Questions and answers with Forest Lake High School Nordic skier Joe Jackson.

How did you get started with Nordic skiing? Through my current coach [Deno Johnson], who told me about it in seventh grade cross-country.

How has your coach helped you improve during your time at Forest Lake? By teaching me how to be humble and how to train hard.

What is one thing you hope to improve with your skiing as the season progresses? Shorten the gap between (Lakeville North's) Ben Saxton (2011 state boys' Nordic ski racing champion) and myself at the state meet.

How does the lack of snow affect your practice and training? Have you had to travel far to find the snow? We have to train at a single location (Trollhaugen) instead of being able to ski at different places. Not sure that we could find any [snow] even if we traveled!

Explain your waxing strategy. Does the type of snow make any difference on how you wax your skis? This has been an odd year since there hasn't been much "fluffy" snow, so we end up waxing for "dirty, fake and old" snow. For races, we either follow the charts, go off of past experience or ask [someone.]

Do you prefer Classic style or freestyle skiing? I don't really have a preference.

When you are not skiing or doing homework, you are probably... Snowboarding or playing hockey.

Any pre-meet superstitions or rituals? Listen to music.

ANDREW KNEELAND