The Springer Tournee returned for the 27th time this week at the Utah Olympic Park, hosting its national team coaching day on Wednesday.
Ski jumpers and Nordic combined skiers on their respective U.S. teams, like Sandra Sproch of Chicago, helped coach skiers aged 7 to 17 alongside Park City Ski & Snowboard staff.
Park City Ski & Snowboard Ski Jumping and Ski Mountaineering Director Adam Loomis says national team coaching day is always a highlight of the week-long camp, along with Saturday’s competitions, live music and food trucks. There was a competition on Thursday morning and further training throughout the day.
Skiers like 9 year old Braxton Anthony of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, arrived at the camp on Monday to begin training.
“Today is the first day really bringing the group together,” Loomis said. “Kids are getting the opportunity to get coached by older people they look up to, those national team athletes. … I think it is one of the special parts of this week.”
Loomis believes national team coaching day remains a hallmark of the Springer Tournee because everyone’s winning by improving. There aren’t winners and losers like on competition days.
Loomis said the camp has 75 skiers this week, 20 being from Park City. There are five Olympians who coached participants on Wednesday and will compete later this week.
“Kids that come in from out in the Midwest, for example, don’t typically get a week straight of jumping,” Loomis said. “They can see pretty big improvement. It’s super fun to see kids coming back year-over-year, and then it’s really apparent how far they’ve come.”
Sproch said the jumps at the Utah Olympic Park far exceed the quality of the ones she typically jumps on in the Midwest. She jumped at the venue a few times as a kid and is moving here in August. Sproch had a great time coaching on Wednesday and could see herself coaching once she hangs up her skis.
“At this age, kids don’t really comprehend what you’re saying to them, so just making sure that they’re having fun and that things are very simple is the biggest thing,” Sproch said. “Ski jumping is definitely a lot of fun. I think teaching other people the joy of what brings you life and what you know you look forward to is a huge thing.”
Sproch said she saw the same spark in the kids’ eyes on Wednesday that she has when she jumps. She was proud of their fearlessness and the way they quickly implemented her tips.
“I was like, ‘Okay, y’all are smarter than me when I was your age,’” Sproch said. “(The future is) definitely brighter because we are getting more and more kids. Just think if we continue carrying on with more advertisements and really introducing the sport to other people in other states. I think that would be a huge thing because not a lot of people know what ski jumping is.”
Anthony, a ski jumper and Nordic combined skier, would love to follow in the footsteps of Sproch and his other national team coaches one day. He said the Utah Olympic Park is his favorite place to jump.
“I would love to be an Olympian someday,” Anthony said. “If I had to pick, I would go ski jumping, but I really like Nordic combined as well. I’m most excited for the competition on Saturday.”
Anthony is confident that he will walk away with a win on Saturday. He said he feels like he’s flying anytime he straps on his skis.
Park City Ski & Snowboard is selling tickets to Saturday’s competition on Eventbrite, with prices starting at $23.18. Gates will open at 5 p.m., with music beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the competition at 6 p.m.
“Our evening event has been super fun the last couple years,” Loomis said. “On Saturday, in the fun competition, we’ll have our top athletes.”
