Steamboat Pilot & Today

Few people know the travel schedule, competition level and pursuit of chasing a dream better than Kerry Lynch.

He finished 13th at the 1984 Winter Olympics and competed in Nordic combined until 1987.

Lynch, who has worked clo­­sely with the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club’s Nor­­­dic combined team since, now has seen his son Erik rise to the country’s Nordic combined B Team.

And the travel, competition and dream come with a hefty price tag.

“It costs about $35,000 a year to support one athlete,” Lynch said. “We’re doing the best we can to subsidize that effort.”

Lynch, who is the funding director for Nordic combined with the National Nordic Fund, is helping to host a Summer Jump and Wine Soiree on Friday and Saturday. Friday’s event is a social gathering at Yampa River Botanic Park that will be attended by all the top Nordic combined athletes. Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door. They can be purchased at http://summerjump-es2.eventbrite.com.

Saturday, however, is when the fun really starts at Howelsen Hill. It is there where ski jumping will combine with horse racing, so to speak.

Starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, attendees can pay money to pick who they think will win, place and show in a combination of two ski jumps. People also can pick a trifecta (predicting who will get first, second and third in the exact order) and an exacta (picking the top two in the exact order).

Each jumper will carry a different price. For example, Olympic medalist Todd Lodwick will cost more to bet on than B team member Michael Ward. To even out the competition itself, jumpers will start at different starting points in relation to their ability.

People who pick correctly will be eligible for prizes. There are different prize levels. Anyone who hits the trifecta will be placed in a better prize level than someone who simply picks the winner.

Some of the prizes include a five-night stay in Capital Reef, Utah, a Moab house weekend getaway for two, and a two-night hut trip in Aspen.

The Friday and Saturday events are all in the name of supporting today’s up-and-coming Nordic combined athletes.

While the members of the A team — Lodwick, Billy Demong, Johnny Spillane, Bryan Fletcher and Taylor Fletcher — are supported by the U.S. Ski Team, those on the B team and the National Training Group have to cover their own costs to compete.

“Depending on how much international travel, we’re looking at trying to help partially fund 15 athletes running around the world,” Lynch said. “It’s a challenge. We know what we’re doing on the training side, coaching side and athletic side. It’s mostly travel.”

To reach Luke Graham, call 970-871-4229 or email lgraham@SteamboatToday.com