Ep 26: Racing Through Nonlinear Progression and Loving Ski Racing with Luke Jager

I welcome Team USA ski racer, Luke Jager. Luke is from Anchorage, Alaska where he grew up skiing for Alaska Pacific University. From a young age, Luke stood out as a top American junior and solidified this notion in 2019 when he, was a key member of the men's relay team that won World Junior Championships. An outstanding result at the time and what has really set the bar for Team USA at these international junior competitions. 

Luke went on to ski at the University of Utah where he continued to balance racing the NCAA schedule along with international competitions, his first world cups, first World Championships, and the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. In this episode we talk about some of these highs and we also discuss how over those years the progress hasn’t always been linear… It’s been both a blessing and a curse to have grown up with such a talented group of other guys. How it’s hard not to compare yourself and your progress to those around you. We talk about how Luke has worked to overcome some of those disappointing moments and at the end of the day keep the focus on his love for skiing. But we also acknowledge through both of our experiences how sometimes that easier said than done!

Luke and I go on to chat about what it means to no longer be on the US National team, what that means for him this winter, and what his training has looked like this summer to prepare for the winter ahead. I hope you enjoy this episode with Luke!