Winter Dew Tour: Day 1

Today I spent the day in Breckenridge for the Winter Dew Tour. For those of you who don't know, the Dew Tour is a freestyle ski and snowboard competition. As part of the Dew Tour, I was given the opportunity to interview a couple of competitors.

The first person I interviewed was Dan Marion who so kindly explained to a Breckenridge employee and myself, why they were painting multiple blue lines on the landing of a jump (it makes it more visible). Dan is a skier whose favorite Disney character is Peter Pan and his favorite ski or snowboard movie this year is Wild Stallions. His typical meal on the mountain is a PB&J and if he were not a skier, he would be a golfer. During the summer he surfs, skateboards, participates in water ramp training, and hikes. His parents got him into the sport of skiing. He skis professionally because he loves to ski. Having fun, progression, and video segments is what motivates him to work hard at the sport. His most memorable moment was getting 5th at the X-Games. He believes that diet definately has an impact on performance and that it's part of being a professional.

Next I interviewed Brett Esser who is a snowboarder. His favorite Disney character is Miley Cyrus. Black Winter is his favorite ski or snowboard movie this year. A typical meal on the mountain for him is a Pepperjack Chicken burger. He spends his summers skating and at Mt. Hood. If he weren't a snowboarder, he would be a Sushi Chef. When Brett was 7, his older brother got him interested in snowboarding. He snowboards professionally because it's fun, the progression, and the people. Money, sponsors, and babes motivates him to work hard at snowboarding. His most memorable time snowboarding was the first time he ever went snowboarding. He believes diet has an impact on his performance.

Jordi Carlinski's favorite Disney character is Aladin. She is a snowboarder who eats granola bars while on the mountain. During the summer she works and enjoys going outside. If she weren't a skier she would be a full-time student. Her parents got her involved in snowboarding. Fun and competition are her reasons for snowboarding professionally. Enjoyment and progression motivate her to work hard at riding. Iceland was her most memorable snowboarding experience. She believes diet has an impact on her riding performance.

Nils Mindnich's favorite Disney character is the racoon in Pocahontas. Before he thought of the racoon, his favorite character was the dwarf off of Snow White who doesn't talk and whose name is possibly Dopey. He doesn't watch ski and snowboard videos, so he didn't have a favorite. He asked me what my favorite was, but I don't watch them either, so I wasn't able to be of much help. On the mountain he eats french fries and Ramen noodles. During the summer he hikes and skates and he would be a surf rat if he weren't a snowboarder. His parents got him involved in snowboarding. Fun and opportunity are why he snowboards professioanlly. 80's pop music motivates him to work hard. His most memorable snowboarding experience was heli-boarding in New Zealand. He also believes diet has an impact on his performance as a snowboarder.

Fun fact: One of the snowboarders who was competing in the men's halfpipe open qualifier is a Breckenridge local who jogs to the ski area to ride.

I was actually surprised at how friendly the competitors that I talked to were. You hear about professional athletes being jerks, but the ones I talked to weren't like that at all.

Tomorrow I am helping out at the Colorado Mountain College booth. I will also try to do a couple more interviews with competitors, as I realize today's interviews were focused on snowboarders and males (due in part to I was standing in the "holding area" for the men's snowboard halfpipe open qualifiers).