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Chevy Trucks 90m Summer Ski JumpSalt Lake City Olympian Clint Jones set a new Lake Placid hill record Saturday in winning the 56th annual Chevy Trucks 90 Meter Summer Ski Jump. Jones, taking advantage of a strong updraft of wind, soared 104 meters in his first attempt and set the record. With calmer conditions in the second round, Jones settled for 83 meters. His combination of distance and style points totaled 236.5 and pocketed him the $1,200 first prize for his runaway victory. It marked Jones' second triumph in as many days after capturing Friday night's New York Ski Educational Foundation event on the same |
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"The wind was changing the whole time today," said Jones, of Steamboat Springs, Colo. "That first jump was definitely a good one. I had more than enough speed. That's indicative of my training to this point."
Jones trains regularly on the 2002 Winter Olympic hill at United States Ski Team headquarters in Park City, Utah.
"This hill is different from Park City. It's good to come here and get a different feeling."
Jones and his teammates are getting acquainted with a new coaching staff and are preparing for the summer Grand Prix series overseas.
We have a group of guys trying to up our motivational level and trying to get physically stronger. The jumping is going well, but we're looking at the Europeans and what they're doing. Since there are no expectations on us, we hope to surprise them."
With Lake Placid temperatures approaching 80 degrees, the event was held on the ski jump complex's artificial surface. This incorporates a porcelain tile takeoff and synthetic landing surface. Winter conditions are created when water is applied to those surfaces.
Eric Camerota of Park City, Utah finished second on jumps of 88 and 81.5 meters for a total of 205 points. Another Park City ski jumper, Anders Johnson, placed third, sailing 87 and 81 meters. Johnson accumulated 202.5 points.
Michael Furey of Fox River Gorge, MInn. won the junior division with attempts of 94.5 and 84.5 meters. His 216.5 points were 10 better than runnerup Mike Glasder of Cary, Ill. Glasder jumped 93.5 and 81 meters. Kyle Lockhart was third on jumps of 89 and 78.5 meters. Lockhart, of Barrington, Ill., picked up 192.5 points.
Janne Rand of Lake Placid, N.Y., the lone woman in the field, jumped 67 and 60.5 meters for 98.5 points.
