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♪ 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.

Jiāyóu! 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.

Jiāyóu! You can do it!

- Are you ready? - Yes.

And then we go!

- Good night. - Wǎn'ān.

Yes!

- Good evening, wǎnshàng hǎo? - Yes!

- Jiāyóu laotie! - Heylautie?

Jiāyóu laotie!

- Jiāyóu laotie! - Yes!

Come on!

Jiāyóu 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.