Full Time Coach/NorthWest Cup Team

Experience: Ten + years coaching for SPAC and 3 years Head Buddy coach. Ten years coaching for Team Lyon. Referee, COR, COC. Level 3 PSIA.  Twelve years coaching for Ballard Soccer and National D license, referee.                                   

In his own words: After over 20 years of coaching and 50 years as a competitor, I have come to realize that sports should be fun. Having fun doesn’t mean that you aren’t competitive, having fun means that you are relaxed and if you are relaxed you will perform better. Being relaxed makes you confident and confidence is the key ingredient to be a successful athlete.

There was an article in Ski Racing by Franz Strobl former Austrian team member, 2 time winner of the Hahnenkamm and 31 podium finishes where he said:  "What I want to do in the future is bring kids on the snow....I just want to give kids an experience, or my way to find success in young people. I'm a special guy. I was always in the gate with a smile. I want to give that to the young boys and girls.”

There are two psychology professors at UW, Frank Smoll and Ronald Smith, who have written quite extensively on youth sports, they came up with these commandments for youth sports.

1. Sports should be fun

2. Anything worth achieving is rarely easy

3. Mistakes are a necessary part of doing well

4. Effort is what counts

5. Do not confuse worth with performance

6. Pressure is something you put on yourself

I think that these ideas are important for coaches and parents. The most important goal for a coach is to create a positive learning environment that emphasizes that success comes from within. All sports started as play and play was the way to learn life skills. Ski racing teaches the kids great values: sportsmanship, personal responsibility, honest effort, goal setting, teamwork, preparation, positive attitude, corrective instruction, effective communication, and above all to have fun.

-Jimmy

Off the slopes: Jimmy is an avid cyclist and is also handy with his tools as a master carpenter.  Jimmy dreams  to one day explore the ski areas of Japan.  Jimmy lives in Ballard with his wife and has two adult children Chiara and Colin, both former ski racers.