You may never guess it by looking at the outside of a brick building in Lake Placid, but behind its walls, some are training to reach Olympic glory in ski jumping. Ski jumpers take pride in the thrill-seeking competition, and it is an exclusive team, with only six ski jumpers going to Milan Corti na from the States: two from Utah, two from Colorado, one from Illinois and one from New York. Ski jumpers took flight in Lake Placid’s first Winter Olympics, and it was one of the most attended events in 1932. The rush in the event and thrill of seeing the athletes cross large distances draws in the attention of even the casual Winter Olympics viewer as well. “I think that’s what keeps people in the sport, it’s kind of an addictive feeling,” Colin Delaney, head ski jumping coach for the New York Ski Educational Foundation, said. “And then the feeling of weightlessness in the air is pretty indescribable. You’re looking out more than you’re looking down.” Delaney, a Lake Placid native, grew up around the towers known for helping propel ski jumpers into the air, which he claims served as a motivator for nearby athletes. The towers in Lake Placid are the tallest structures between Montreal and Albany, thanks to the facility used for the 1980 Winter Games. Ski jumping isn’t as simple as going down the hill and hitting your landing spot. These days, teams are also focused on perfecting their aerodynamics. Some teams travel with sewing kits and tailors in hopes of gaining an upper hand. “Having a better suit is a big, big advantage. It is kind of a make or break in a lot of ways,” one of the trainees in Lake Placid told NBC New York. Lake Placid, now known as a training place for ski jumpers, is also home to Tate Frantz, a native who qualified for Team USA’s Olympic team. Delaney worked with Frantz, who is his first student to qualify for the Olympics. “This is the first time an athlete I coached at a young age has qualified for a team,” Delaney said. “Any 6 to 10-year-old kid getting into this sport, the dream is the Olympics. Seeing that dream realized is very, very gratifying.” ...read more read less