Matt Petri
Larkspur, CA
Deerfield Academy, St. Lawrence University, Lake Placid Ski Club, U.S. National Team & Olympic Team, USA Nordic Sport Board of Directors (2020-present)
mdpetri@gmail.com
2023 marks the 50th year since I was introduced to Nordic skiing. As I reflect on those years, what strikes me is how individual people and seemingly small events can have a big impact on one’s life.
In my case, in 1973 Don Burdick (the late Nordic coach at Deerfield Academy and a US Official in the East) managed to convince me to try ski jumping even though I had some serious reservations about the sanity of that idea. As I’ve told many people over the years, ski jumping was a sport that I had actively tried to avoid, but “Mr. Burdick” was passionate and persuasive. While my first jump was the scariest thing that I had ever done to that point of my life, Don seemed to know that if he could get me to take one jump that I would fall in love with the sport, and he was right.
During Don’s many years teaching English and coaching skiing (and lacrosse) at Deerfield, he carefully nurtured many novice jumpers like me as well as budding cross-country skiers. He shared his love of Nordic sports, taught us the basics of technique, and tirelessly maintained the jumps and trails in the winter and in the off-season.
Ultimately, that one decision that Don persuaded me to make influenced where I went to college, which in turn opened my eyes to the possibility of chasing a spot on the national team. It also set the stage for one jump that gave me the confidence throughout my life that whenever I committed to a goal, worked hard, and focused on the process, I could achieve it. In the long run, that was more important than any competitive result that I ever achieved. I think often about Don and many others in our community that have made contributions – big and small – that give today’s Nordic combined and ski jumping athletes the opportunity to achieve their best and have their own defining moments. I am particularly enthusiastic about the progress that the Nordic community, USA Nordic Sport (USANS), and USANS athletes have made in the 18 months; hosting a World Cup ski jumping weekend in Lake Placid after so many years without one (which pulled in approximately 16 million viewers), launching athletic partnerships with Norway, and several of our athletes achieving the best World Cup results we have seen in decades.
This season is off to a good start, and I am confident that our Nordic athletes will have many opportunities to excel as the result of the passionate people in our community working at the grassroots like Don Burdick did. Let’s celebrate them and contribute to the Story Project!
