BGBS Episode 012: Take Three Deep Breaths and Go For It!
Ross Powers was a kid from a small town in Vermont who dared to dream big and defy the odds. As a result, at 19 years old, he won the first U.S. medal in snowboarding. Ross may appear humble and soft spoken, but when he has a snowboard under his feet, he’s a stone-cold competitor and sets the standard for what it means to be a pro.
You’ll Learn…
- In 1998, before Ross dropped into the halfpipe, he envisioned a perfect run; he tried not to overthink it before he took three, deep breaths and decided to go for it
- How making history affected his life – wherever he went, people wanted to chat
- Ross will never forget when he received his first snowboard as a Christmas gift from his mother in 1987-88
- Painting the picture of popularity of snowboarding – Ross basically grew up with the sport; few snowboarders at first to bond and ride with, which created a culture
- Ross joined a training program to improve his skills and participate in events
- Love what you do; Ross made a commitment, worked hard, pushed himself, made the team, made some money, travelled, and experienced success
- Practice and preparation it takes to perform at the Olympic level
- Going pro involves freebies, big money, endorsement deals, and making a living
- Olympics: Despite being there to “work,” take time to enjoy the whole experience
- Push yourself, if you want to be the best you can and keep improving
- Aftermath of winning a gold medal included celebrating with family/friends and perks like going to the Daytona 500 and being on the David Letterman Show
- Ross learned what to expect and how to handle being in the spotlight; be positive and work hard because everyone is watching
- Ross now works as a coach at Stratton Mountain School and started the Ross Powers Foundation to help others
Resources
Quotes from Ross Powers:
“I actually didn’t realize how big the Olympics were until I got home…couldn’t even go to the grocery store.”
“I just kind of grew up with the sport. An adventurous ride with always something new popping up and something to challenge me.”
“I always think to try to push it harder, if you want to be the best you can and always keep improving.”
