Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards has made his return to the ski jumping world before the movie of his life is released in a few weeks’ time – alongside five winners of the “Jump With Eddie” competition organised by Alp Leisure Ltd which is also raising money for Ski 4 Cancer.
During the week, competition winners Alexandra Stubbs, Max Willcocks, Andrew Marshall, Donald Banks and Mark Black received coaching from members of the French National Team and Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards while Eddie himself reached his target goal of launching off the 90m Olympic jump for the first time in over 20 years.
Declared the “Unofficial British Ski Jumping Championships” by organisers Chris and Lucie Learoyd of Alp Leisure Ltd, the week-long ski jumping course culminated in an informal competition with all five of the first-time amateur ski jumpers, along with Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards and nine-year-old Louis Learoyd, all managing to launch off the Olympic jump at the site used for the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville.
The five participants had won prizes of two week-long visits to Courchevel, the first for a week of training during October with Eddie “The Eagle” and then returning for the second week during the winter to jump as far as they could go.
Although they all completed both weeks without injury, it was not without apprehension they stood high up on the huge Nordic ski jumps for the first time.
Alexandra Stubbs, whose 50th birthday fell during the second week of jumping, said, “It’s been a massive privilege and unforgettable experience, but launching myself off the precarious perch at the top of the 60m jump and hurtling down the rails at 80.5kph into the unknown blew some fuses in my brain. I took a few tumbles in training which dented my limited confidence, but I’m super proud to have landed a jump for the ladies at our unofficial British championships.”
The second week of intense training by French team coaches and Chris Learoyd (Assistant Coach), with Eddie “The Eagle” on hand to help, concluded on the final day when the “Unofficial British Ski Jumping Championships” took place and the winners successfully launched themselves into the air alongside Eddie “The Eagle” and nine-year-old Louis Learoyd. Special guest, British Team number-one ski cross skier, Emily Sarsfield, presented the prizes at the end of the contest.
Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards was presented with his medal and, in the spirit of the event, immediately gave it away to a nearby toddler saying, “Crikey, this is my first-ever podium.”
“The competition winners have been incredible, and their bravery throughout the training has been a credit to them, all for a fantastic cause which is the charity Ski 4 Cancer and in memory of my sister-in-law, Helen Learoyd,” said Chris Learoyd.
“I’ve had a lot fun ski jumping in Courchevel and helping to introduce people to the sport and helping to raise awareness for the charity Ski 4 Cancer. It’s great to see youngsters like Louis Learoyd taking up the sport and doing so well – hopefully I’ll be back again next year to help others get into the sport,” said Eddie.
