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WATERSKI Magazinenot surprisingly,the first to show up at the Orlando Airport was Jimmy Siemers. Making connecting flights and finding baggage claims is as instinctual to him as yanking his feet out of his jump binders.
“Planes are boring,” says the 17-year-old Round Rock, Texan. “The best part about traveling is the sleep.”
Siemers has been flying solo since he was 12. His dad, Jim, says, “Jimmy has a talent that not many others have. So, we want him to go out and ski against the best, wherever that might be.”
Despite being only 5'6″, Siemers stuck out on trips to France, Canada and both ends of the U.S. for two reasons: 1) He was hauling around a ski bag that could comfortably fit two Jimmy Siemers' lying head-to-toe; and 2) He was striking more gold and pounding another national record to pieces.
Even before the 1998 season started, some coaches were already calling Siemers the kid who would take three-event skiing off life support in the United States. Unfazed by sagging participation and complete disinterest in the slalom-jump-tricks trio which hasn't produced an American world overall champion since 1987, Siemers scared up for it some unexpected attention with one of the most prodigious seasons a junior skier has ever posted. He won overall championships at the U.S. Nationals, Pan American Championships and Junior Worlds, shattered Boys III national marks in tricks and jump, and was named Water Skier of the Year by the American Water Ski Association.
So serious is Jim Siemers about his son winning a world title that he hired Colombian national star Camilio Espinel the way a farmer hires a helping hand to break horses. Espinel moved into the Siemers' home last year and immediately earned his hot plate. Jimmy's personal best in tricks rocketed from 8,000 points to 9,590, and his jump standard off the 5.5-foot ramp (32 mph) went from 165 feet to 189 – All in the same amount of time it takes to grow a radish.
“We don't have a superstar in three-event right now,” says Siemers. “But that's what I want to do, be a three-eventer and be as good as Patrice [Martin].”
Looking straight up at an airline arrival board with all the panache of a traveling software salesman, he asks, “When's Justin coming?”
America's next three-event king is curious to finally meet the slalom “wunderkind” named Justin Seefried, though Jimmy doesn't know much about him.
“All I know is the kid's a good slalom skier, and he's big.”
Born: March 24, 1982 Hometown: Round Rock, Texas. In practice I'm: Tricking 10,000 points, jumping 180-plus, getting into 38-off in slalom. Most memorable moment: Breaking down and crying after winning the tricks title at World Juniors. Water-skiing heroes: Patrice Martin, Camilio Espinel When I'm not skiing I: Play soccer and volleyball; read magazines. Favorite Olympic moment: Watching the Japanese guy win snow-ski jumping in Nagano (1998) Favorite movie: Happy Gilmore Favorite music: Sublime, Sugar Ray I could live on: Blue Bell mint chocolate chip ice cream Most awesome place I've seen: The roller coasters in the Edmonton Mall On Friday nights I usually: Go to Chili's The person I'd most like to spend one day with: Michael Jordan
