Another day another interview...Today we spoke to Jernej Damjan

- He is one of the most nice guys in the WC circuit, always a smile for everyone, and last year with his national team (Slovenia) he proved how the hard work at the end pays off. SkiJumpingItaly continues to bring you ski jumping fans, some interviews with the most well known ski-jumpers and as it happened yesterday with some young promising stars like Atle Pedersen Rønsen. This time, we have the pleasure to bring you into Jernej Damjan world, so we hope you like our little conversaition with the slovenian ski jumper.- SJI: Hello Jernej, ready to start a new season? SGP first, and WC next winter.

JD: My season has started on the first day after Planica. I was already in training at 6pm on monday. I have tried something new this year. TRX training has proven to me to be a great way to boost my overall fitness, stamina, power and core strength. I have been working hard since and in may I will take a short break, before I start training on the hill. I'm getting married this summer, so I do not think I will participate in all of SGP. My goal is to go to all competitions in September and October. My main goal stays winter WC in which I want to do good.

SJI: How was last season for you and the whole team?

JD: I can't speak for the whole team, but I can say for me it was ok with its usual ups and downs that I dont like so much. I have started good, but after Harrachow my results have fallen down. At the end I have to say it was quite ok. We have won a bronze medal in SFWC in Vikersud witch means a lot to me and has given me a lot of motivation for the upcoming seasons.

SJI: Since Goran Janus started as head coach in Slovenia the whole team improved incredibly fast and now you have the ski-flying world-champion and a bronze medal in the team competition. What do you think is possible within the next seasons, if the progress continues like that?

JD: It is great to work with Goran. He is a great coach. He is strict but he gives the competitor just enough free mind to let them know that at the end you are alone on the top of the hill. After such a good season it will be hard for us to do better next year, but there is always room for progress and I think we are all capable of doing just that.

SJI: Let’s talk about the the future, Fiemme 2013 and Sochi 2014, what’s your goal?

JD: My goal is every season at the time. I have three medals from the world championships but non from Olympics so I would like to get one in Sochi.

SJI: What do you think about the new ski jumping suit? Have you already tested it?

JD: I have heard about it but this rule has not been confirmed yet. I will wait till confirmation and then start testing. My personal opinion is that this is not a good idea. Because it means that we will jump with a lot more speed, fly higher and fall to the ground much harder that we had. I hope this will not happen, but I have jumped in suites like that in the past and that was the thing that happened. Ski jumping will become ski falling, if you ask me, but let us wait and see.

SJI: What are your personal aims for the future?

JD: I know I have a lot of room for progress. As always I want to do my best and jump good. I will concentrate on ski jumping for at least a few years and then on the company I have started.

SJI: We know you started a clothing line, do you want to make this as a professional after your ski jumping career?

JD: I have started to sale my own clothing line in Slovenia and opened an online store www.pro-shop.si with my fianceè, where you can see everything. I know I can't be a ski jumper for whole my life, so I have started to work on something that I like and what I would gladly do when I finish my career. I have made a deal with company Progress Sportswear for a distribution in Slovenia. They have been my sponsor for 4 years and I have to say the clothes are great. If you are not from Slovenia and still want to buy you can visit the page www.cheyenne-sport.de.

SJI: What would you like the fans to know about you, or do you have a wise word to them in general?

JD: That is a new question in an interview for me. Follow ski jumping and follow me. I will never let you without a smile.

SJI: Talking about the fans what kind of relationship do you have with them?

JD: I'm happy to have all the fans that i have. I'm always trying to be in a good relationship with my fans. They can follow me on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/JernejDamjanAthlete) on jernejdamjan.com or on twitter (www.twitter.com/RealJDamjan) to see what is happening in my life. I'm really happy of all the autograph request that I get and I respond to them all. It is so nice to see that so many people like me, support me and follow my career.

SJI: Use three words to describe yourself, and three words to describe ski jumping.

JD: Me: smiling, persistant, hyperactive; Ski jumping: fun, addiction, my life.

www.pro-shop.si www.facebook.com/prominushop.si www.twitter.com/RealJDamjan www.facebook.com/JernejDamjanAthlete Consuelo Conte [@KokkaMufc]

#jernejdamjan #slovenia #interview #news