3 Norge Ski Jumpers Headed To Olympics

The Bickner family had a lot going on the day their neighbor called to see if they wanted to join her at a ski jumping tournament at the Norge Ski Club. The family ultimately decided to check it out and was surprised to see kids jumping at the tournament, Maureen Bickner told the Northwest Herald.

Their teenage son, Kevin Bickner started jumping shortly after that tournament, according to the Nortwhest Herald.

Now, the 21-year-old from Wauconcda is among two other Norge Ski Club members to make the U.S. Olympics ski jump team. Bickner earned his spot on the men's four-person team after winning the team trials in Utah on Dec. 31. Now, Corey Larson, 19, of Barrington and Cary's Michael Glasder have also been selected to join the ranks of Olympians.

The group is currently in Slovenia sharing a team apartment and will be competing prior to their debut in Pyeongchang, South Korea, according to the Northwest Herald. Olympics jumping competitions starts on Feb. 8.

The athletes will not make an appearance at this weekend's ski jumping competition at the Norge Ski Club.

Photo caption: Kevin Bickner of the U.S. soars through the air during his first trial jump at the Ski Flying World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Photo credit: AP Photo/Matthias Schrader