Jumping for joy: Local ski jumpers earn high honors at national contest

This winter’s snow fall was less than stellar, but that didn’t stop two local skiers from shining on the national stage.

Elizabeth Wallace and Trevor Edlund, both from Woodbury, competed at the US Junior National Championships for ski jumping. The championships were held in Park City, Utah during the first week of March.

Wallace and Edlund are team members of the St. Paul Ski Club. Each began ski jumping at a very young age. Now, as teenagers, their hard work and dedication to the sport are really starting to pay off. The two Woodbury residents are working hard in hopes of someday making the U.S. Olympic Ski Jumping Team.

On March 4, Wallace won the J2 Junior National Championship (14-15 year olds) in Utah.

“I was really nervous,” she said. “But, I just knew I could do it.”

That same day, Edlund, also in the J2 class, took the bronze in the boys individual competition. Later in the week he joined forces with two other jumpers from the Central Division to win gold in the team competition.

Wallace and Edlund, along with all club jumpers, ages 2 to 22, will be honored at the club’s annual year-end banquet on Tuesday, April 17.

“The St. Paul Ski Club is very proud of the way Elizabeth and Trevor represented their club, their Division, their sport, and themselves at the Junior National Championships,” said Sue Swanson of the St. Paul Ski Club.

The St. Paul Ski Club is a ski jumping club with jumps ranging in size from 5 meters to 46 meters, and provides learning opportunities for beginners, and training facilities for experts. The club’s 20 meter and 46 meter hills are equipped with synthetic surfaces for all-weather use.

Summer jumping on the plastic will begin in June. Spectators and jumpers are always welcome at Harrington Hill (located on the west side of 494, between Lake Road and Bailey Road exits).

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