(Innsbruck, Austria) – Regarding the Four Hills Tournee, there are two down and two to go, and the man wearing the biggest smile these days seems to be Norwegian Anders Jacobsen, 26, who has claimed victory in both Oberstdorf and Garmisch. More than 20,500 fans watched the action on New Year’s Day.

The Norwegian star, who took last season off, has bounced back with a freshness and an enthusiasm that is indeed noticeable. His long jump of 143 meters almost broke the current hill record of 143.5 meters.

Team North America, made up of USA and Canadian ski jumpers, has been in the words of Coach Clint Jones, “unspeakably close to making the cut. Only the top 50 make the qualification to move into the finals.”

USA jumpers Peter Frenette (Saranac Lake, NY), Anders Johnson (Park City, UT) and Canadian 2010 Olympian Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes (Calgary) are on the tour. This is Frenette’s – a 2010 USA Olympian – first time on the highly competitive and grueling Four Hills Tournee. The other two have competed at previous Four Hills events.

Coach Jones said that although no one has made the top 50 yet the team is progressing. “If you look at how close we are, like 52nd in Garmisch with Anders, for example, we are just a meter or two away, if we can get that, we will qualify the guys. The jumps are there. Look at what the guys did in Engleberg – they had a great second day there – that can happen here,” Jones commented today in Innsbruck.

The USASJ News Bureau talked with Anders Johnson – a two time USA Olympian – who said he is experiencing some lower back pain now. “You know, I tweaked my back prior to the qualifications in Garmisch. I was just warming up. It really didn’t bother me much until I got back to our hotel and then it really started to hurt. Today, it’s still tight, but it is a little better.”

Frenette said during the same interview that he feels his jumping is nearly there. “I also have been close and when I have a good jump I feel like I can be right in there, and competitive. So I have to say, it’s getting better, but I am still a little inconsistent. I think part of it is mental, I still need to relax more,” said Frenette, who learned to jump at the Olympic Venue in Lake Placid.

He added “I love being on the Four Hills, it’s exciting and really cool, there are so many fans and we got cheers from US Army fans, as they have a base in Garmisch. I’m glad they came out.”

Tomorrow will see jump training on tap at the famed Olympic complex located nearly in the heart of Innsbruck.