K" is the distance in meters from jump takeoff to the point where the hill flattens out. A very good ski jumper can reliably jump to the "K" point on the hill.
Until tonight, all I've been able to handle is the K10. It's daunting in its own right, and has caused silvrayn pain enough - she dented her helmet and chin on it last week.
Here's a picture of a cute kid going off the K10 at the most recent competition.
Right next to the K10 is the K30, which has been busy scaring the crap out of me for the past year.
Here's a picture of the ridiculously awesome, daunting, insane, fast K70 jump.
Here's a pic of someone flying off it.
So yeah, needless to say, the K30 looks huge in person - the photos don't really do it justice. (Next to the K70, it doesn't look as bad, but hey.) Tonight, the coaches (who are all fantastic people and great mentors) said I was ready to try the K30. I finally mustered the courage, and I f'n did it.
It is simultaneously the scariest and one of the most fun things I have ever done in my life. The sheer speed of it is just awe-inspiring. When you come off the jump, you can't see the landing hill - it looks like you're literally about to fly off a cliff and kill yourself.
There's a thing, called a "black zone", that all ski jumpers know about. It's the time during the jump from right before takeoff until you go about 10 meters in the air. You literally can't remember that part of the jump afterwards. Today was the first time I've experienced it, and it experienced it on all four jumps.
Anyway, after your body goes into utter shock from the fear, you land. Relatively softly, but going INCREDIBLY fast. And you survive. Adrenaline is pumping through your veins. You feel like you've just conquered the world. And damnit, you -have- to go again.
Ski jumping may be the greatest sport ever invented.
silvrayn did great overcoming her fear of the K10 as well. Her form has improved tenfold since starting two weeks ago and she's getting some great distance.
You guys absolutely have to try this sport. It is not only a fantastic workout, but it's safe, inexpensive, incredibly fun, and the thrill of a lifetime.
As you know, silvrayn and I have taken up ski jumping.
There are three jump sizes at the Minneapolis Ski Club. K10, K30, and K70.
"K" is the distance in meters from jump takeoff to the point where the hill flattens out. A very good ski jumper can reliably jump to the "K" point on the hill.
Until tonight, all I've been able to handle is the K10. It's daunting in its own right, and has caused silvrayn pain enough - she dented her helmet and chin on it last week.
Here's a picture of a cute kid going off the K10 at the most recent competition.
Right next to the K10 is the K30, which has been busy scaring the crap out of me for the past year.
Here's a picture of the ridiculously awesome, daunting, insane, fast K70 jump.
Here's a pic of someone flying off it.
So yeah, needless to say, the K30 looks huge in person - the photos don't really do it justice. (Next to the K70, it doesn't look as bad, but hey.) Tonight, the coaches (who are all fantastic people and great mentors) said I was ready to try the K30. I finally mustered the courage, and I f'n did it.
It is simultaneously the scariest and one of the most fun things I have ever done in my life. The sheer speed of it is just awe-inspiring. When you come off the jump, you can't see the landing hill - it looks like you're literally about to fly off a cliff and kill yourself.
There's a thing, called a "black zone", that all ski jumpers know about. It's the time during the jump from right before takeoff until you go about 10 meters in the air. You literally can't remember that part of the jump afterwards. Today was the first time I've experienced it, and it experienced it on all four jumps.
Anyway, after your body goes into utter shock from the fear, you land. Relatively softly, but going INCREDIBLY fast. And you survive. Adrenaline is pumping through your veins. You feel like you've just conquered the world. And damnit, you -have- to go again.
Ski jumping may be the greatest sport ever invented.
silvrayn did great overcoming her fear of the K10 as well. Her form has improved tenfold since starting two weeks ago and she's getting some great distance.
You guys absolutely have to try this sport. It is not only a fantastic workout, but it's safe, inexpensive, incredibly fun, and the thrill of a lifetime.