Steamboat

Courtesy Jasper Good
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Jasper Good, 16, is a Nordic combined skier
who is currently skiing with the National Training
Group and is starting to have opportunities to
train with the U.S. Ski Team. Born and raised in
Steamboat Springs, Good says his hometown has
offered him many remarkable ski experiences,
from deep powder days at the Steamboat Ski Area
to jumping at Howelsen Hill. Here, he recounts his
most memorable one.
My first time to jump the Large Hill at
Howelsen Hill Ski Area is in the evening, which
means that the entire mountain is pulsing with
athletes training in multiple disciplines. Parents
and coaches are watching from the bottom.
I’ve 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 watching videos from
the previous day, I start to get dressed. This
involves putting on Under Armour and the right
thickness of socks. I then pull on my jumpsuit
and tie my boots. I grab my helmet, goggles,
gloves and pass.
With all my equipment, I grab my skis
and head for the Poma lift. I ride up to the top
stop, instead of getting off at a mid-station. I’m
starting to get really excited because I’ve never
gone all the way to this stop with jump skis. I’ve
finally made it to the top stop of ski jumping in
Steamboat Springs.
My mind is filled, going over what I’ve been
Courtesy Jasper Good
Jasper Good:
Five seconds of flying
— again and again
working on, while I walk over to the jump. When I
arrive there, I get butterflies. Right before putting
on my skis, I look down the jump at the view of
Old Town as the light begins to fade. I’m able to
see all across town from here.
I follow my normal routine putting my skis
on and then I slide out onto the start bar, which
is where I will launch. I straighten my back and
become focused; the moment has come and I
signal to my coach that I’m ready. He checks the
hill, and 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‘ve ever been on. I near the end of the takeoff
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 (the idea
being to lay belly down over your skis, which are
in a V formation for optimal flying position), but
I overrule that instinct and stay with the jump. I
feel as if I’m extremely high in the air, which is
one of the coolest feelings ever because I really
feel like I’m flying.
My jump ends, and I’m very excited as I
arrive at the base of the Poma lift. The jump is
replaying in my head, and I just want to get back
to the top. I make my way through the crowd as
fast as possible so that I can have the experience
of flying for five seconds again and again.