Flying

This is Hang Time.  This is Flying Inverted.  Without A Net.  This is Freestyle.  This is a teenager.  Sunday December 20 brought NorAm freestyle to Park City.  These kids want to be Olympians.  The NorAm circuit is where they start on the road to the big time.  The Big Time is exemplified by The VISA Freestyle International at Deer Valley in mid January 2010.  The NorAm circuit is top national athletes competing for a shot to go international.  At  this level one see’s all abillities, from the simplest flips to complex twisting maneuvers.  All of which are performed airborne without a net.  The cool part of NorAm is that one can walk right up to the jump and watch as these young men and women launch themselves skyward in hopes landing in the big time…..

Jumps are of varying sizes and the competitors start at different elevations on the in run.  This is based upon how much height and hang-time they require to complete the intended maneuver.  The small jump is only 4 or so feet tall, while the big launch pad is 15 or so.  The landing zone is inclined in such a manner that the jumper glides back to earth smoothly.  This assumes of course that all of the elements of the maneuver go according to plan.  Missing a landing is still a painful experience.

More images at Pbase.com