On Wednesday, January 20, USSA announced the members of the US Olympic Ski Jumping Team and, sadly, Mike Glasder was not among them. Based on a quota system using World Cup results the US was only allowed three spots, and Mike’s results put him in a very close fourth place. 

There is a slight possibility that an additional spot could become available depending on how other countries fill their spots. While we don’t wish any athlete poorly, we won’t hide our hope that a coveted fourth spot finds a way to the US. 

Mike has devoted the past year and a half to ski jumping after graduating high school and his commitment to his sport should serve as a model for us all. Mike started ski jumping fifteen years ago, at the age of five, and his success is truly a product of both the Norge Ski Club and the Norge Ski Training Center. 

CMSC has been proud to play a part in supporting Mike’s efforts, and we’ve been excited to turn the support of his cause into our cause. CMSC’s raffle to raise funds to support Mike’s training continues, with the winning tickets being drawn on Sunday, January 31, at Norge Ski Club, following Norge’s Winter Ski Jumping Tournament. One hundred percent of the raffle ticket sales will go to help Mike with the expenses encountered in Mike’s quest for Vancouver.

Fox River Grove, Illinois is just about as far away as one can possibly get from mountain ranges and towering ski jumps. We're talking about an area where the local ski "mountains" have elevations of 300 feet.  From this unlikely area has emerged a contender for the U.S.A. Olympic Ski Jumping Team - Mike Glasder. Mike is a long time member of the Norge Ski Club, the oldest continually operating ski club in the country, and one that's geared towards ski jumping.  So much so, that they have their own ski jump area, featuring five different jumping hills - including a 70 meter jumping tower!
	Enter 20 year old Mike Glasder, from Cary, IL. Mike was introduced to ski jumping through the Norge Ski Club at the age of 5, and knew almost immediately he wanted to shoot for the Olympics (Ski jumping is the oldest winter Olympic sport.) Mike's goal is now a possibility, and we're helping Mike gather support any way we can, from direct financial backing to fundraisers. More importantly, we would like to find others willing to help Mike get to Vancouver in 2010. So, why exactly does Mike need assistance? The USA offers virtually zero support for Olympic hopefuls. What little support there was came from the U.S. Ski Team, and they have abolished funding for ski jumping. This means that the contenders have to pay 100% of their expenses, and they often come up short.  Ski jumping is expensive, as are the associated entry fees, competitions, transportation, lodging - you name it! We'd love to see Mike represent the USA in Vancouver - and you can help! Donate money, airline miles or flights.  Come on, the poor guy has to drive cross-country just to save a few bucks!

On these pages you'll find links to Mike's Bio, personal website, a PayPal donation link and information on the CMSC Ski Show Auction (proceeds will be donated to Mike.)  It's never too late - Olympic tryouts are up until a few weeks before the Olympics.