Local Ski Jumper First To Qualify For 2018 Olympics

CARY, IL — The third time was the charm for veteran local ski jumper Michael Glasder, who qualified Sunday for his first Olympics after narrowly missing out on the previous two U.S. teams. The Cary resident, took the top spot at the winner-take-all trials in Park City, Utah in an upset victory over a fellow McHenry County jumper. He is the first member of a 112-year-old local skiing club to make it to Winter Games and could be joined by several more this year.

Glasder, 28, is nearly six years older than his fellow teammates. He qualified with a 98 meter jump in the first round and a 98.5 meter jump in the second.

"I stuck it out, worked hard and I can't wait for PyeongChang," he said.

The Lake Forest native competed after a flight back from Europe, which he suggested may have made the difference.

"I actually think that jet lag might have helped me out a little bit, because I was a little early this morning and nice and prepared, perfect," he said after his jump.

Four of the top five finishers at the event train at Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove.

The club was founded in 1905 by a group of Norwegian immigrants from Chicago and says its among the oldest continually operated skiing clubs in the country.

Glasder has been jumping there since the age of 4, according to the Daily Herald.

Glasder, the 2015 men's national champion, edged out fellow Norge member Kevin Bickner, 21, of Wauconda, by just 1.4 points.

Last year, Bickner had the best season on the world cup tour of any male U.S. ski jumper in more then 10 years, according to the U.S. Olympic Team. He posted the longest jump of the day with 100 meters.

Casey Larson, of Barrington, finished fourth and A.J. Brown, 22, of Fox River Grove, finished fifth.

Currently there are four spots each — the maximum possible — for American women and men, so more local ski jumpers could yet be named to the team when the final U.S. squad is announced Jan. 22. The 32nd Olympic Winter Games begin Feb. 9 in PyeongChang, South Korea.

If the team were finalized today, Bickner and Larson would also make the team. They're off to Europe for several weeks of competitions to amass more qualifying points, which are earned in world cup and continental cup events throughout the year.

Glasder said punching his ticket to the Olympics was a "huge relief" and he hopes to have his fellow Norge members alongside him next month.

“That would be so big for our club,” he told the Northwest Herald. “The club’s been around for over 100 years, and we’ve never had any Olympians yet. So to be able to have multiple Olympians in this upcoming games would be absolutely huge for the club.”

The U.S. won its only ski jumping medal at the 1924 Olympics.

Women's medals were first awarded at the 2014 games. USA Nordic estimates fewer than 800 people take part sport, but the inclusion of women has helped revive a sport that had seen participation decline, according to the Chicago Tribune.

.@MGlasder had the jumps to win the U.S. Olympic Ski Jumping Trials, sending him to the #WinterOlympics. #BestOfUS

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Michael Glasder celebrates after winning the men's ski jumping event and qualifying for the Olympic team at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Park City, Utah. | AP Photo | Rick Bowmer | Associated Press