BEAR HOLLOW — Clint Jones has not spent much time on the "big jump" at the Utah Olympic Park, and what time he has spent has been less than satisfactory for him.
And while he should have been more than pleased with his second-place finish Friday in Round 1 of the 2003 Continental Cup ski jumping event, there was that hint of disappointment in his voice as he spoke.
He took two gold medals in the two-day event last year. This year, jumping on his home artificial turf, he was certainly a favorite with the locals and, predictably, with his coaches before the event.
"Clint, definitely, for sure — on his own hill," said Kari Ylianttila, the U.S. team's head coach said in a ski team release, of the meet favorites prior to the jump. But he, too, admitted that his jumpers have spent more time on the 90-meter over the big 120-meter jump.
But, he explained, "If your technique is good on the 90, it should carry to the 120."
Winning the event was Toppoi Takano of Japan, with jumps of 126 and 122 in two tries. Subtracting judging points, he finished with a score of 238.4.
Jones had jumps of 126 and 120, and subtracting points for little bobbles in his technique, finished with 237.3.
Bine Norcio of Slovenia, who was leading after the first jump, had an off-balance landing and finished third. His jumps were identical to Jones', but the loss of points left him with a score of 236.8.
Jure Radelj, also from Slovenia, was fourth with a final score of 236.5.
Brian Welch, also with the U.S. team, was the No. 2 American and finished 13th.
The event has drawn nearly 50 of the world's top jumpers to the Park City site.
The second part of the event will begin today at 5 p.m. with trials, followed by competition at 6 p.m. The Big Air All-Star show in the freestyle jumping pool will follow Nordic jumping.
Jones admitted his jumping time on the big 120 hill has been limited — "Nine jumps in two weeks, and I wasn't skiing so great" — and that even though he didn't win, the second place has helped his confidence.
"Today helped," he said as he waited for awards to be presented . . . I'm satisfied with both jumps. When you're not leading you can try harder."
On the first jump, winds were blowing and, said Jones, "Switching around and it was a little tough. On the second the winds were more consistent."
But they were not blowing as hard, and without the added uplift, distances on the second jump were shorter.
Coaches have been working to give jumpers more airtime in the off-season. The two-day Continental Cup has helped. Competitors said it put them in a competitive frame of mind but in a more relaxed atmosphere.
They also admitted the summer jumping is a little more balanced. Warm-weather jumping comes without any chance of a sudden snowstorm that could give early jumpers a slight edge.
Tickets for today's Summer Jumpfest range from $15 for pool-deck seating to $8 for children 3 to 12.
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