SO FUN SEEING ALL THE NEW NAMES ON THE DONOR LIST… GREAT MEMORIES! ! OVER 30 FOLKS ARE IN THE HOUSE (see list of your friends to the right). ADD YOUR NAME TODAY. SUPPORT USANS- click here to donate now. Thanks to all the donors!
LYLE BOUCHER in perfect position on the Ironwood hill in 1963.
LYLE BOUCHER
Red Wing Junior Ski Club, Kingsford, MI (later became the Kiwanis Ski Club, Iron Mt. MI)
lyleboucher@outlook.com
Tapestry of Reveries
It was a warm Sunday for ski jumping – rivulets gouging the sidehill, bare spots in the middle of the landing, the parking lot a muddy mess. Spirits were high – it was going to be a great day.
Lacking current equipment, I had found a pair of skis but decided to forego the suit for an old pair of White Stags and a club sweater that smelled like moth balls. Probably going to hang ‘em up after this competition anyway.
After somehow resolving a problem with a broken binding at the top of the scaffold, the PA announcer could be heard: “Lyle Boucher is, by far, the oldest jumper ever to compete on a large hill.” (Actually, a month younger than my lifelong buddy, Paul Johnson.)
Paul had already gone down, and had a real beauty, putting him on the podium.
The inrun felt good, takeoff timing was spot-on. This was a good one, conjuring Gene Kotlarek in my minds eye. A couple of feet off the ground at the K-point, the flight continued through the transition, past the fall line, and floated over the outrun. There was plenty of time to think about a fine telemark, but strangely, landing was optional.
I felt a shaking feeling – it was my wife: “What’s the matter with you? Are you having a seizure?” Me, still in rigid flight position: “Be quiet, I’m having a long one.”
And then it resumed. People were saying that was a great ride, a good shot at winning the class. Me: “Naw, I proved what I set out to do. No second ride.” Then I woke up.
Every single retired ski jumper I’ve shared this with has had hauntingly similar experiences, many with variations or embellishments. The memories seem to stay with you for life, and only improve with age.
The stylish, long rides of rival and best buddy, Paul Johnson, shown above, still live with (and haunt!) Lyle.
MEN BEHIND THE MICS- Lyle, right, and Scott McGuire, left, handling the PA at the 2018 Pine Mountain Continental Cup (Iron Mountain, MI) .
CURATOR’S NOTE- Lyle gets to all the Central tournaments he can: Norge, Westby, Eau Claire, Pine Mountain, and has also gone to Saulpausselan Kisat in Lahti, Finland a number of times.
