Three Women’s Ski Jumping USA leaders have been inducted into the American Ski Jumping Hall of Fame.
The Friends of American Ski Jumping named Deedee Corradini, Victor Method and Peter Jerome to the Hall of Fame class of 2011 as part of its fifth annual event on Oct. 30 in Red Wing, Minn.
Corradini, Method and Jerome were recognized for their influence in helping to grow the sport of ski jumping among women and girls in the U.S. and for their leadership in pushing for a women’s ski jumping event to be added to the Olympic Winter Games program. Women will ski jump for the first time in the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
The three volunteers for WSJ-USA join 2009 World Champion Lindsey Van and 2012 U.S. National Champion Jessica Jerome as inductees into the Hall of Fame. Van was inducted in 2009 and Jerome in 2010. Other 2011 Hall of Fame inductees include: Ken Anderson, Dr. Phillips (PT) Bland, Tim Dennison, Mike Devecka, Eric Hiatt, Bob Keck, Dave Norby, Barney Riley, and Selmar Swanson.
Reaction from inductees:
“I am truly honored to receive this recognition. The three of us are, however, only the tip of the iceberg. The multitude of unsung volunteers and supporters who contributed to this cause, collectively made the difference that tipped the scales to make women’s Olympic ski jumping a reality.”
— Peter Jerome, Founder of WSJ-USA
“Receiving this award honors all the women who struggle for equality and justice, not just in the world of sports, but in general. Getting the women ski jumpers into the World Championships and the Olympics was a battle for a just cause, and to have so many people around the world back us has been inspiring. I hope our success encourages others to keep working for equality going forward — determination and persistence can make a difference.”
— Deedee Corradini, WSJ-USA President
“It is a tremendous and humbling honor to receive this recognition for the contributions made as a volunteer that made a difference in the dreams of many athletes around the world. The fight was for equality for women in sport and success was reached with the establishment of both the FIS World Championship for women’s ski jumping and the International Olympic Committee’s decision to include a women’s ski jumping event for the first time on the Olympic Winter Games program in Sochi 2014.”
— Vic Method, WSJ-USA Board Member since 2004
Red Wing is designated as the Birthplace of American Ski Jumping. The city had one of the first organized ski jumping tournaments in Memorial Bluff and made the first rules for ski jumping tournaments. The Aurora Club was home to the premier jumpers, known as the All-Americans, in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Red Wing also hosted two national ski jumping tournaments at Charlson Hill in 1928 and 1936.
Learn more about the American Ski Jumping Hall of Fame at www.americanskijumping.com.
Source: WSJUSA
