Sunday, October 21, 2001
Jasey Jay dreams of gold
By TODD SAELHOF -- Ottawa Sun
Jasey Jay Anderson wants all of Canada a board ... er ... aboard.
One of the nation's foremost snowboarders, Anderson wants Canadians to throw their support behind his sport for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Feb. 8-24.
Given the popular perception that snowboarding is a snow-job of drugs, unconventional lingo and offbeat behaviour, his is perhaps an endeavour as improbable as another Olympic gold medal in the sport.
But then, Anderson -- like Ross Rebagliati in 1998 -- wants that, too.
GOLD DREAMS
"My goal is the podium. My dream is gold," said Anderson, anything but the prevalent stereotype -- rather a personable 26-year-old from Tremblant, Que., in Ottawa yesterday as the centrepiece of the Ottawa Ski, Snowboard & Travel Show at Lansdowne Park.
"My expectations are a medal," continued Anderson after an exhibition of his skills on a mini half-pipe. "I'm riding stronger. I'm doing a lot better than this point last year. And also, I'm doing a lot of training -- I did a lot of hardcore training this summer in view of the Olympics. So definitely, I'm better prepared.
"Every year has been a better season for me."
Since his 16th-place finish at the Nagano Games, he has claimed two World Cup titles and the 2001 world championship to be touted one of the best of his sport.
Still, Anderson's not exactly a household name in Canada -- at least not outside Quebec.
"Because it is snowboarding, you don't always get the recognition you would like," he said.
"It's not the glamorous pro sport like hockey or football. And so, we definitely have to work for what we get."
For Anderson, that work is every day.
His dedication, like many of the Olympic hopefuls, is relentless. When he's not honing his skills on the hill or half-pipe, it's aerobic and cardiovascular workouts.
There's also the business of being an ambassador at shows like this one in Ottawa, which continues through today.
"I'm trying to expand the borders of the sport because it's a big year -- being an Olympic year," Anderson said. "We want to have the best show possible."
And prove that snowboarding has shaken the stigma of the past.
"I don't wish for that image to be shed on snowboarding," Anderson added. "The image I try to take is what I think anyone tries to achieve as a good citizen -- to work hard, to achieve your goals and not hurt anybody on the way. If anything, I try to help people along the way.
"That's what snowboarding is for me."
2002 Games Snowboarding Coverage
