Jonny Moseley on Yacht Racing
By Sharael Feist
2003
United’ States gold medal mogul skier Jonny Moseley is known for the “dinner roll,” but what’s next on his plate? Sailing apparently.
Having grown up in Tiburon, California, the tumultuous waters of the San Francisco Bay were his backyard, and that’s where he’ll re-enter the competitive sailing world–nearly a dozen years after leaving it.
Moseley will continue to ski professionally, but, at this time, he has decided not to compete in the 2006 Winter Olympics. Although he’s been known to change his mind, opting out of the Games leaves him enough spare time to fit yacht racing into his schedule. “While training for the Olympics, I didn’t have time to sail,”says Moseley. “Now I’d like to shift my focus to include sailing, since it’s something that I can do at home in the Bay Area.”
Currently, mogul skiing’s bad boy says he has no aspirations to go for the gold as a sailor, but he is looking forward to the festive and challenging environment it provides. “At this time, sailing is strictly a hobby for me,” he explains. “The elements can be pretty tough–like skiing–but I do enjoy the many challenges it offers. It’s very cerebral. Plus, it’s different from always being in the snow.”
Moseley, now only 27, left the competitive sailing circuit when he was a teenager to pursue professional skiing, but he says he always knew he’d return to the sport. “Sailing is the type of thing I can do when I’m gray,” he observes. “You get better as you get older.”
But, as he admits, with so many years spent focused on skiing, it’s going to take some time to get back in the sailing saddle: “I took years off from sailing. It’ll take me years to get back to where I was.”
Moseley and his older brothers, Rick and Jeff–who have also competed in sailing and skiing–are forming Team Moseley, along with two other rotating crews. For now, Team Moseley’s goal is to do well in the AUDI Melges World Championship regatta that will be held at the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco in October. Will they ever aim for the America’s Cup, the Olympics of sailing? That remains to be seen.