Ski jumping kicks off Games

Right now there is a mixture of rain and snow falling at Whistler Olympic Park, yet most people are smiling -- especially the trio of Americans that qualified today in the normal hill competition finals on Saturday. The Yanks were lead by 17-year-old Peter Frenette of Saranac Lake, N.Y. in 30th, while Nick Alexander of Lebanon, N.H. tied for 35th and Anders Johnson of Park City, Ut tied for 40th place, allowing them all to move on tomorrow.

While 10 of the world's top ski jumpers were already pre-qualified, it was a day of high flying action. The sun broke through and a large crowd of spectators took in this event. Austria's wunderkind, 20-year-old Gregor Schlierenzauer -- who won both events here last year -- wowed the crowd with a new hill record of a stunning 107 meters. He has already won 32 World Cup events in the last Olympic cycle. It is likely a huge battle awaits the Austrian with the current World Cup leader, Simon Ammann (SUI). They have won 31 of the 47 individual events on the World Cup circuit since the start of the 2008-09 season.

No Canadians qualified to for Saturday's medal event.

Thomas Morgenstern (AUT) has shown great poise and smooth jumping on the hill, as well as legendary German jumper Martin Schmitt, who has looked equally comfortable and stylish. Schmitt quipped after the event, "I think I can make friends with this hill."

Nordic Combined training is going on now and Ronny Herr (SUI), one of the top Swiss combiners, echoed Schmitt's comments. "I like this hill very much... the rhythm of the in-run is very good," he commented.

The normal hill jumping event tomorrow will produce the Games' first gold medal.