20-for-20 with Jake Pearson

In another 20-something-question, fill-in-the-blanks series, we checked in with the world-class U.S. and Canadian biathletes that will be competing at 2017 International Biathlon Union (IBU) Youth & Junior World Championships Feb. 22-28 in Osrblie (also known as Brezno-Osrblie), Slovakia.

Here’s 18-year-old Jake Pearson, of the Casper Mountain Biathlon Club, who is representing the U.S. at his first Youth Worlds. In two individual races at the championships, he finished 49th in the youth men’s 12.5 k individual and 76th in the 7.5 k sprint.

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“My full name is Jacob, but you can call me Jake. I was born in Wyoming, raised in Casper, and one thing you should know about my hometown is it’s always windy.

I started cross-country skiing when I was in 8th grade and started biathlon when I was 15, thanks to Rylie Garner.

I currently train in Casper with Casper Mountain Biathlon Club.

If I’m not skiing, you might find me hanging out with friends.

If I had to pick a favorite book, it would be ‘Shoe Dog’.

One of the things I’m most excited about for Youth/Junior World Championships in Brezno-Osrblie is the food.

This will be my first Youth/Junior World Championships, and this year, I’m competing as a youth. One race I’m especially targeting there is the 12.5 k individual.

The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing was have fun and relax.

One of the best race memories I have is having a 2nd place finish in a mass start in Canada.

If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be Lowell Bailey.

If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I’ll probably be a ski bum.

I’m missing 10 days of school to be here, and my teachers/professors are probably thinking, ‘He is going to fail my class.’

You can follow me on Instagram @jpears123.”