Aerialist Omischl a study in confidence
Canadian freestyle skier in best shape of his career
Last Updated: Monday, January 4, 2010 | 12:04 PM ET
John Pudy, CBC Sports
With three consecutive world championships to his credit, Steve Omischl is a study in calm confidence. (Mike Ridewood/Canadian Press)The key to aerial jumping is always knowing where you are in the air. For defending World Cup champion Steve Omischl, 31, that skill has proved useful in all aspects of his life.
"I realize what is important and what is not," said the freestyle skier. "I don't get caught up in the little thing [or] things out of my control."
Having been on the national team for 11 years and with three consecutive world championships to his credit, Omischl is a study in calm confidence.
"I have experience, I believe in the work I have put in to be in this position, that is my advantage," Omischl continued.
He also points out he now knows what to expect and how to adjust to a wide variety of changing conditions and situations.
But an Olympic Games on home soil is unique.
Omischl, who grew up in North Bay, Ont., and now lives in Kelowna, B.C., points out that focusing on any single event is not a good thing, but it's difficult not to focus on the Vancouver Olympics.
"The hardest part is turning it off," he admits. "We can't turn it off, you try and relax and watch TV and you see 10 commercials about it. You go to the grocery store and someone recognizes you. There is no off switch for us now, to get away from the Olympics, and that is really different than other years."
Focus on dominance
Even with the whirlwind year of media and sponsor demands leading up to this World Cup season, Omischl continues to focus on what has made him the dominant aerialist in the world, despite starting the World Cup season with back-to-back fifth and fourth-place showings.
"I think as I have gotten older I have become more professional, the way I approach training and competing. I am doing all the little things off the hill as much as on the hill."
The one thing missing from Omischl's trophy case is an Olympic medal. While competing in both 2002 and 2006, he was unable to turn his World Cup success into an Olympic medal.
"In '02 I was young and dumb and had no idea what to expect … I thought the Olympics was going to change my life forever," Omischl said.
"It was an overwhelming experience for a young guy who had never experienced that before. In '06, I was very calm and relaxed but hadn't trained for six months going into the Games [as a result of plantar fasciitis - a painful inflammatory condition centred in the arch of his foot] and tried to do a harder jump than I was capable of, it was just a silly mistake."
Coming in to these Olympics, Omischl is a strong bet to finally conquer the Games. Aside from his three world titles, he was undefeated last season on home soil, and that includes the test event at Cypress Mountain — where he'll be competing in the Olympics.
He is better than ever, able to make the "big" jump when he needs to and is in the best shape of his career both mentally and physically.
But what makes Omischl the biggest threat to the competition is his attitude.
"If I had to retire tomorrow, I would be more than happy with my career," he said. "I can't weigh myself on seven seconds in 2002 and seven seconds in 2006.
"When you take a step back and look at it, all I am trying to do is put on my skis, ski into the jump with confidence and get a nice take off. If it goes well, great, if it doesn't, what can you do, that's life."
