American Downhiller Podcast – World Champs with Jonna Mendes

Jonna Mendes World Championships 2003. Photo: GEPA pictures.

Release courtesy of American Downhiller Podcast

As the World Cup takes a break from racing – everyone’s attention turns to the World Championships being held in Courchevel, France. Where it’s all about the top three as Medals are on the line. Gold, silver and bronze are on the line.

And our guest today won the Bronze Medal at the 2003 World Championships held in St. Moritz. She is Jonna Mendes, a two-time Olympian and presently the Director of the Sun Valley Ski Academy. Jonna shares with us not only her experience on the worlds podium, but her thoughts on developing speed at the junior ranks present day.

Marco, AJ and LEW and Jonna also talk about:

• How Jonna became a speed skier.
• How Jonna grew up alongside Caroline Lalive beating all the boys in the Tahoe Area.
• How important it is to know your own skiing and how to deal with teammates with different personalities.
• How Picabo Street helped raise Jonna’s game and how Julia Mancus and Lindsey Vonn also were great teammates.
• How Americans always seem the underdog and feed off of that energy and rise to the occasion.
• The difference between racing weekly on the World Cup tour and the Worlds which have a different focus.

This is a great podcast for both parents and coaches as well as fans of Jonna and the American Downhillers.

If interested in being a sponsor of our Podcast – contact doug@eliteam.com