A Brief Interview with
Johnny Spillane

(Lake Placid, November 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.

Johnny Spillane

US Ski Team Nordic Combined star Johnny Spillane has skied in three Olympics: 1998, 2002 and 2006, finishing as high as tenth, and he has made four visits to the World Cup podium, but the pinnacle of his young career has to be Johnny's 2003 World Championship gold medal in the Nordic combined sprint. And the peak of his career should still be ahead of him as he turns 26 this month.

Matt Cook asked Johnny Spillane a few questions.

NYSEF: Johnny, how is training going for you heading into the Nordic Combined World Cup season, and what have you been doing for training in the last two weeks?
Johnny Spillane: Training has been going really well, I have been working very hard the last few weeks especially on the cross country side. I have been putting in as much time as possible on snow, and doing a lot of intervals.

NYSEF: How's it going with the teammates? Between Brett and Eric Camerota, who's going to score World Cup "A" points first?
Johnny Spillane: We have a really good team this year. It has been a big change since last year [with the retirement of Todd Lodwick] but I think that the group has made some big gains overall. I hope that both Brett and Eric score them at the same time! I think that they both have a lot of potential and I predict that both of them will move up to "A" with no problems.

NYSEF: What are your result goals for the World Cup season?
Johnny Spillane: I want to finish in the top five in the overall and I also want an individual medal at the world championships.

NYSEF: Of the 13 different ski jumps you will ski in Europe this winter, what hill is your favorite, and why? Johnny Spillane: Johnny Spillane
I really like competing in Kuusamo, it is a great hill when the weather cooperates, I also really enjoy Oslo [Holmenkollen]; it has such a great history in Ski Jumping and it is always a pleasure to compete there.

NYSEF: What's the hardest course you'll ski this winter, and why?
Johnny Spillane: These days all Johnny Spillane of the courses we ski are hard, but one of the hardest ones is Oberhof, it has big steep hills and fast, turny downhills that don't provide any recovery.

Thanks Johnny, and good luck!
Matt Cook

[ See the October interview with Clint Jones ]
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