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Steamboat Magazine

Meet the Stars of the Slopes: Jaelin Kauf

03/09/2022 10:00AM ● By Dan Greeson
Jaelin Kauf, 25
Freestyle Moguls
Trained with Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club

What would it mean to compete in your second Olympics?
It would be amazing to be named to a second Olympic team and have another go at it. It’s the biggest stage we get to compete on, and I would love to put on a show for it. I’ve been grinding and working so hard these last four years to get where I am today, and it would mean a lot to me to reach that goal again.

What do you most look forward to leading up to the Olympics?
Being an Olympic year, I think we have a lot more people tuned in watching and paying attention to our events. That’s the best thing about it. I think mogul skiing is such an awesome sport and a great spectator event and love that the Olympic season brings in more attention to it.

As a two-time Olympian, what key piece of advice for first-time Olympians and athletes competing at the elite level?
Take it all in. It’s an amazing thing being able to travel the world and experience so many different cultures through a sport that you love. My advice would be to make the most of it. Every event, every run and every opportunity to explore.

How well do you know your competitors?
Very well. I have been on the World Cup with mostly the same competitors for seven years now, so we have all gotten to know each other fairly well. There are some language barriers, but it’s a small sport and a close community so we’re all familiar and friendly.

Do you have lucky charms for competitions?
I have a pocket full of lucky charms in my ski coat pocket that I’ve collected over the year–most of them from my mom. I don’t think of myself as a superstitious person, but I definitely have a routine leading up to and into competition. It’s more to create consistency than for superstitious reasons, though.

What role has your family played in your success?
My family has played a huge role in it all. They’re the ones who created my love for skiing and competing and have been my biggest supporters, believers and role models along the way. I wouldn’t be able to do what I do or be where I am without them.