Van leads U.S. women jumpers into historic season

Seven jumpers, including team veterans Lindsey Van, Jessica Jerome and Avery Ardovino, have been named to the 2009 U.S. ski jumping team according to U.S. Nordic Program Director John Farra. The coming season highlights the inaugural World Championships for women's ski jumping.

SEVEN JUMPERS, including team veterans Lindsey Van, Jessica Jerome and Avery Ardovino, have been named to the 2009 U.S. ski jumping team according to U.S. Nordic Program Director John Farra. The coming season highlights the inaugural World Championships for women's ski jumping.
    The 2009 roster features the return of all team members from last season with one addition, Sarah Hendrickson who, at the age of 13, is the youngest person ever named to the U.S. Ski Team in a nordic sport. Freestyle aerialist Rachel Pack was the youngest athlete to be named to the U.S. Ski Team in any sport. She was 12 years old when announced for the 2004-05 team.
    During the 2008 season, the team garnered five Continental Cup podiums, four of which belonged to Van. The team looks forward to February when it will participate in the first women's ski jumping World Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic. The FIS Nordic World Championships are the highest level of competition for the winter sports outside of the Olympics.
    "This is a talented crew of jumpers made up with veterans and rookies alike who are optimistically approaching the first World Championships for women's jumping this winter," Farra said. "We have a few top contenders for those first World Championship medals, so the focus is high, and we are all excited to see the women take flight to achieve their goals on being best in the world."
    Also returning to the team are up-and-comers and Westminster College students Abby Hughes, Alissa Johnson and Brenna Ellis.
    Leading the team as head coach is Kjell Ivar Magnusson, who took charge of the women's jumping team following the 2008 season. Magnusson was formerly the head coach of the Norwegian women's jumping team.

2009 U.S. Ski Jumping Team Roster

A Team
Avery Ardovino (2/13/92; Park City, UT; National Sports Foundation/Park City Nordic Ski Club)
Jessica Jerome (2/8/87; Park City, UT; National Sports Foundation/Park City Nordic Ski Club)
Lindsey Van (11/27/84; Park City, UT; National Sports Foundation/Park City Nordic Ski Club)

B Team
Abbey Hughes (6/21/89; Park City, UT; National Sports Foundation/Park City Nordic Ski Club)
Alissa Johnson (5/28/87; Park City, UT; National Sports Foundation/Park City Nordic Ski Club)
Brenna Ellis (3/13/88; Park City, UT; National Sports Foundation/Park City Nordic Ski Club)
Sarah Hendrickson (8/1/94; Park City, UT; National Sports Foundation/Park City Nordic Ski Club)