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Shelley Osterloh Reporting There are only two Winter Olympic sports in which women are not allowed to compete and they both involve Nordic Jumping, but it looks like that will change for the next winter games in Vancouver.
Utah women have led the battle to get women included in the Nordic Jumping at the World Championships and the Olympics. Men have been jumping in the Olympics for more than 80 years, but this type of Nordic jumping has been considered by some, to be too extreme for women. Not anymore.
Jessica Jerome, 19-years old: "This is going to become something that you know is acceptable for women to do instead of "oh do girls do it too?" It's cool so we are excited "
Lindsey Van, 21: "I've been jumping 15 years and when I started, I was pretty much the only one in the country."
Lindsey Van and Jessica Jerome are ranked second and third in the world. Both have worked for years to help their sport come of age and be allowed in top international competitions. Just this summer they made a huge jump toward that goal with the Ski Federation.
Now that the international ski federation has accepted women into the '09 Nordic championships, it is very likely that Vancouver will accept women for the 2010 Olympics.
Brenna Ellis, 18 Park City: "It means that all of the work I've put into this sport over the past, for me 12 years, is going to pay off at something bigger than a Continental Cups."
It also mean these women have the support of the US Ski and Snowboard team behind them. Five of them have been nominated to the team.
Alissa Johnson 19 Park City: "We finally have all the support that we need behind us, you can only go up from here."
Alissa Johnson watched her younger brother, Anders, compete in the Torino games. Her teammates watched Opening ceremonies from Germany, each one hoping they would be in the next Olympics. Now that goal appears possible.
And this Friday and Saturday, the top 30 women jumpers from eight countries will compete at the Utah Olympic Park in the first event of the season. It's a good chance to see some future Olympians. The Continental Cup is Friday and Saturday at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City. The musical entertainment starts at 5:00 and the competition begins at 6. It is free to the public.
