Clint Jones - Painter, angler, Hunter, and since the summer also a super-jumper
Just a year ago, the topic of conversation was the achievements of his teammate, Alana Alborna. This summer, a young man came out of the shadows, 17-yearly, Clint Jones, taking consecutive podium finishes and finishing the Summer Grand Prix in second place.
“I am so physically strong right now, like never before. I trained consistently and made the most of my opportunities, that we have in Park City,” says the confident American.
Clint Jones has been around for a long time on the ski jumping scene. When he was five, he started practicing this discipline. His role model was his five-year older brother Rob, who played for the national team, but his career was cut short by a heavy fall. He never repeated his earlier achievements.
“Mentally, he never quite recovered from it”, says Clint, who has known since the age of eight, that he wants to practice ski jumping in moderation. At the age of 13 years belonged to “developing” the United States team.
“The beginning was hard. I had long weeks off from school, but luckily for the last year I've been going to a private school with only six or seven students in a class. This allows you to better connect school and learning,” concludes the American.
Jones, next to ski jumping, lives a quiet life. Despite frequent travels and trainings, he also tries to devote time to other activities.
“I like fishing, I hunt and camp, I like active rest. I listen to a lot of music, I play guitar and paint.”
To, that his nature-related hobbies resemble those of Alan Alborn, who seeks peace in the forests of Alaska, is pure coincidence. “Admittedly, we're always room mates, but in private we hardly spend any time together.
Except when we fly. Alan has his plane near Park City, he brings us and takes us with him.”
Clint's best friend among the players is Finnish junior Kimmo Yliriesto. “I don't know many jumpers well, and with Kimmo I get on best.”
He will start his second season in the World Cup as an 18-year-old.
Jones still has plenty of time, to achieve your desired goal: World Cup or Olympic title win. However, he thinks himself, that these achievements are not equal: “The victory in the final classification of the World Cup confirms the good form demonstrated over a long period of time, which is perhaps more important in sports. You can become an Olympic winner if everything goes well that day. But for the public, this Olympic medal has much more value, than winning the World Cup. You always have to explain and prove something. The Olympic gold medal needs no extra words.”
The highlight of the season for Clint Jones will be the end of the season in Planica. “I look forward to this event all year long. There is no other hill like this one.”
To, that Planica is also a fan favorite, where the largest amounts of alcohol are sold, Clint has little to do with it.
“But the atmosphere during the competition is just great”, says Jones.
The American has his loyal fans despite, that he criticizes some: “I don't understand people, who run, to get an autograph, and then they ask: …and who is it anyway? I also had my idols. In America, everyone has a poster, some athlete, baseball player or football player, hung above the bed.
But these people admire and adore this person for a reason, they know her, follow, they do and they know what they are doing. It means something.
I understand, but no, if someone collects autographs and doesn't know who they are from.”
Jones has always been an admirer of Espen Bredesen. “I guess, that's just cool”.
If Clint Jones's career goes up that fast, like this summer, he will never be asked for his name again.
Other people will talk about it: he is just cool.