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Welcome!,
My name is Jay Panther and I am a 25 year old competitive Freestyle Mogul skier and a member of the U.S. Ski Team! If you are interested in joining Team Panther in the quest for the 2010 Winter Olympics, please get back to me.
I started skiing when I was 4 and started competing when I was 6. From age 6 to 12 I competed in both ski racing and freestyle. At age 12 I was the youngest athlete to ever be invited to Nationals for moguls. After my 12 year old season my family moved to Louisville, KY and I was prematurely removed from the one thing that I truly loved, skiing.
In Kentucky I was first team all-state in baseball. I also played varsity football and soccer for Ballard High School. I was a National Merit Scholar and was named the National High School Heisman winner for my achievements as a student-athlete. I was awarded a full scholarship to Vanderbilt University where I played baseball my freshman season. I loved Vanderbilt but my desire to ski again was too strong. I left school and moved to Lake Tahoe, NV after seven years without a day on skies. I had dreams of being a U.S. Freestyle Team skier and representing my country in the Olympics. I have made the U.S. Ski Team and am on the way to fulfilling my Olympic dream!
Although my passion for skiing is unparalleled, I do enjoy a number of other activities. I am a competitive beach volleyball player and also enjoy weightlifting, rock climbing, mountain biking, golfing, and jumping on the trampoline. I am a senior student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and currently hold a 4.0 GPA as a Finance major. During the winter, when I am not training for competition, you will find me in the terrain park at Park City Mountain Resort, at Snowbird searching for the biggest lines possible, or carving GS turns down Deer Valley.
This past season was tough but I proved that I could compete under the toughest of circumstances. I missed most of the early season due to foot injuries but still had a chance to win Selections. I was third in the North American Tour Grand Prix at the mid-way point when I incurred an intercostal rib strain. As a result I missed the next event and had to compete injured at the last stop ( I still made finals both days with zero training.) My final opportunity was U.S. Nationals, where all I needed was a top five to move high enough on the points list to ski World Cups. Unfortunately, I tore all the ligaments and suffered a grade 3 AC joint separation in my left shoulder 36 hours before the contest. I could not lift my arm from my side but competed anyway and ended up getting 8th. It is tough to have a season where injuries limit performance and ultimately just kept me off the World Cup circuit. However, I cannot be disappointed when despite pain and bad luck, I competed at my highest level and still nearly earned World Cup Starts. The doctors think my shoulder will recover without surgery in 8 weeks and it is getting stronger everyday! It is going to be a little while before I am playing volleyball again but I will be training and on the beach this summer without a doubt!!!
My full energy is focused on competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, B.C. I have spent over 200 days on snow for the past 6 years making up for missed time, now it is my time! It is that dedication to this sport and the desire to train harder than any of my opponents that will enable me to overcome any obstacles and accomplish my goals.
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