Deedee Corradini, president of Women's Ski Jumping-USA, and Park City ski jumpers Lindsey Van and Jessica Jerome still haven't quite gotten over their visit last week to the British Columbia Court of Appeals.

Four words from the court -- Appellants' case is dismissed -- have left them in a state of shock.

A three-judge panel, led by Justice Anne Rowles, unanimously denied the Utahns' bid to overturn a July decision against bringing women's ski jumping into the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Despite the decision, Corradini says the fight will go on.

"I'm still in a state of shock and somewhat numb because we were so optimistic," Corradini said. "But we have to keep going to support these women. They earned it. They deserved it and it's just wrong."

Written reasons for the decision will be published sometime this week, and that's when Corradini plans on figuring out the organization's next move.

"When we get the reasons, we will discuss options moving forward," Corradini said. "But we are not giving up until these women are in the Olympics."

Although Park City ski jumper Abby Hughes was optimistic, she had a feeling there would be bad news over the weekend.

With the Olympics just three months away, she knew the chances for her sport to get in were slim.

"I was bummed I was right," Hughes said. "We had a good case. We had good arguments. It sucks that they're blind to that."

Hughes said she and

Advertisement
her teammates will continue as usual in their sport.

"We're still going to compete and travel," Hughes said. "I'm sure older girls are going to hang up their suits because they feel there's no motivation. It's unfortunate. Our sport needs us to keep doing it so young girls can see there is a future."