Q & A with Jess Cumming

“Jess Cumming is one of the sweetest, most beautiful angels who grace our planet – oh yea and she just happens to be one our countries best female athletes.  She just won the US Freeskiing Open Halfpipe this year and has a career that is going to be Wheaties Boxes and parades.  We sat down with her and asked her a few questions...” - Steve Bellamy

 What 3 words best describe you?

Sparkle, Creative, Confident

 If you weren’t a skier, what would you be doing?

I think I change my mind every month. Lets see this summer it was Fashion Designer... then it was DJ... sometimes I think interior design would be fun, although recently I have been leaning back towards artist. Either way I will always be involved in something creative. I think that is why I love skiing so much. The sport allows us to be ourselves, push the limit of the sport, and it is tied in with music and art in so many ways.

 What was your happiest moment in the sport?

My happiest moment in this sport was unquestionably winning the US Freeskiing Open Halfpipe event this year. It is one of the most important events of the year, and the event that gave me my start in the sport. (Taking 3rd in 2003 Slopestyle) It has been a long time coming and I will remember exactly how I felt that day forever. It also is the most amazing trophy I have received, a giant boxing style belt.

 When you won the US Open, who was the first person you called?

I called my Boyfriend, Jon Reedy. He actually won the US Open in pipe in 2003 so the event holds fond memories for both of us. He was able to watch the contest live on Newschoolers.com <http://Newschoolers.com> <http://Newschoolers.com> so he saw every run. I think there is actually a photo on Freeskier.com <http://Freeskier.com> <http://Freeskier.com> of me right after I found out I won talking to him on the phone. On the drive home that night I think I called everyone I know.

 What’s your biggest goal for the future?

I think that my biggest goal is competing at the Olympics. I don't know if that will ever happen though because it currently isn't an Olympic event. We all were hoping that it would be in for 2010 in Vancouver but skier cross was picked instead. Its clearly is hard because they already have the halfpipe built for the snowboarders, it seems like it shouldn't be so difficult to get skiers out there. An X Games medal is a intended goal for next year.

 Tell us about your relationship with Roxy?

Roxy is really great. It is the only company on the ski side that is entirely for girls. In a sport that is predominately dominated by men it has been a breath of fresh air to be on the Roxy team. I have gone on a lot of great trips with Roxy and their always so much fun. We travel with a big group of girls, you defiantly can't miss us.

Last year Roxy put out an all women's movie, and it was skiing and snowboarding. It was great getting to session features with the snowboarders. Normally ski and snowboard movies tend to only film one or the other. I think this film was a bit of a vanguard in the sense that it was all women and mixed sports.

Roxy also does a good amount of events to get local girls involved with skiing and snowboarding. This year we did a series of film premieres all in different cities. I also was at one of the Roxy Ride Days where we bring girls from Universities up to the mountains and spend the day coaching and hanging out. The whole event is free.

The main thing is that Roxy just understands where we are coming from, its tough being girls in the male dominated action sports world but most of the people that work there have been a part of it themselves. Its a very supportive company and I couldn't be luckier.

 Tell us about the films you have been in and how you liked those experiences.

Last year was my first time filming and it was for Roxy's "Labor of Love." Filming is so much different from competing. When you go to a contest you know that by the end of the day there will be an outcome. Their is the chance for instant gratification if you do well. Either way the contest will be over and you move on to training or traveling to the next event.

With filming patience is involved. Waiting for the weather and the conditions becomes a big factor. The shots just don't look as nice when its grey flat light. You also learn to get your tricks and grabs dialed the film does not lie. If you missed your grab but everything else was perfect you still have to go try and get the trick again but better. I enjoyed the new challenges filming brought to my skiing and it defiantly helped me see where I need to work harder in the future. It also allows you more creativity, you walk around looking at things differently, trying to figure out how you can jump over or stall on pretty much everything.

This year I am mainly focusing on competitions, there are so many, but I certaintly want to film more in the future.

 Who are you biggest idols?

I don't have one specific idol and I am truely inspired by people from other sports besides freeskiing. When I see an athlete who is pushing their bodies, their sport, and energy to the limit that is great. It is also great when someone overcomes enormous obstacles to achieve their greatest goals. I look at inspirational stories where an athlete has risen up to beat the odds, like a doctors negative diagnosis, and it makes me realize that achieving my most far fetched dream may be closer then I imagined.


 What do you think about a girls only show on The Ski Channel ?

I think that the idea for a show that features women athletes that are out there pushing themselves to the limit is really interesting. I know firsthand how it can be a bit of a struggle sometimes to gain some publicity on the women's side of the sport.