Getting to Know the Junior World Champ Team: Jared Shumate

Age?

19 years old.

Where are you from? What club do you ski for?

I’m from Park City, Utah. I am on the USA Nordic National Team (originally on Park City Ski and Snowboard Club)

How old were you when you started ski jumping or Nordic combined?

I started ski jumping when I was 9 and Nordic combined when I was 10.

Is this your first year on Junior World Championships team? If not, how many years have you competed?

No, this is my 3^rd year on the World Junior Championship Team. I competed in 2016 (Rasnov, Romania) and 2018 (Kandersteg, Switzerland).

What grade are you in?

I am a junior at the University of Utah.

How is school going right now?

Pretty easy. I am taking photography online through the U and its super manageable and my homework is literally just to take pictures.

What is your favorite ski jumping or Nordic combined memory?

I honestly have too many good memories from Nordic combined to name just one. It sounds cliché but I’d say that the friendships that I’ve made from the sport are going to be the best memories that I have from Nordic combined

Describe the feeling of ski jumping in your own words.

Ski jumping is the same feeling as when you open your fridge and find your absolute favorite dessert sitting right in the middle of the shelf and you get all excited because you love it and want to eat all of it.

What is the result you are most proud of and why?

My first Continental Cup top 30 last year because that had been a big goal for my coaches and I for a few years and was the result that qualified me for the national team.

What is one thing which you have been focused on improving which will help you meet these goals?

I have been focused on improving the mental side of sports in the last year and it has really helped a lot. I have focused on what works well and what doesn’t work well for me, which allows me to recognize what I need to change in order to improve. Ski jumping is a very mental sport so even if you are physically in shape, a poor mental state can keep you from performing at your best. Probably the thing that I have focused on the most is confidence and that has had a huge benefit in my performance.             

What is something new that you have added to your training repertoire this year?

I added music into my warmups for both competitions and races and that has really helped a lot. I dance around and act like a complete fool before competitions which helps me to not put too much pressure on myself and ensure that I am having fun. It’s hard for me to do well if I’m not having fun.

Do you prefer ski jumping or cross country skiing?

It depends on the day but usually both of them 😉

Why do you do both?

I do both ski jumping and Nordic combined because they are both fun/challenging in their own ways, and I like the feeling that they both bring. Ski jumping is thrilling and flying through the air is super fun, and then pushing myself to ski faster is a very rewarding feeling and I love to see what I am capable of at every race.

Who is your role model in the sport?

Bill Demong and Sarah Hendrickson. Bill for his goal-setting and Sarah for her perseverance.

To you, what does it mean to be on the Junior World Championship team?

Being on the World Junior Championship team is a big accomplishment, and it means that I can compete among the best junior skiers in the world, which is a great feeling. It is an honor to get to represent the USA and USA Nordic at Junior World Championships and a great experience to be able to compete with 700 other athletes from around the world.

What do you hope to learn or accomplish at this year’s Junior World Championships?

I hope to accomplish my results-based goals that I have going into the event, and I hope to accomplish these goals by staying focused while not putting too much pressure on myself. After all, this whole sport is just for fun so why not keep it fun?

What are your hobbies outside of skiing?

Tinder, drinking water, vlogging, mountain biking. I’m a very versatile athlete

What is your favorite post workout meal?

Any sort of breakfast food does the trick after a workout.

Favorite book?

Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey

A Netflix show you would recommend to others?

The Office

Celebrity crush?

Top 10 (in no specific order): Mikaela Shiffrin, Margot Robbie, Daisy Ridley, Emilia Clarke, Kate Courtney, Margot Hayes, Tiril Eckhoff, Alicia Vikander, Dua Lipa, Tina Weirather

What is your spirit animal?

Well, I like manatees but I’d say my spirit animal is more of a Black Bear. 

Who do you think would win in a fight between a taco and a grilled cheese sandwich, and why?

I think a grilled cheese would take the win. The weight of a grilled cheese compared to a taco makes it like a heavyweight vs. featherweight boxing match and the grilled cheese will turn that taco into a taco salad.