Tom Asher from Great Britain is a household name in European jump. Over the last two seasons he has been sitting at the top of European Raking List. His performances belong to the world´s best. His PB has the value of 69,5m and there is a realistic chance for him to break the 70m-mark. And maybe even attacking the European record that is set at 71,5m by J. Seels. (On May the 1st Bojan Schipner (GER) set a new European Jump Record of 71,9m, as of now not yet confirmed by the European Federation).
At US Masters in 2010 he jumped 69,5m in the finals, but his road to victory was blocked by a legend of last decade Freddy Krueger (USA). Tom has broken the 69m-distance multiple times more.
Tom has a bit of bad luck also. At the Europeans he has been able to collect a couple of medals, but there is still this bit missing towards the triumph. In the year of 2012 this margin was mere 20 centimeters. And so the European Champion titles have been awarded to mainly his team colleagues – J. Seels, D. Sharman, S. Critchley. This title has managed to escape Tom´s fingertips so far.
However, who would not like to win the gold? Tom would surely deserve this success very much and many people certainly wish him to accomplish this goal. So why could this not happen just at the 2014 Europeans in Melice, Czech Republic?
Are you all right after a bad fall that you took early this year in Mandurah, Australia?
Yes, I am okay, the fall was not the worst part of the crash, hitting the ramp on my butt was the nasty part. I felt I dealt with the crash pretty well, but recovery has been longer than I thought.
You are not a type of jumper who crashes very often. What was the cause of your fall?
I had been jumping well in practice leading up to the event, I got little more into the course than I liked, but after watching the other jumpers go okay I decided to hang on from that spot. When I came over the wakes I hit a couple of swells that had moved down the estuary and got pushed onto my heals. After that I lost control and ended up in the position I did.
What or whom do you picture if I say the Czech Republic?
I have been to Czech before and enjoyed my time over there. The beer is an obvious one. The people are very nice and also the old buildings in and around Prague are amazing. The yellow ski jump is a little different to…
Are you planning to attend the Europeans in the Czech Republic and how stoked are you about it?
I will be planning to attend the Europeans in the Czech Republic. The events are always well run over there and the new site looks great. I’ll be training hard to put on a good performance
Will there be any special training for this event from your part?
I will train the same as normal and hope that will keep me in good stead for the Europeans. We have a great base in the USA and also the UK to train. We’ll most likely come back in the middle of August to get ready in the UK at Hazelwood Ski World prior to heading over to Czech
Is it realistic for you to break the European record in jumps? (On May the 1st Bojan Schipner (GER) set a new European Jump Record of 71,9m, as of now not yet confirmed by the European Federation).
Given the right conditions and right boat/driver anything is possible. The record is getting pushed further and further. Now we have to jump over 72m to break the record which is huge.
What feelings do you experience when jumping and what do these mean to you?
I have had a couple of nasty crashes and some injuries from jumping which would normally cast doubt in the mind to go out again, but I just love to get up in the air and fly. Its such an exhilarating feeling to jump. When it all goes well the flight can feel incredible. When it goes wrong, a jump crash is probably the scariest feeling in the world. Being scared is nothing to run away from though and I will always try to get back and enjoy the sensation of flight
Is it possible that you will compete also in overall?
Could be possible………
What would you like us to tell the spectators who are planning to attend the Europeans in Czech?
Have a good time and make some noise, especially for the Brits!
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What or whom do you picture if I say the Czech Republic?
