Why do you like ski racing?  I think that I started ski racing because I seemed to have a little talent for it at an early age and I was, and am, extremely competitive. It’s a pretty simple competition…fastest person from A to B wins the race. It’s tough for me to turn down such a challenge. I continue to love the sport and the competition for lots of reasons. The training and challenge of getting the absolute most out my body is an unending and continually changing pursuit. Having a good race is still one of the most amazing feelings of accomplishment there is (see “best race”). Having a bad race is one of the toughest, challenging and hopefully maturing experiences I’ll ever have. The world-wide travel provides for lots of exciting opportunities. The bonds and relationships made with many of the people in this sport will be life-long. But, I guess right now the number one reason I keep doing it and have no immediate desire to quit is that I am in the rare position to truly say that I wouldn’t trade my job with anyone!     

Best Race and what made it great? Best race of last yr was the third leg of the World Championships relay. I had the fourth fastest split time of my leg, and fifth fastest time of all skaters on both legs. I was able to get our team back into a good spot where we had a chance at a much better than expected finish… Unfortunately some tough luck later in the race dropped us back a bit.  Best race of my career has to be the 30 kilometer mass start skate race at Soldier Hollow during the 2002 Winter Olympics. The race was the first Saturday morning of the Olympic fortnight…one of the very first events of the Games. It was a typically beautiful and sunny Utah February day. I have never, including some of the huge and ski-educated Scandinavian fans, seen a crowd so excited and having so much fun. To ski that entire race with cheers of “U-S-A, U-S-A” and “A-J, A-J” was pretty cool. I’m still not sure if I realize how special it was to have my first Olympic experience “at home”, in the US. I finished 22nd in that race, but have since been moved up to 21st with the disqualification of the doping German-Spaniard who won the race that day. The combination of the great day, the fans, skiing the fastest I’d ever skied in the biggest event of my life, and having my friends and particularly my family there made for an event I’ll look fondly upon for the rest of my life.   

Why are you excited to be a part of ASC? ASC is a small but dedicated outfit with one goal: Getting the best equipment to all levels of skiers. For me, as a sponsored athlete, this makes my life a lot easier. I know that my dealings with ASC will be easy and straight-forward, and that the end result will always be access to the best equipment and support possible.   

Favorite Music: Right now: Willy Nelson, Jimmy Buffett, Jack Johnson                                                  

Last Book Read:John Irvine’s “A Prayer for Owen Meany”   Hobbies: Riding motorcycles, playing golf, surfing when the occasion presents itself, shooting guns, driving tractors on the farm in Greensboro…    

Other Sponsors:  Swix, Rudy Project