AST Athlete Journal: Jamie Heisz

Hey Alberta ski family!
As the snow is starting to blanket all of the mountains in the Bow Valley, I hope you’re all getting as excited to ski again as I am!

I’m Jamie and this is my first year on the Alberta ski team and I am super excited to share my first athlete journal of the season with you all.

After moving to Alberta almost 4 years ago, I spent my first few years of FIS at NASA with Tom Penney and Hannah Penkala. My skiing journey definitely would not be where it is today without the tremendous support I received from them. I can honestly say that Nasa is an amazing group of people from teammates to some of the coolest coaching staff out there!

I am writing to you after a very long day of Alpine Canada fitness testing and I can already assure you that I will be feeling sore tomorrow! Today was a challenging day filled with a series of tests designed to push us in every direction – strength, power, agility, and endurance. Fitness testing has always been something I get super nervous about regardless of how prepared I feel, and today was no exception. Josh giggled when I mentioned that my heart rate was above 120 from the moment I woke up this morning, but he was right – there really was no reason for me to be stressed. Although this is a day that most of us dread doing, it also marks the first time in months that Alberta athletes come together. There is something so special about our competitors coming together and supporting each other. While pushing through the beep test, I can definitely feel the gym’s energy and the unique sense of camaraderie as everyone cheers each other on. Overall, I am super proud of what the team accomplished, we crushed it!!!

Since returning from Chile, I have been enjoying some well-deserved downtime and quality time with my family (mostly my 2 dogs!! :)) The past couple of weeks have been filled with productive workouts with Nate at CSI. While it was fun to get creative with our dryland training in Chile, it feels awesome to be back in a gym after having limited access while we were there. We’ve not only been hitting the gym hard, but we also had our first nutrition session of the year! This was new for most of us, making it both interesting and beneficial. Sports nutritionist Lauren broke down how to properly fuel during our training sessions to maximize performance and recovery. The best takeaway from this session was that chocolate bars and dessert will be making me a better ski racer!!!

We’re now at the tail end of our off-snow summer preparation, with just a few days left before we kick off training at Nakiska! While I’m not exactly looking forward to the cold Nakiska wind, I’m definitely excited to get back on snow and gear up for the season ahead!

Before I wrap up this athlete journal, I want to acknowledge that it is now November – Men’s Mental Health Month! For those of you who know me, you know that I will always be a big advocate for mental health in all forms. Last year during this month, I shared a post that was very close to my heart, and I’d like to extend the message even further!

“A letter to all the men in my life…
Throughout your lives, you, as men, have been taught to be strong, calm, and unshakable in the face of challenges. You’ve been conditioned to believe that expressing vulnerability or seeking help is a sign of weakness. However, it is so very obvious that this perspective is not only outdated but harmful to your well-being.

It is okay to acknowledge that men, too, experience moments of doubt, stress, and emotional struggles. And, more importantly, it is okay to reach out for support when you need it.

I never want to stop expressing that I will be your support. You don’t have to face your challenges alone. I encourage you to be mindful of your own struggles and to be open to conversations. Feel free to start that conversation in my DM.
I am here for you,

I love you, Jamie”

We are super excited to see what this season has in store for us and are super thankful to all of our team sponsors who make it possible! Thank you to GMC Dealers of Alberta, Karbon Sports, and Genstar Canada!!!