Checking out

Oh man,

Sorry it's been a little while. I guess I just needed some time to my self and that's what I've been getting.

After the Olympics I needed some rest so I headed down to Southern California for some surfing. Once rested and recharged I went to Aspen for a Spyder shoot. I'm really happy and excited with the opportunity to work with Spyder in the future. Not 100% sure what I'll be doing with them but so far I'm going to be skiing and that's a good thing.

In early May just before taking off for Nicaragua I decided that I was going to retire from the US Ski Team and Racing. I felt like it was time to move on for many reasons. I'm really happy with this decision and can't wait to see what my future holds. So far I've had a lot of job offers but haven't committed to anything yet. I feel like I still need some time and when the time is right I'll make the best decision and one that I'll be passionate about.

In the mean time I'll be doing some Coaching and odd jobs so that I can continue to play and enjoy my summer.

Opening Ceremonies

Opening Ceremonies are tonight and I've decided to stay here in Park City. It was not an easy decision but I felt that it was the best thing I could do to be ready to rip on Feb. 21st.

The training has been good here in Park City and I feel like I'm in a great spot right now physically and mentally.

Jake

Olympian!!!

Nine days until the much anticipated opening ceremonies. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend them due to pre Olympic training and I don't think it's the best thing for my back right now. I will however be watching on TV and try to get as much as I can out of the experience.

The whole Olympic thing is pretty exciting right now. I've been overloaded with emails of support and dealing with all the processing that Olympians have to deal with that the public doesn't realize we have to deal with. Although it's just another ski race in our minds because it is the pinnacle of sport the drug testers want us to give updates and whereabouts 24 hrs a day so they can test us whenever and wherever. I don't mind doing this as long as my competition is getting the same treatment.

As far as my pre Olympic training goes Park City has set up the 2002 Olympic GS race hill for us with water injected snow so that is will be as close to the race surface as possible. This is a big advantage and I'm sure it will show in our result come race day. We also have the US Ski Team's brand new Center Of Excellence that we will be doing all of our conditioning at. I'm pretty happy to be here in Park City training before the big event.

I'm a little scatter brained right now my apologies for the short few and far between blog entries.

Thanks for your support and please stay tuned.

If you miss the Truth In Motion Movie it will re-air this Saturday on USA network 3pm Mt. time or it is on Itune for a free download.

Jake

Home to rest

Hey Zman fans

Things are looking good for the Olympics! On Jan 9th we attempted to race in Adelboden unfortunately the race was canceled due to thick fog. The only good thing that came out of that day was that I realized that I'm most likely going to be named to the Olympic GS team. The way the criteria is written I meet the second line of criteria which is World Cup points scored. Ted Ligety is first line with a podium and then it's me. So on Jan 25th we should see my name on the green light list. The Olympic GS will be held on Feb 21st.

This is an accomplishment is something I've been working for my whole life. I'm going to go to Vancouver and Ski my ass off and try get a medal!

Happy Holidays

Home for the Holidays.

December is almost gone and three more World Cups GS’s are in the books.

Overall I’m pretty happy with the way things went this month. I qualified and scored points on two hills that had given me so many problems in the past.

Beaver Creek was great this year! I skied two very solid runs and finished 25^th. I’ve wanted this so much over the years and to finally get those points in the USA in front of my family and friends was very special for me. Last year when I scored my first long awaited World Cup points was a special day for me, but success is so much better when it’s shared. Having my parents there made it a whole different experience.

Val D’isere was only a week after Beaver Creek and with a long flight to Munich and a 500 mile drive I was back in Val D’isere for the third time in one year. Last season Val D’isere got the best of me. December’s race ended with a DNF after the first split and February’s World Champs ended with a hard crash. I wasn’t looking forward to my third attempt on the Belvard but I tried to keep my head up because I was getting a World Cup SG start and wanted to make the best of it. Unfortunatly my ski fell off on the fourth gate and I went for a little slide on my back. I was bummed but knew I couldn’t dwell on it because the next day was the GS. After another sleepless night due to jet lag I was up and as ready as I could be for the race.

First run I made it to the finish and skied solid but I had some big mistakes and managed to finish 25^th and get a second run. My next trip down the hill was a fight from start to finish. I was tired and didn’t have the energy to charge down that steep nasty so I skied safe and scored some much needed World Cup points.

Alta Badia! The big daddy Gran Risa. The most classical GS.

Coming into Alta Badia this year I was really excited. I was skiing really well and felt super balanced in training all week.

This is the place where I was reborn last year and this year I was left with a bitter taste. I fell on the seventh gate. I made one small mistake followed by a bad recovery move and it was over, I was on my hip and sliding out of the course. I’m more than disappointed with the outcome of this race but I need to move on and start focusing on Adelboden.

I have three weeks until Adelboden and I plan on making the best of this time. First I’m going home to Carbondale for a short break and then back to Park City for training in the gym and race training on the 2002 Olympic GS hill. There are only 52 days until the Olympics and I plan on being there! Adelboden is the final race before the Olympic team is named and four of us are gunning for three spots. ( Bode, Tim Jitloff, Tommy Ford and Myself)

Happy Holidays,

Jake

Movember is gone

The prep period is officially over! Race season is in full swing now.

Today I raced a Nor Am on my home hill in Aspen, Co. It's nice to be back but it wasn't the best day. My first run I was a bit off the pace but still managed 13th place for the run with field packed full of World Cup GS skiers. Second run I had nothing to loose, i wanted to win and I was skiing like a bat out of hell before getting launched into the air on the steeper part of the course and instead of landing on my feet I came down on stomach crashing into the next gate. Oh well, I gave it my best and tomorrow is another day of racing on the same hill. Hopefully I can get a win on my home hill and roll into Beaver Creek with that winning confidence.

Beaver Creek is always a special race for the US Ski Team boys. It's our one chance a year to race the World on our turf and in the past we've always done really well. Hopefully this year will be the best year yet.

After Beaver Creek I will be heading to Europe and racing World Cups in Val D'isere on the World Championship from last year and then moving on to Alta Badia, Italy where I scored my first ever World Cup points last year.

Stay tuned for more. I've got to go due my recovery spin and get prepared for tomorrows race. Luckily I have my Massage Therapist Aaron Wartena with me so he can help mend my beat up body from my crash today.

Take care,

Jake

Europa Cup SG tomorrow

Tomorrow will be my first Europa Cup Super G since January 2006. I'm pretty excited to be racing SG again! I hope I'm fast on the flats.

Training the last couple of days has been fun and a bit lonely. The US Ski Team didn't send anybody else to these races and since I arrived on Wednesday I've been on my own, no coaches, no other Americans on the hill. The British team has been nice enough to take me under their wing and give me training and represent me for the races. Spending so much time by myself really gives me a lot of time to think. Thats all I'm going to say on that, you don't want to know what goes through my head. Hahaha.

I'll let you know how the races go.