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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, December 11-13, 2019 B-3 The Park Record One way down the jump pibsexchange.com ADULT SPORTS COURTESY OF KATHLEEN O’CONNELL Kathleen O’Connell of Steamboat Springs is pictured participating in a Nordic skiing competition for Montana State University. Upon graduation this upcoming spring, O’Connell plans to move to Park City to pursue a career in Nordic combined. Future Parkite looks to make her mark this weekend RYAN KOSTECKA The Park Record Come Saturday at the Continental Cup in Park City, Kathleen O’Connell will stand at the top of the Utah Olympic Park’s ski jump. She’ll be strapped into her skis with her hands on the bar, knowing that there’s no backing out at the point. According to her, the only way down is to raise your hand, and quite literally fly through the air until she’s safe on the ground. “It’s definitely intimidating being up that high, looking down at what you’re supposed to be doing,” O’Connell said. “The best thing about being up there is knowing that there’s only one way down. … And I’m not going to crawl back off the bar and walk down. I just got to stand up, have my coach flag me down and fly down.” While this may seem like an ordinary thing to do for someone competing in a Continental Cup with some of the best Nordic combined athletes in the world, this flight down the mountain is anything but ordinary for O’Connell. This will mark her first major jump ever in a major competition, something she never anticipated or saw coming when she gave up Nordic combined as a high school sophomore six years ago. COURTESY OF KATHLEEN O’CONNELL Kathleen O’Connell is all smiles standing in front of Howelson Hill before Steamboat Springs’ annual Fourth of July celebration in which she took part in the Ski Jumping Extravaganza. As the youngest of four, O’Connell began Nordic combined because it’s what she knew. It’s what her family did so for her, she knew that it’s what she wanted to do. But a change from Nordic combined to Nordic skiing by her older sister helped up O’Connell’s eyes to what could be. “I grew up doing Nordic combined with all of my siblings, but I eventually switched to just Nordic skiing,” O’Connell said. “At that time, there wasn’t much of a future in Nordic combined, and I wanted to go to college on a scholarship. So from then on, I took up Nordic skiing and eventually it led me to Montana State.” At the present time, and as she reflects on her journey cross-country skiing, O’Connell believes the switch was the best thing for her. Not only did it get her to college where she’s been to the NCAA championships twice, but her journey as a cross-country skier also took her to Switzerland two years ago for the World Junior Championships, where she finished in the top 20. But things began to change for O’Connell three summers ago. She was in Steamboat Springs training at Howelson Hill on the Fourth of July when she heard about the Ski Jumping Extravaganza as part of the day’s celebration. Thinking it looked fun, and having a rare moment of nostalgia, O’Connell signed up. “That was such a fun and crazy day,” O’Connell says of ski jumping in Steamboat Springs. “I ended up borrowing ski’s, somehow found a jumpsuit and decided ‘what the heck.’ I did the ski jump that day. … And have done it once a day, once a year and only on the fourth of July in Steamboat.” Despite her brief amount of fun back ski jumping, O’Connell stuck with cross-country skiing, but kept her eyes and ears out for any more information regarding ski jumping and Nordic com- LEAGUES & DROP-IN PICKLEBALL BASKETBALL NORDIC SKIING SOCCER www.basinrecreation.org | (435) 655-0999 Give the gift that gives all year! Get a gift subscription to the PARK RECORD A great gift for New Neighbors, college students, second homeowners, etc. Please see Future, B-4 Mail or home delivery within Summit County: (Includes a free Sunday Tribune and The Park Record E-Edition) 1 Year $56 2 Years $98 Mail or home delivery outside of Summit County: (Includes The Park Record E-Edition) 1 Year $80 2 Years $138 The Park Record E-Edition only: $4.67 per month with auto pay PARK RECORD FILE PHOTO American Aidan Ripp sits atop the HS 100 ski jump at Utah Olympic Park during last year’s Continental Cup in Park City. Ripp finished in 40th place at last year’s event. Continued from B-1 Nordic combined Taylor Fletcher looks to continue his solid start to the season and defend his title after win- ning last year’s event in Park City. Parkites also competing on the men’s side include Ben Loomis and Jasper Good, two members of the national team who have recently completed Army basic training and have been accepted into the branch’s World Class Athlete Program, which gives enlisted personnel who are athletes the chance to compete on the international level. “Not only is it a great honor to be accepted in the program, this is my first competition since being accepted,” Good said. “I get to compete for the first time this season here and I couldn’t be more excited.” This year, USA Nordic is taking the fan experience very seriously. Although the event begins Friday, the highlight will be Saturday night at Utah Olympic Park. The outrun of the ski jump will be full of entertainment, including vendors, food trucks, beverages, fire pits and live music. Call today and talk to Lacy, our circulation manager, for details 435.649.9014 circulation@parkrecord.com |