7 Things You Didn’t Know About Andy Newell (Birthday Edition)

To get you excited for 2013/2014 racing season, we asked some of the skiers you’ll be reading about from the U.S. and Canadian national teams to tell us seven things about themselves that most people don’t know. To top off the randomness, we also posed a couple questions related to skiing (well, sort of) and the life of a pro athlete.

Athlete: Andy Newell

Team: U.S. Ski Team; Stratton Mountain School T2 Team (SMST2)

Age: 30 (today!)

Hometown: Shaftsbury, Vt.

7 Things:

1. I hang up an American flag in every hotel I go to.
2. My mom sews my wind briefs. Literally I take boxer briefs and she sews wind proof patches on them.
3. I like to eat Scando fish paste and eggs together
4. I believe you can never trust anyone who wears white New Balance shoes with blue jeans.  (check it out next time you’re in the airport)
5. I was a 12-and-under VT state swim champion
6. I follow 6 different cats on Instagram
7. Aerosmith’s Sweet Emotion is my go-to karaoke and/or party song if you want to fire people up

Bonus Round:

• Go-to mantra or motto: I try to just look at the positive side of things, which can be hard but sometimes it really helpful. When you’re having tough workouts or bad races I need to remind myself that things could be much worse. The most important things in life are your friends and family and I try to keep that in perspective.
• What do you miss most while on the road (besides family and friends)? When I spend the winter in hotels sometimes I miss just the little things while traveling and the freedom that you have at home. Like being able to get in my truck and drive somewhere when I want to, or having fast internet, or just going to the store and being able to read everything.
• Best part about being a pro athlete: I like how every day is different and the excitement of racing the world cup. When the season finally comes around you realize how great that feeling of being nervous is or the feeling of accomplishment you get from pushing yourself really hard in a race.
• 3 travel essentials: Guitar, speakers, and an american flag to hang up
• Go-to travel meal or food: Probably just peanut butter. It’s very american and it’s good to travel with.
• Song that you could listen to non-stop: “Big Black Bird” by Blitzen Trapper
• Song you wouldn’t mind never hearing again: Most Adel songs

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See also: Sadie Bjornsen | Sophie Caldwell