Under 23 Questions: Jared Shumate

In an effort to showcase the North Americans competing at this week’s International Ski Federation (FIS) 2018 Nordic Combined Junior World Championships in Kandersteg, Switzerland, we asked those qualifying athletes several questions about themselves — actually, we had them fill in the blanks. Here we have 18-year-old Jared Shumate, of the Park City Nordic Ski Club, who’s representing the U.S. at his second Junior Worlds.

On Thursday, Shumate anchored the U.S. to seventh place in the normal hill/4 x 5 k team event. He previously placed 35th in the individual normal hill/10 k on Tuesday for an individual career best at Junior Worlds.

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“My full name is Jared Shumate, but you can call me tonight.

I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Park City, Utah, and I learned to ski at Deer Valley Resort.

I spent the time between U.S. Olympic team trials in Park City and Junior Worlds in Park City mentally preparing myself to get my ass kicked over here in Europe.

The most tiring workout I did in the last training year to prepare for this was a 4-hour trail run up and down a mountain with lots of boys who ran it way faster than me.

This is my second time in Switzerland and ninth time racing internationally, and so far it’s been pretty good some days and really bad on others, but I’ve had a blast!

One difference I’ve noticed between Switzerland and the U.S. is the flags with the crosses on them are not for ski patrol.

Skiing and racing in the Alps is one of my favorites. Usually racing at altitude is better for me because I’ve lived at over 7,000 feet pretty much my entire life. There are lots of easy-to-climb mountains around where I live.

One of the things I’m most excited about for Junior Worlds in Kandersteg is the fondue for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

One race I’m especially targeting there is the 10 k individual nordic combined race.

I really hope I can chat/make friends with someone from Sweden and ask them if every girl in their country is as beautiful as Stina Nilsson.

My favorite thing at the breakfast where we are staying is TBD (we’re not in Switzerland yet).

Fondue is a lot smellier than you think it should be. The cheese here comes in really big blocks. And the chocolate is going to make me overweight.

If I had a totally free day here and didn’t have to worry about race fitness or training, I’d spend it on a gondola ride with Lara Gut.

The best way to follow me on social media is on Instagram @jared_shumate.”