Pro Skier Jess McMillan Shows Passion and Perseverance Pushing Through an Injury Stricken Season
After starting off the 2010/11 Ski Season on the right foot, filming on location with Warren Miller in Portillo, Chile, and Skiing Big Lines in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Jess McMillan ran into a severe injury, sidelining her for most of the season. But Jess emerged stronger than ever.
- (1888PressRelease) May 04, 2011 - Phoenix, AZ - An avid freeskiing fan might ask, "What's up with Jess McMillan this season? Haven't seen her name on the start list in a while… is she filming ski movies on location? I don't think so, but I'm sure she's killing it somewhere"
Jess started off the 2010/11 Ski Season by winning the Freeskiing World Tour in Chile. Then she headed out to Portillo, Chile for 10 days with Spyder to film on location with Warren Miller Entertainment. Early reports of the WME footage from the shoot are good and fans are clamoring for the release of the film next fall
Fans saw an early season video release of Jess hucking herself off big cliff and everyone was excited about the season to come. But when Jess fell off the scene, friends began calling her, saying: "Yo Jess! What's up? We haven't seen your name in a while. You were killing it early season: winning in Chile and filming with Warren Miller. What were you doing all winter? Chicken farming? Haha, we heard you have chickens." While Jess was stoked to have her friends checking in on her, there were no chickens involved. Although, Jess would've had more fun that way.
While in South America, Jess took a big fall and knocked herself out. Being the stubborn, tough Wyoming girl that she is, Jess didn't go see a doctor right away. Instead, Jess headed back to Jackson to begin serious training with one goal in mind… Win the Freeride World Tour that she had come so close to winner the previous season.
Training was going well; the snow was pounding Jackson and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort opened wall to wall for the season ( http://vimeo.com/20622347 ). That is about the time that trouble ensued. X-rays revealed that Jess had a 30 degree subluxation of her C1-C5. After hanging with a specialist in California, who normally treats NFL line backers and professional wrestlers with neck injuries and she finally come to the realization that she had a very serious injury.
When asked about her injury, Jess said, "I have never really been injured. And I didn't want to admit that I was. I cancelled my tickets to Chamonix and then to La Clussaz. It wasn't until I was watching the third stop of the Freeride World Tour from the doctor's office that I finally admitted to myself that I was hurt." After 2 months in California, Jess was finally cleared to ski groomers, then off to the soft powder and now is back to almost full force.
When asked to recall her first experience with forced down-time, Jess said "It's interesting what you find yourself doing while you are injured. I was invited to speak with Kit Deslauriers for the Historical Society of Jackson Hole. Normally I would be traveling and not have enough time to put together a presentation mid season. Not this year. All I had was time. It was an honor to speak in front of 200 people and know that I will always be a part of Jackson Hole History."
Showing her passion for life, determination, and perseverance, Jess looks to the future, "I'm back in Jackson and more fired up to ski then I have ever been. I am 90% recovered and healing every day. The Tetons have a record snow pack. I have been training hard to be ready to ski in the Tetons when the snow pack mellows out. My goal is to ski most of the cathedral peaks: Buck, South, Middle, Grand, Tewinotte, and Moran. This summer I will be going to New Zealand in August and then to Argentina for the rest of the season. I have two conflicting goals for next year. My primary goal is to film with TGR (Teton Gravity Research) and Warren Miller Entertainment. My secondary goal is to win the Freeride World Tour. Regardless, I will be stronger than I have ever been."
Jess speaks highly of her sponsors, who stood by her through her injury and continue to back her during her recovery. Special Thanks to: Backcountry.com, Jackson Hole Resort, JanSport, Marker, Scott, Tecnica, Volkl, Spyder, WebItDesigns.com, and WIDSIX.com
Contact:
Jess McMillan - Professional Skier, Climber, Trail Runner, Hiker Follow Jess' adventures, on and off the slopes, at http://jessmcmillan.com
Website questions or comments: http://WIDSIX.com - Digital Branding for Professional Athletes
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