USASJ Story Project 11-DEC-2014 JASPER GOOD

JASPER GOOD
Age 18
Steamboat Winter Sports Club
Steamboat Spring, CO

Living in Steamboat has opened me to many of the most memorable ski experiences I will ever have. Being able to ski huge amounts of powder in the winter and then go down to Howelson Hill and fly through the air is one of the coolest opportunities out there. But the one day that stands out to me the most is the first day that I jumped our large hill ski jump down at Howleson Hill. In the sport of ski jumping Howelson Hill has a smaller big hill but it is much more high flying than most, it is a HS 120.

My first day to jump this was an evening at Howelson Hill which means that the entire ski mountain is throbbing with athletes training in multiple disciplines with parents and coaches watching from the bottom.

I have been waiting for this all throughout my school day and now the moment has finally come. As I start my warm-up I become more and more excited, after completing my warm up and watching videos from the previous day of jumping I start to get dressed. This involves putting on Under Armor and the right thickness of socks.  I then pull on my jump suit and begin to tie up my boots. After this is completed I grab my helmet, goggles, gloves and pass.

With all my equipment I grab my skis and head for the poma. As I ride the poma up to the top stop I am starting to get really excited because I have never been at this stop with jump skis. I have finally made it to the top stop of ski jumping in Steamboat.

The walk to the jump is filled with my mind going over what I am working on and what I will think about when jumping. As I arrive at the top of the jump I get butterflies and I start to get my skis and suit fully on. Right before putting on my skis I look down the jump and the view across town as the light begins to fade and I am able to see all across town from here.

I then slide out on to the start bar which I will go from. I straighten my back and become focused; the moment has come and I signal to my coach that I am ready. He checks the hill then with a downward sweeping motion of his hand he signals that I am good to go.

I take a big deep breath and let go of the bar starting my descent, the in run is faster than any I have ever been on. I near the end of the take off with my mind completely focused and I nail the timing of my jump and lift off into the air. I feel like I just keep going up and out, my mind is telling me to stop getting more on top but I over rule that and stay with the jump. I feel as if I am extremely high which is one of the coolest feelings ever because I really felt like I was flying.

Editor’s note- Japser qualified to represent the USA in the last two World Junior Championships.  To see his FIS bio, click here.  Jasper’s website and blog, click here.  Follow Jasper on Twitter at @JasperGoodNC

Jasper throwing it down at 2014 Junior World Championships in Predazzo, Italy.