I tried retiring a couple of times and it just didn't really stick so, but at some point enough things conspire together and it does stick.
Join the bold, the brazen, the unintimidated. Join not having excuses. Join the idea that fun is the source of all joy. Join the unwillingness to give up. Join doing things your way. Join not joining. Join that purpose is stronger than outcome. Join your gut. Join the constant challenge of seeking greatness. Join play. Join the hunger to find what makes you happy. Join karma and nature and the effect you have on your world. Join your philosophy. Join something bigger than you. Join what you believe.
It is not that I don't recognize the danger in ski racing, but that I don't fear the consequences.
The best way to protect your own freedom is to watch everybody else's back. That's the essence of community.
Obviously, you always want to win, but you want to win by skiing a race that you're proud of and you feel like you really challenged yourself and left it all out there.
Sometimes I'm disciplined, but I like to be a total slacker, too. I party hard, but I train hard.
I've been myself my whole life.
Sometimes it's all about the win, sometimes it's about the skiing.
My goal is the same as every year - to not hurt myself.
It does matter that it's the Olympics. I just did it my way. I'm not a martyr, and I'm not a do-gooder. I just want to go out and rock. And man, I rocked here.
I'm still having fun and as long as skiing is enjoyable, I'm going to continue to do it.
Ski racers are built odd with overbuilt butts and legs.
One kid's old, used-up equipment is another kid's brand-new, awesome, awesome equipment.
If I could wish one thing for anyone, it would be to not have to do anything his entire life-just go along and when you feel like doing something, do it.
I went through a period at boarding school when my coaches wanted me to switch to snowboarding because they thought I was no good at skiing. I was too skinny. I had terrible technique. They were saying I should be a snowboarder, and luckily, I resisted.
When you back off, it's easier to do mistakes. For me it's better to ski fast.
Some people say I make mistakes. I just say that this is the secret of enjoying life. I hate monotony. Why don't they leave me freedom of choice? People want to impose choices which aren't necessarily mine. That's the mistake people make.
The only mental games in ski racing is the mental game against yourself. Is the whole goal of life preserving your life as long as you can? No. The goal is to enjoy your life, challenge yourself, to sometimes make stupid decisions-which are sometimes fun and sometimes idiotic and sometimes just a big fat mistake you regret.
Despite all the pressure and the caliber of accomplishment, I still can honestly say that it's not all about winning.
I don't care what other people's judgments come down to-I care what my judgments come down to.
There's been times when I've been in really tough shape at the top of the course. Talk about a hard challenge right there. I mean, if you ever tried to ski when you're wasted, it's not easy. Try and ski a slalom when … you hit a gate less than every one a second, so it's risky, you know. You're putting your life at risk there. It's like driving drunk only there's no rules about it in ski racing.
I can take $15,000 a year and raise kids on that. Later, they'll figure out I've got millions, but hopefully they'll have the values to say, 'So what?
When I was little, I spent a lot of time by myself. When other kids were in school, I was skiing and thinking about things. I was alone on the mountain.
You feel the Olympics and you get chills and nervous and a little scared. You go through the emotional roller coaster at what it's like to compete at the Olympic level and you let that run through your whole body.
At this point in my career, I have the privilege of choosing my partners. In the beginning, you more or less take what comes in the door - or what matches up with your brand. But you're always subject to what's available, especially in the ski world where there are not infinite choices, especially on the fashion side.
