Hatching Eagles (2024)

[bunniefuu]

Flying above the sun,

Flying above the sun

Flying above the sun,

Flying above the sun

In November 2018,

30 Chinese teenagers

athletic-looking young people

arrive in Kuopio, Finland

selected from among thousands

even ten thousand

to establish a new

ski jumping culture

with the goal of

competing in the 2022 Olympics.

There is confusion all around.

Uncertainty and fear

among athletes

and trustful faith

and passion among coaches

to make the impossible possible.

We have a great young group.

A totally unique project.

We have 30 athletically

talented young people

girls and boys.

We have chosen them

but they are starting at the age

where no one starts this sport.

They don't know anything

about snow, sliding on skis

or skis in general.

We have a theory

that it takes 10,000 hours

to build excellence.

For the Beijing Olympics

using all available time

we might have 7,000 hours.

Eyes up.

The belief of a madman

is within.

The 10,000-hour rule is a theory

yet there's always room

for improvement in everything.

That's the name of the

game in sports.

You can do it

smarter and better.

It's not rocket science.

Eyes up.

Poles down. Poles back.

Yes, and now go.

Talented young people

on skis for the first time

a one-meter slide

is very challenging.

A small hill, going down

a few meters

in a distance of 20 meters,

can't stay upright.

It's natural when

you're on slippery

surfaces for the first time.

Everyone realizes

when they have been

on skis or ice

for the first time

that this is difficult.

Now we try to make this a joy.

Joy, that falling is joy.

Living on skis is joy.

There's no pressure to succeed.

This is turned into

a snow game for little children

where we are on skis

as much as possible.

We laugh at failures, for they

are part of every project.

It's permissible to fail.

The most important thing is to

bravely dive into the task.

Of course, we celebrate

the small successes.

We're trying to create

an atmosphere

where I constantly

push myself a little bit,

let go

and try to make this

thing second nature.

I don't constantly

think about what I'm doing

instead, I enjoy what I'm doing

and transfer the

feeling of being

on snow to the

level of instinct.

This starts off brilliantly.

In just a few hours,

we achieve incredible progress.

Very good!

An athlete who has reached

the top through the usual path

has grown into it

one step at a time.

Now, we're talking about

starting a new sport

without any

background knowledge,

something unfamiliar to them.

It's a bit like taking

a leap into the unknown.

Athletes require a

great deal of faith

trust, and courage

because they lack

the cultural background

and previous

experience in the sport.

As we grow older,

we tend to think more.

Youth means diving in

and learning how to fly.

Now we're dealing

with athletes who are of an age

where they surely wonder

what might happen to them.

When you start young,

from the smallest hills

it's a different story.

The biggest challenge is time.

There's no room for

slowdowns or injuries.

Perfection is key to

reaching our goals.

Good try!

The athletes need to have

faith in what they are doing.

That faith can really be tested

when you're under

intense training.

You progress to bigger hills,

there are falls and injuries

and you always have

to come back

and overcome yourself

every single time.

Now, show me

Show me this.

Ok, down

And go!

Wow!

Come on! Yes!

Knowing the background

how the aim is to

make a beginner

into an Olympian in three years

from people who

have never seen snow.

It was clear that in a way

this is an utterly

absurd project

but it's incredible

to be part of it.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime

opportunity.

Such opportunities don't

come to professional coaches

perhaps once,

but usually never in a lifetime.

What kind of task lies ahead?

You have the best athletes

from across the globe

presumably for this sport.

Three years,

immense expectations.

Everything contributes to

the progress of these athletes.

And the resources

are in line with that.

It does make you wonder

if your own expertise is enough.

Absolutely crazy beginning.

Maximum running 20 meters.

Go, go, go!

You can go.

In ski jumping, you can only

progress by

increasing the hill size

one step at a time.

Consistency is key

before tackling a bigger hill.

No chance of going straight

to the biggest one.

You have to go

one step at a time.

Descending the

landing hill is the first thing

when moving to a bigger hill

to get a feel for the speed

and the forces.

Then you go to the tower

and once more,

you must exceed your limits.

It measures the

ability to let go

trust in the team,

trust in oneself

and then you have to go

helmet first out from the table.

Just go and do it.

Play with the skis.

Good Sally, good!

The focus of the

training sessions

is to achieve a sense of joy

to bring forth life and

encouragement.

There's a vibe that makes it

enjoyable to dive into.

It is designed

to ramp up as skills grow.

However,

considering the time constraint

we need to be faster than usual.

Incredibly fast

compared to tradition

but still sensing

every day how it's going.

The sense of joy, success

and the accompanying

feeling of failure as a group

that's the key in this

learning process.

I once coached

a legend named Noriaki Kasai

who at the age of 42 won two

medals in the Sochi Olympics.

At 30, his career was

uncertain in direction.

When asked why he won

those Olympic medals at that age

it was because he discovered

joy in ski jumping.

The athletes' average

age is 14-15 years.

Normally,

the opportunity to become

a ski jumper passed 5 years ago.

Perhaps a European youngster

starts jumping at 7-8 years old

even earlier in some cases,

and a bit later in others.

The idea of

teaching teenagers is

traditionally

considered impossible.

But of course, it should

be noted that from the beginning

we have experienced

professional coaches

who can distinguish

between small and big issues.

What is crucial and what is not.

It shifts constantly

with progress.

On the other hand

it means that we

have the resources in place,

including time resources.

Even though the athletes

attend school to study English

it's not to the same extent

as a normal student.

We try to provide

diverse learning opportunities.

Chinese and culture, but

primarily focusing on English

and of course, exploring

cultures around the world

and studying

performance enhancement,

which is important

for a young athlete's progress.

All of that also

provides us with a lot of time.

We can practice twice daily.

Our training time

is 5-6 hours per day.

This might make it possible

to successfully start

ski jumping at this stage.

The joy and enthusiasm

has to be present daily.

It's there at breakfast.

It's there until

the late afternoon.

However, it's crucial

that it's present at the hill.

It is important to

progress quickly but sensibly.

Always sensibly.

It's progress as a team

and as an individual.

In the first months, we fall

more than we stay upright.

As I understand it, the

mental ability to do what I want

by jumping into emptiness

that's what separates

the wheat from the chaff, truly.

Fundamentally, it requires

a desire for the challenge.

In fear, in uncertainty

a desire for the challenge,

the ability to go beyond it.

If it's not there,

and that ability doesn't wake up

then you don't

have the potential

for the ski jumper's path.

Definitely don't do that.

This is the first

and most important

thing that we have

been training for.

Don't bend your

knees during the flight

because skis are turning down.

Lock your knees

so that you really push.

Push, push.

Ok, next. Let's go.

Good Jerry, you can go.

Carl, you can go.

Everybody can go.

Ok guys,

let's make a good round.

Yep!

That's the way!

Can't move?

So we need

to take her to the doctor today.

Don't

For this reason,

we have to teach

them how to slide correctly.

You can't slide like that.

It could be that one time you

do it wrong, and it ends there.

Is it ok?

Hurts.

She is hurt.

Mika, Emily

She has a little pain.

She is a tough girl.

Others can hurt themselves,

but this girl is tough.

Selena, step by step.

Your philosophy.

Selena.

It's not...

It's not important

how you're doing now.

It is important to have

a good attitude for training.

That's important.

Long way to go.

Ok?

Many different types of

injuries have occurred.

Some are more

severe than others.

If an athlete sustains

a major injury

that might take up to six months

before they can

return to ski jumping

then we need to consider

the limited timeframe.

We can't wait for

the athlete to fully recover.

Instead,

they are sent back to China

due to insufficient time

for rehabilitation.

There are strong

emotions in these matters.

Questions like whether this is

the type of injury that forces

the athlete to be sidelined.

The athlete is wondering

if it's all now over.

A lot of sorrow and tears

various emotions.

For some, it has been more

challenging to

return to the hill.

It's clear to see they

are anxious and scared

wondering if they

might fall again.

Fatigue is also evident.

It's not always easy and fun.

If we have a break in between

the athlete dashes off to sleep

thinking "I get to

sleep for 20 minutes"

just this physical exhaustion.

As a physiotherapist

on this project

it hasn't been just about

treating physical injuries

but also playing

a supportive role.

Athletes often come to

discuss mental issues.

If there are problems

at home or elsewhere.

A physical injury

isn't required to seek my help.

The support role is very

pleasant and important to me.

Even though the young athletes

are far from home

we have a community

and family here

that we have formed.

We are one team, one family

we are always together.

It's comforting

and it's lovely

to be part of that family.

Good!

Perfect!

Bravo!

Exciting!

I think when it is a fun day

I get to go outside

and I am happier.

Because this is not training.

I'm so excited

to get to do this!

Is this really not training?

They're children in a foreign

culture, with unfamiliar food

somewhat isolated,

with only one goal.

However, it's crucial that

alongside that intense training

there are human

qualities involved

so that moments of togetherness

can be experienced

to establish a connection

between cultures

share information

and make it interesting

in a cheerful manner.

This is important,

and we have a great team.

Have fun!

Who is swimming there?

Yesterday I saw your jumps

and I was very impressed.

It was a great training.

Let's try to do same kind

of atmosphere and attitude.

It was great to watch.

From the boys we can see

that when they are coming down

they are losing their balance

and they're losing

their attitude.

They are getting a bit soft,

and that's why they fall.

But you can do it today better.

Concentration from

the beginning until the end.

Until the speed is off.

Then the jump has

been done succesfully.

Yep!

Yes!

Good Emily!

Thank you.

I think,

I don't like the winter,

because I don't

feel my teeth.

My English is poor.

You only learn to

compete by competing.

Training and competition follow

distinct rhythms and schedules.

In practice, you go and repeat.

In competition,

you have few chances to perform.

When you pin the

number to your chest

and transition from

practice to competition

there are a lot more

variables involved.

Now I'm very

nervous.

My heart is

pounding.

I try my best

power.

The level achieved in practice

tends to drop a

bit in competition.

But only by competing

do you learn to compete.

At some point, you reach a level

where you perform better

in competition than in practice.

That's when you achieve success.

I'm thinking of

stretching for a while.

Today, I'm going to

achieve a good performance.

I'm nervous, and there are

various emotions inside me.

A lot of passion

for ski jumping.

The most important thing for me

in starting ski jumping

has been the growth of courage.

My understanding of this sport

is that, trying it is essential.

Only then will I know

if I can do it or not.

Yeah.

Philip, your bib.

Next one is Jonathan, 84.

Zu Haulan?

- Xu Haoran!

- Zu Haulan?

- Xu, Xu, Xu!

- Xu?

- Haoran!

- Haoran?

This is too difficult for me

Jimmy!

Zhou Xiaoyang!

- Zhou Xiaoyang?

- Yes!

The goal is that we develop

into competitive athletes.

Wearing a number on

your chest is one part of this.

We get used to competing.

Typically it takes 10 years

to become a competitive athlete.

We don't have ten years.

We have just a few.

In the first winter

we join junior competitions.

We have our own competitions.

We participate in

small hill competitions.

Already in the first winter

we notice significant talent.

Performance is rough

regardless of hill size.

It is unpolished,

nothing is under control

but there is potential visible.

As a result of the experience

of competing, little by little

an understanding

of what competition is

how it's evaluated,

what's good, what's bad

it all starts to become clearer.

Also dealing with

initial non-existent results

thinking "I was good,

I have potential in this."

Gradually, we also learn what

the routine of competing is

and what it means from

a preparation perspective

and from a

concentration perspective.

The mind is one

challenge because

everything happens quickly.

If you don't understand

the challenge of concentration

then when you

should be at your

best, you are often

at your worst.

Well, it wasn't my best jump.

Next time I will do better.

The number of jumps is crucial.

If you have such talented

athletes like this Chinese team

who have the

potential for anything

the most important thing is

still the number of repetitions.

From a coaching perspective

it's equally

rewarding to witness

their remarkable development

and self-improvement,

moving to the next level.

It is just as rewarding

as being in the World Cup

achieving success

with the athletes.

The feeling when you achieve

success with these athletes

is just as strong.

Jiyu! Go for it!

We're flying in the sky.

That's so amazing!

Sophia, this is fun.

Yes, just like that.

Turn sideways.

Sideways!

You know how to be on skis.

Stay sideways. Like this.

Stay.

I will turn you.

Sophia.

Everything is good.

Ok, now we can turn.

Jiyu! You can do it!

- Are you ready?

- Yes.

And then we go!

- Good night.

- Wn'n.

Yes!

- Good evening, wnshng h*?

- Yes!

- Jiyu laotie!

- Heylautie?

Jiyu laotie!

- Jiyu laotie!

- Yes!

Come on!

Jiyu laotie.

All sprite and one coke,

let's go.

Tomorrow morning!

Yes, tomorrow morning!

I believe that the

project plan states

that no one jumps

more than our athletes.

I need to spend as little

time as possible in the gym

so that the system has more

time to develop in the hill.

The goal is, of course, to

maintain and if possible,

improve.

Contrary to the

usual way of thinking.

You need to be

able to develop with

as little work and

time as possible.

A somewhat absurd idea.

Everything else is ready

except that they

don't know how to ski jump.

That's why time spent on

the hill is absolutely crucial.

Everyone knows that there

is background pressure.

Our actions are being monitored,

and videos are

constantly recorded.

I also feel that I

need to ask for more.

Demand more.

Raise the standards.

Train more.

Yes!

Up!

Yes! That was better.

Even train to the point where

people start to break down.

It feels like there's

so much pressure

that satisfaction

is achieved when

athletes start to

break down a bit.

One more! Come on, up!

I don't cross that line.

I don't want to go to the point

where we push so hard that we

consciously break the athletes

but rather stay just

below that level.

One, two, three, Team China!

Push the plate.

Push the plate and

keep the knee front.

Head is there.

That's good. Good idea.

A bit higher.

There. Relax.

Relax. This is ok.

Try to do it perfectly.

Let me help.

Ok, relax there.

Long neck, there.

And then,

we know that Jimmy is tense

so we want to be

very careful with that.

Little bit loose

in this direction.

You can come here Emily.

Too loose.

Now it's good.

Now it's good.

This is good Emily.

Ok, good.

Good Crystal,

releasing the handbrake.

Here, when you

start the movement it's ok

but you are very controlled.

We know that you

have extraordinary legs.

We would like to see

you using those legs.

See, she's doing it

better and better.

Next time Crystal, Matti

can take you with one hand.

One hand.

And the target is to lift

with two fingers.

- Ok?

- Ok.

Flying above the sun,

Flying above the sun

Flying above the sun,

Flying above the sun

Flying above the sun,

Flying above the sun

Flying above the sun,

Flying above the sun

Flying above the sun,

Flying above the sun

Can't see myself,

Can't see no one

I'll wait till the dawn

I'll wait till the dawn

Flying above the sun,

Flying above the sun

Can't see myself,

Can't see no one

The feeling of flying

how flying is done,

is a challenging process.

Flying is done for a few seconds

on a large hill

maybe for five seconds

it's very brief.

There's also fear involved

because uncertainty and

fear are present in everyone.

It's an unknown territory.

Learning it requires time.

It is not possible for anyone

quickly. You can read books

and think about how it's done

but the feeling is

most important.

You get a feeling that you

understand what is

being sought here.

Then you slowly start to

feel that you are in control.

You can adapt to it

and mimic the flight position

and the feeling of flight.

You reach a level

of automation with the forces

and play with the

counterforce and lifting power.

Everything happens so quickly

that it cannot be conscious.

If it's conscious,

you're always late.

Without a wind tunnel,

it's impossible to learn to fly

at the level required to compete

in the Olympics

in this timeframe.

Another cornerstone of

technology is a laboratory

in the University

of Eastern Finland,

Department of Technical Physics

where a system

continuously monitors

how pressure is

distributed on the sole

of the foot during

the gliding position.

If there are lateral forces, or

rotational forces

under the feet.

What kind of force the

movement pattern produces.

This is related

to visual learning.

It's also learning as a coach,

how the various

parameters of the athlete are.

We get a model for our coaching,

what things we

need to take care of

and our athletes

learn to understand

that there are

important factors here

and understand what

we are aiming for in this.

Now these arrows here

these two should

be directly upwards.

If the arrows are slanted

then in the in-run you are

all the time pushing out.

Relaxation is the

most important thing.

Go a bit to the left side

so that the length of the

arrows is exactly the same.

One more time.

Looks good.

This is very, very good.

We got to go to training

camps in Planica

and in Villach. Nearby on

the Austrian side

is probably the toughest

FIS Cup that is held annually.

And we are participating in it.

Our dream is that

one of our boys

would be in the second round.

Then our Jimmy-boy makes

his way into the final twice.

Around twentieth place.

That was the next big step.

Now we had 15 nations

around us.

It wasn't just the Chinese,

there were 15 nations.

With a year and a

half of experience,

someone competes in the final

and when you

compete in the final

there isn't a big leap

to go forward anymore.

If you can take a few

more steps forward

then you are

already in the top ten

and soon fighting for medals.

It gave the coaches

a lot of confidence

that we have

top-notch individuals

and based on this,

we are on the right track.

International, successful

coaches approached us asking

"What's happening here?

You're breaking

the modern understanding

of the speed of

development in ski jumping.

Is it really true

that they've only

been training for

a year and a half

and are competing

in the FIS Cup?"

This was our crazy

starting point for this project

which we enjoyed.

When I'm pushing down,

the upper body goes up.

This is the tension.

Toes up! This is not up.

This is very important,

that the toes are here.

Andrew!

Relax.

Now, this is the tension.

Toes up all the time!

You take Sean with you

and then nighttime

you train that.

While we are challenging

the understanding

of how quickly one can develop

we must also consider that our

number of jumps

is quite impressive.

The typical European

understanding

of how many jumps one

can make in a year is 500-700.

We have roughly

50 jumps per week

which translates to

about 200 jumps per month

which means around

2000 jumps per year.

It's 3-4 times more than

normal standards.

As we progressed from

Hill Size 4 to Hill Size 30

the number of jumps was

dozens per day.

300-400 jumps per week.

The typical

understanding is that

when tired,

mental focus is disrupted

and the quantity

cannot be increased.

But when challenges

are kept appropriate

and joy and enthusiasm

with the snow, self-challenge

and delight are present, then

you can increase the quantity.

Succeeding in that

was one of the secrets

behind this remarkable

development.

In winter 2020 people started

talking about Covid.

This caused uncertainty for us.

Then China ordered

all athletes to return.

In that situation,

explanations didn't help much.

We went there for a few months.

However, we remained in China

for a continuous 8 months.

Athletes' development

remains remarkable.

It culminates in our

best athlete, Jasper

getting to be in Tchaikovsky,

Russia, with the world's best

ranking, fifth among

the world's elite;

which indicates that at our best

we are truly somewhere now.

In our opinion we

are on the right track.

We believe that we need to

continue with the same mindset.

I had thought

that training would

gradually become lighter now,

so that we can

start preparing for

peak performance

towards the Olympics.

It was four months until

the Olympics from that point.

We receive various suggestions

on how to proceed.

I have entered

the project with the

idea that this is

largely in my hands

and I create its content,

and we take care of it.

At that point,

for some reason unknown to me,

the Chinese side took the

project into their own hands.

It was a shock to

all of us because

this was more than just a job.

It was much more.

It was a passion

to do something historical,

to show that in the world

there are theories,

but everything can

still be questioned,

there's nothing set in stone,

black and white.

I'm referring to the idea

of achieving excellence

through 10,000

hours of practice.

We wanted to challenge that

and committed ourselves

to it wholeheartedly.

It was more of an incredible

life experience for us.

Trying to understand things,

encountering a

different culture.

Making the most of them.

At the same time,

getting experiences

that shake you to the core.

At the end,

six of our project's athletes,

two girls and four boys,

competed in the Olympics.

That was the Chinese team.

There were no others.

Surely the entire coaching team

is proud that they've been able

to turn a zero-level athlete

into an Olympic-level

athlete in three years.

It's truly quite unique.

One athlete, wearing a boot, put

the ski upside

down on the ground

and wondered where

to put the boot.

Recalling the beginning, it's a

pretty incredible achievement.

Three years' time.

From flatland to the large hill

at the Beijing Olympics.

An incredible journey.

Even though this ended

in a way that we couldn't try

what the results were leading to

sports is still sports,

and experiences are experiences.

We are completely convinced

that when our athletes look back

on the years

in this project,

they'll get goosebumps.

They are so thrilled and happy

about the experiences we had.

It relates to all of us.

I was momentarily

extremely disappointed,

but afterwards, extremely happy

that I got to experience this.