Who is Jett Seymour?
Hi all! My name is Jett Seymour, I am a professional ski racer from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I am currently on the US Ski Team B Team and represent the United States on the World Cup slalom tour. This past season I was finally able to take the speed that I have been showing at the Europa Cup level and put it on display on the World Cup tour. Highlighted by a 7th place result at the Chamonix World Cup this past season was the most successful to date. It was quite the thrill and it has left me hungry for more!
Outside of skiing, I love to be outdoors. When I was younger I raced cross-country mountain bikes and my love for that sport continues to this day. However, I realized that going downhill is WAY more fun on mountain bikes than going uphill so these days I take it easy on the uphill and send it on the down. I also have a love for backpacking adventures. When I was around 10 years old, a friend’s dad took a group of us backpacking for the first time. We made it a tradition and every year, for the next ten years, we went backpacking for my friend’s birthday. The experience of being completely unplugged and immersed in nature is so peaceful and totally necessary, especially as a professional athlete.
My Unique Path
My path to the World Cup is different than most skiers. After high school, I chose to go to straight to college and ski full time for the University of Denver. That was also the first year I was named to the US Ski Team. Juggling school work while trying to compete at a high level was difficult, yet provided diversity in my life. It wasn’t all about skiing.
My first two years in college I really struggled with skiing and who I was as a person. In hindsight going through this struggle benefitted my career greatly. I found a deeper love for skiing by ski racing in college for a team. That love is what drives and motivates me to not only be the best ski racer but to give back to the sport that has shaped me as a person. This love propelled me to win the 2019 NCAA Slalom Champion and receive the Colorado Snowports Hall of Fame Collegiate athlete of the year.
A Love Story
I grew up in Steamboat Springs, Colorado skiing under the lights on the world famous city park known as Howelsen Hill. When I was really young my Dad would go ski and carry me along with him in his jacket, I was probably 8 weeks old. I started skiing when I was around 2 years old and the rest is history. I often get asked why I love skiing so much and for a while I didn’t have an answer. Then one day I finally realized that it is because I grew up skiing with my family. The reason I was skiing wasn’t because my parents envisioned me being a successful ski racer but because my parents had a love of skiing. They met through skiing and wanted to pass that special gift down to their kids. My two younger brothers and I fully embraced it and I will always cherish the family ski days.
Family
Family has always been a big part of my life. I have twin younger brothers, that after I realized weren’t temporary and were staying, I learned to really appreciate and cherish their friendship. My brothers are my best friends. Growing up, sports are what we did as a family. My parents are the ones that introduced me to all the sports that I continue to love today (except surfing.) As a family we mountain biked in the summer and skied in the winter, and played soccer in the fall and spring. Our vacations were to wherever we could drive with 5 bikes or 5 pair of skis in the car, and a football, soccer ball, and hacky sack were never far from reach.
My brothers are incredible and have also achieved success on their ski path. Both ski for D1 colleges; one at the University of Denver (who is clearly my favorite) and the other at the University of Colorado Boulder.
My parents weren’t pushy crazy sport parents, they were just involved in our sports as kids. My dad coached soccer, my mom ran the ski club and started a mountain bike program. They supported our interests and became involved.
Having a tight knit family created a supportive environment that allowed us to succeed and develop a love for the outdoors and a passion for skiing. This is what helped me realize that family is the most important thing in the world.
