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If you’ve ever seen an aerial skier perform, you know just how mind-blowing their stunts can be. But you’ve likely witnessed a few of them take a tumble as well. While their jumps are awe-inspiring, the precision required means that even the smallest misstep can lead to a fall.
Considering these athletes can soar as high as 60 feet and land on a slope with a 37-degree incline, attempting a new trick without proper preparation could be dangerous. That’s why there’s one unexpected piece of gear you’ll need if you want to train for aerial skiing: a towel.
Rather than honing their flips and spins over snow, aerial skiers practice their tricks on ramps that send them soaring above large pools of water. The U.S. national team utilizes facilities in Park City, Utah, and Lake Placid, New York, which feature specially designed pools. These pools have aerated sections that reduce surface tension, making the landings a little gentler for the athletes.
If you're planning to become an aerial skier, be ready to get quite soaked. Newcomers must complete at least 200 successful jumps into water before they’re allowed to attempt snow jumps, and those jumps need to be approved by coaches to progress.
This level of detailed preparation doesn’t stop once you reach the top. Ashley Caldwell, a top American athlete, is competing in her third Olympics in Pyeongchang. However, she didn’t make it past the qualifiers on February 15 after failing to land either of her two triple-flipping jumps. Still, it’s this very bold approach that has propelled her to success, even if it’s caused friction with several coaches over the years.
"Why win with less when you can win with more?" Caldwell said, describing her competitive mindset. “I don’t want to go out there and show the world my easiest trick. I want to show the world my best trick, putting everything on the line to be the best.”
Check out some of Team USA's impressive moves in the video below:
