LEAP OF FAITH

Today our group traveled to the Bergisel Ski Jump in Innsbruck, Austria. This ski jump has hosted three Winter Olympics in 1964, 1976, and 2002.

As we learned about the strategies, improvisation and fatigue this sport requires, I was reminded of what the College of Business teaches their students.

When ski jumpers practice, they can only handle about five runs consecutively. This safety limitation is implemented due to the stress and fatigue these skiers’ minds and bodies go through during the practice season. The precision and intensity each practice run demands is very intense. In business, intense and precise work, along with hours of practice, are required for success.

Regarding strategy, these skiers spend many hours with their coaches, learning the best techniques in order to fly the farthest. Similarly, in business, mentors are important because they help an employee attain the next level of success by teaching them with their past knowledge and experiences.  

During the ski jumping offseason, it was once impossible for competitors to practice. Now, innovations have allowed skiers to practice year-round. These have now replaced snow with plastic, creating similar results to snow and allowing the skiers to practice all year long. Similar to the business world, many challenges and obstacles will come along. But innovation, flexibility and improvisation may set individuals apart from others and help them stand out with these fresh ideas and development.

I am a huge sports fan and advocate and I really enjoyed learning more about the sport of ski jumping as well as visit the practice facility. Without traveling abroad with ECU, I doubt I would have ever had the opportunity to experience this location, facility, or sport.

-by Caleb Beard, senior from Hickory majoring in business management
June 6, 2018

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