Hi my name is Alex Bowen. I'm 21 years old and on the United States Ski Team for Aerial Skiing.  If you don't know aerial skiing, it's basically gymnastic acrobatics with skis.  We aerialists ski into a 13 foot high, 65 degree jump around 40 miles an hour, and go upwards about 45 feet doing 3 flips with various twists.  I do this, because I absolutely love it!
 

Here are two of my teammates Morgan Northrop and Maddie Gorelik.  They're showing what happens up top an aerial ski hill before you jump.  The most important timing of aerial skiing is the takeoff.  The takeoff starts at the jump base and the most g-forces on your body are pulled here.  Morgan wearing bib 4 is practicing the takeoff position before being cleared to jump.  She's focusing on being very tall, but at the same time using her core and quad muscles to stay strong.
 

Next we have Maddie about to turn and ski towards the jump kicker.  The last thought in your head before jumping is considered the most important. This last thought should be positive and usually consists of one or two keywords.  These words are what Maddie is focuses in on during her 5 seconds of jumping.  Maybe something like "stay tall"  or "eyes up."

Thanks Toko for being apart of my training each day!