Flying in PyeongChang

Ski jumpers sweating to realize dreams

By Yoon Chul

South Korea is one of the sports powerhouses in the world. But there are still many less popular sports here including ski jumping with fewer fans compared with Europe though it has begun to attract growing attention these days.

Despite a tough situation, there are six passionate Korean ski jumpers who are sweating everyday toward their dreams and the future of ski jumping in Korea.

If people stand on the top of the ramp, they may think every ski jumper deserves respect regardless of the result.

The jumpers take off at speeds of over 90 kilometers per hour and land on the slope at speeds of over 120 kilometers per hour.

But the jumpers are protected only by a helmet, a fact which means they devote themselves to practicing flying and landing skills.

While the FIS Ski Jumping Continental Cup was held at the newly installed Alpensia ski jumping venue, in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province from Jan 12 to 13, head coach Kim Heung-soo, coach Ha Sung-jo, ski jumpers Choi Heung-chul, Kim Hyun-ki, Choi Yong-jik and Kang Chil-ku told of their life at the venue during an interview with The Korea Times. Head coach Kim, who is in charge of general affairs for the nation’s ski jumping team, further took the lead in specifying the characters of each athlete.

Kim Heung-soo

“We have lived together for more than 20 years so we come to know each other very well,“ Kim said waxing a ski in preparation for competition.

“A few years ago each jumper took care of their equipment by themselves. But now the coaches handle it to save athletes’ from than 30 minutes to an hour and our boys can prepare without wasting time,” added Kim, who is an expert in ski jumping and also a former alpine skier.

While he devotes his life to the national team Kim also has his own dream.

“I want to study ski jumping abroad and bring up a new generation,” Kim said. “The current athletes are like my family. But I also want to give my time to the next generation and I think I can do it very well,” added Kim.

In Korea there are four national team members. He has faced opposition from many people regarding his way of training the team.

“I knew that their advice is to help us. But honestly I think it is often wrong. As I didn’t get an overseas education, they don’t trust me a lot. I admit. That’s why I want to move to other advanced ski jumping country to learn.”

“After I finish studying I can be good at both theory and practice.

“If I have a chance to move I will and return to Korea to make my nation a ski jumping powerhouse. I am confident I can do it,” added Kim.

Kim also spoke on PyeongChang’s third bid for the Winter Olympics.

“If the Games open on our soil, it will surely be helpful for us and Asia. PyeongChang’s successful 2018 bid will lead to construction of lots of infrastructure facilities with huge money being poured into winter sports,” Kim said.

“That will give much motivation for Asians to join and enjoy winter sports because PyeongChang is becoming a hub of winter sports in Asia. If PyeongChang’s bid is successful, the Ski Jumping Continental Cups will be held more often. After then my country will try to host the world cup.

“The FIS also wanted to spread out ski jumping events. Korea progress will be good for the FIS,” Kim said.

Choi Heung-chul

National ski jumping team captain Choi Heung-chul has been taking the role of a sort of spokesman for the team.

“As the team’s oldest member he takes care of the others,” the 29-year-old head coach Kim said regarding Choi.

“He seldom tries to excuse his performance. His best merit is an ability to sustain his normal performance.”

Kim explained that Choi has managed to lead team members with unique characters harmoniously.

Kim wants Choi to improve his concentration.

“Choi has a strong mind, and good technique and had really good performances in the beginning of the season but at the end he began to lose concentration. And the performance during the competition was worse than practice,” Kim said.

“Choi likes the camera so he wants to see much better performances but sometimes that attitude is negative for his jumps,” Kim said with smile.

Kim Hyun-ki

Kim Hyun-ki is captain Choi’s rival. The big difference between Kim and Choi is that Kim’s engages in competition the way he does in practice.

Kim, who is two year younger than Choi, has a different style in practice.

“When Kim felt the need to improve a skill, he chose a low jumping venue for practice compared with Choi who never opts for the easier way,” head coach Kim Heung-soo said.

“In order to fix his bad habits, Hyun-ki takes an orderly way,” added the head coach.

“I hope Kim will accept my advice,” the head coach explained. “I know that I am not the perfect person to give advice to my jumpers but I really do my best. And the athlete’s shortfalls can be detected by other experts like me rather than by himself.”

“Recently Hyun-ki has improved a lot. I really appreciate his efforts.”

Choi Yong-jik

Choi is noted for hardly speaking. Instead he lets his actions speak for themselves.

“Choi is a real man. He has shown real determination to improve,” Kim Heung-soo said.

“Regardless of his performance, he acts the same. When athletes see good result they can become complacent but he never does,” Kim said.

“A few years ago, Choi asked me if he could practice at 11 p.m. saying he hadn’t jumped as much as he wanted because he spent time waxing the skis. At that time I was surprised and realized his character,” Kim said.

Choi has a girlfriend who gave him Chinese tea as a present. As a token of his love toward her, Choi usually drinks the tea before starting the competition.

“The only thing I want is for him to stay away from computer games and comic books, which he likes too much. Of course he doesn’t spend time on his hobbies instead of practicing,” added Kim.

Kang Chil-ku

The 26-year-old jumper is seemingly the brightest talent on the team. Even if he fails to generate good result he tries to keep smiling.

However, as he has been in a deep slump, he sometimes wears a grim look.

“Kang has to overcome this by himself,” Kim said. “I really like his brightness. But he often thinks too much.

“Kang considers so many things to solve his own problem,” Kim said.

Recently, a new candidate for the national team, Park Jae-un has put pressure on Kang.

“Park needs at least two or three years more to make the national team,” Kim explained. “But his emergence is a good stimulus for the national team especially for Kang. Kang should take this as an opportunity to move forward,” Kim said.