Brenna Ellis, a 17-year-old resident of Park City, also began jumping young — she was 6. Right now, she’s at her sport’s highest level. The U.S. women train six days a week, four of those on the jump and the other two lifting weights and doing plyometric exercises.

“Once I started competing internationally about three years ago, I realized how big this issue really was,” Ellis said. “There are so many high-level women jumpers out there right now, and for this to not be in the Olympics is crazy. If there were Olympic Games for the women in 2010 it would help the younger girls have the ultimate goal, and not have to go through all of the controversy that we have gone through.”

Johnson’s father is former U.S. ski team coach Alan Johnson. Her brother, Anders, will be the youngest American man competing in Turin. She will be there to support him, though she wishes she were jumping, too.

“Unfortunately, there will not be a brother-sister duo for the Johnsons,” she said.

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Stone believes the FIS still is made up of a significant number of middle-aged males “stuck in their older ways.”

“I almost feel it’s a case where they’re threatened by women becoming so powerful in their sport,” Stone said, noting she has even heard some express concerns about women damaging their reproductive organs in a crash on the hill.

“There are enough women to have international competitions. Some go into the men’s contests and do just as well.”