Nickname

Jaque

Favorite Book

Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

What’s on my iPod

The full spectrum (minus country): rock, blues, hip hop, acid jazz, reggae, electronic, world. If it’s good and chill, then I’m into it.

Education

I read a lot.

Hobbies/Interests

Playing guitar and learning languages (I would like to learn to speak Russian before Sochi 2014).

Ultimate Holiday Destination

Sicamous, BC (not an exotic destination, but still one of my favorite places in the world — many great memories!) and Mexico (no place specific, I just love the people there. Tons of fun!)

I never leave home without…

forgetting something.

Who has had the most influence on your athletic career?

My family and all my teammates, friends, and coaches past and present. Offhand, I can’t think of any one person who’s had a particularly strong influence on my career or person in general, but I take a little bit from everyone around me.

Personal goals outside of sport

Learn to speak five languages to fluency.
Live and work more than a year in another country.

Favorite yoga pose

Corpse pose (savasana), because I don’t feel like I’m tearing anything.

Advice to young athletes

Are you having fun? That’s the most important thing, as much for young athletes as old ones (and outside of athletics as well). If you don’t enjoy what you do, get out and find something you do like before you waste any more time. If you do enjoy it, invest yourself in it 100 percent and enjoy the ride. You can’t go wrong when you’re doing what you love.

How did you get into freestyle?

I lucked out and got into the sport at a good time while Nicolas Fontaine was recruiting acrobats from various disciplines to try out aerials. I was a trampolinist at the time, and was already looking to move onto a new challenge (Cirque du Soleil was my first choice). He gave me the opportunity to try out aerials at the water ramps in Lac Beauport. To be honest, I didn’t fall for the sport immediately, but I loved the team and wanted to be a part of it. As soon as I started doing bigger tricks though (i.e. triples) I was completely hooked. Now I just love it, can’t wait to push myself even further.

Favorite meal

The curry that my Japanese roommates make is pretty hard to beat. Otherwise I’m big on Shepherds pie.

If I wasn’t an athlete I would be…

An actor or a musician.

Favorite World Cup spot and why

Moscow, because the site is so different. Jumping on a man-made hill in the middle of the city was such a cool feeling.