American Lindsey Van has launched off ski jumps more than 20,000 times — often going the length of two football fields. In 2009, she became the first women’s world champion of ski jumping. But she didn’t compete in the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver to fulfill a life-long dream. It wasn’t because of scandal or drugs. It was because she’s a woman.

Ski jumping is the only discipline in the Summer and Winter Games in which the International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not allow women to compete. The women were told everything from “ski jumping is bad for women’s bodies from a medical point of view” to women’s ski jumping “lacks universality.”

In 2009, 15 brave women ski jumpers from all over the world stood up to the old-guard Olympic establishment and took their gender-discrimination case to the British Columbia Supreme Court, which — along with the BC Court of Appeal — ruled that the IOC was indeed discriminating against women purely because of their gender. The IOC still refused to let them jump in 2010, but the court’s position, overwhelming media attention and support from the global public resulted in significant progress toward women being added to the Sochi 2014 Games. But perhaps more importantly, these women and their supporters are making huge strides for equality in sport.

Despite all they’ve been through, these women still dream of being Olympians and they vow to continue to fight to be part of the biggest sporting stage in the world. The U.S. Women’s Ski Jumping Team, ranked second internationally, is asking for help in their journey to fulfill their dreams. Their story has been told and supported by countless media outlets and organizations such as the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Vancouver Sun, Wall Street Journal, London Times, Christian Science Monitor, ESPN, MSNBC, BBC, ABC Women’s Sports Foundation and National Organization for Women. (See stories at http://www.wsjusa.com). 

New York-based photographer Jamie Clyde heard their story and knew she wanted to help. Clyde artistically photographed members of the U.S. team and has organized and sponsored a special gallery auction and fundraiser for the team on Oct. 21, 2010 in Brooklyn, New York. The event is supported by Women’s Ski Jumping USA, a 501c3 foundation, based in Park City, Utah.

Money raised from the benefit will pay for the women’s coach, travel expenses for international competitions, training, equipment and junior developmental programs for young girls. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association doesn’t financially support the team.

This current fight for equality in sport is reminiscent of the women marathoners who struggled for years to participate in the Olympic Games. They too were told their bodies couldn’t handle the athletic stress. They too were told they weren’t ready. But they endured and won the right to compete for the first time in the marathon in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Summer Games. This precedent 25 years ago gives the women ski jumpers hope and helps them keep their own Olympic dreams alive.

WHAT: Join the Journey New York City, a benefit for the U.S. Women’s Ski Jumping Team

WHEN: 6-10 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 21

WHERE: The Dumbo Loft, 155 Water Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11201

WHY: Raise money to help the team continue to train and compete in preparation for the 2011 World Championships in Oslo, Norway and the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

FEATURES: Meet the members of the U.S. women's Ski jumping team; silent and live auction, open top shelf bar, gourmet samplings from NYC’s best restaurants, DJ and live music, and view trailer for film documentary on the jumpers - to be released fall of 2011.

EVENT MC: Comedian Amy Wasserman of the “Last Comic Standing”

COST: $250 per person – purchase online at http://www.wsjusa.com, beginning Sept. 1, 2010 or call 646-515-5204.

Sponsorship opportunities also available.

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View Original Post at womentalksports.com