A Brief Interview with Clint Jones

Clint Jones (Lake Placid, October 2006) To keep its developing athletes connected with the best in the sport, the New York Ski Educational Foundation (NYSEF) in Lake Placid hopes to interview top level Nordic athletes and coaches throughout the course of the winter.

Matt Cook kicked off this effort in new millenium style, sitting down at his computer to interview USST Ski Jumper Clint Jones. Clint grew up in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and has competed in two Olympics: Salt Lake in 2002 and Torino in 2006. He has skied in over 70 World Cups competitions where he has already cracked the top ten. Clint has three silver medals in Summer Grand Prix competitions, and his victory at age 15 in the 2000 National Championships made him the youngest U.S. skiing champion in any skiing discipline.

NYSEF: I'd like to start by asking you what your expectations are for the 2006-2007 World Cup season. Do you have both technical and result driven goals for competing in Europe?
Clint Jones: I am approaching this season a little differently than I have in the past. I am focusing a lot more on technical goals than results. I know that if I jump the way I want, the results will be there. I will be back and forth between world cup and continental cup depending on how the jumping is at that specific time. I am really trying to just have some fun this season. So, if I can win a couple continental cups, and ski well in some world cups, I will be happy. I know I have potential to do well at any level; I just need to stay relaxed and do it!

NYSEF: Have you made any changes to your training from last season? Why?
Clint Jones: Like I said before, I am trying to stay more relaxed and get back to having fun with my jumping. The past few years have been hard on our team. Being a top-level jumper from the U.S. isn't easy. But it doesn't help if you aren't enjoying it. The biggest change I have made this season is my approach to training in general. I'm remembering why I started jumping, and trying not to think of jumping as something I have to do, but more something I love and enjoy doing. I think it has really helped me on and off the hill.

 NYSEF: You spent part of the summer in Norway. Did you learn anything that you can pass on to our American ski jumpers?
Clint Jones: It was good to go to Norway and find out that they aren't doing anything totally different. The actual technique of a good jump is fairly simple. In Norway I heard most of the same things that I do back here, they just say it differently. Which is a good thing sometimes. For me, I think the most important thing in ski jumping is balance. Trying to stay balanced on the same part of your foot all the way from the in-run, through the take-off. Also, I think a lot of jumpers in the U.S. think too much about jumping forward. Basically, if your balance is right, all you have to do is push straight down. You have plenty of speed already, the important part is getting away from the hill!

NYSEF: The Ski Jumping World Cup begins in Kuusamo, Finland in late November. What will you be doing between now and then?
Clint Jones: I am going to be training and helping with snow making in Park City. It would be really nice to get the hills open ASAP so we can get some jumps on snow before the season starts. The last couple of years have been really tough because we had to show up in Finland with absolutely no training.

NYSEF: When it's game day, let's say the morning of an Olympic competition or World Championship event, what do you focus on to achieve your full potential as an athlete.
Clint Jones: Well, hopefully by the time the competition roles around, you have done your work in training. Then it is just important to be confident in that. Trying too hard on a competition day or trying to change too many things will only hurt you. Having confidence on competition day is very important.

NYSEF: Lastly, any guesses on who will take the Overall Ski Jumping Title in 2007? Why?
Clint Jones: As usual, Adam Malysz will be a contender. He is mentally the strongest jumper in my opinion. Other contenders could be Lars Bystol, Andreas Kuettel, and Janne Ahonnen. I stayed with Lars when I was in Norway, and he told me that being higher in the overall was a big goal for him. Also, this has been his best summer training of his career. And the other two are very strong and consistent jumpers. But, I'm still hoping things go right, and maybe I will win it!

Best of luck this winter buddy!!
Matt Cook
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