From COVID-era soccer player to podium-chasing ski racer, Jayden Cai is building something special — one turn at a time.
There are athletes who discover their sport early, who seem born to it. Then there are those who stumble into it sideways — through boredom, a friend’s suggestion, a global pandemic — and somehow end up completely consumed. Jayden Cai is very much the latter.
The fourteen-year-old from the North Shore first snapped into a pair of ski boots during the COVID lockdowns, when a restless schedule and a mother’s resourcefulness led him up to the mountain for something — anything — to do. He’d been a soccer player before that, and a competitive swimmer. Skiing was just supposed to fill the gap.
It did rather more than that.
“One day he came home and said, ‘Mom, this is something I love.'”
— JAYDEN’S MOTHER
From Third Last to the Podium
There’s something quietly powerful about athletes who don’t start at the front—but find their way there through persistence, curiosity, and the right environment.
“The first year in U12, I was like third last,” he admits with a laugh. “Like the very bottom.”
This past season marked a clear step forward.
|
1st Whistler Parsons Coastal Zone Super-G |
2nd Provincials Sun Peaks Tech Open Giant Slalom |
4th BC Alpine 2026 Teck U16 PRS M |
U16 Current category |
But within the Cypress Ski Club environment, results weren’t the only measure that mattered. Progress, effort, and learning how to improve became the foundation.
That mindset—and the people around him—shaped how he approached the sport. Instead of stepping away, he leaned in and was supported by a program that gave him the space to grow.
Why skiing is nothing like any other sport
Ask Jayden what makes ski racing different and he’ll tell you about feeling. Not results, not rankings — feeling. It’s a word that comes up again and again when he talks about his development, an almost philosophical anchor for how he understands the sport.
“Skiing is a very feeling sport. You have to be able to feel with the snow — what you’re doing, everything in between. It’s not like basketball or football where if you’re physically strong, you’ll probably be good. Skiing is like you have to feel it.”
— JAYDEN CAI
That loop—ski, review, adjust—is part of the daily rhythm. Coaches guide it. Teammates share it. And over time, athletes begin to recognize what “good” actually feels like.
“A lot of the times you feel good, like you’re over the ski. But then in the video you’re just one straight line, just leaning in,” he says. “When you’re doing video review, you can kind of feel what it should be like — and then you memorize that feeling for the next training session.”
Chasing results versus chasing skiing
This season presented a particular challenge for Jayden. Coming off a dominant U14 campaign where he won consistently, he entered U16 with high expectations — and found that success brought its own trap.
“Last year when I won all the races, it helped me not focus too much about my technique,” he reflects. “I was just doing what I was doing good in the beginning of the season and staying there. This year was kind of like up and down, up and down.”
“I was trying to win everything, and instead of focusing on my skiing, I was focused more on the result. So, my skiing wasn’t very good.”
— JAYDEN CAI
It’s a common turning point for developing athletes—when expectations rise, and focus shifts away from process. At Cypress Ski Club, that’s where coaching and structure matter most. The emphasis stays on development, even when results fluctuate.
Visualization plays a big role, too. Jayden treats a course inspection not just as route-finding but as scenario planning, running mental simulations to identify where he might lose time, where he can attack.
“Your brain is like a computer,” he says. “You can run scenarios — sometimes I run them a bit faster just to see where I would have trouble.”
Looking Ahead
His sights are set on FIS, and he understands what the transition brings: a reshuffling of the order, athletes who’ve trained year-round for years, physical development that can change the standings dramatically. But the foundation is there: strong habits, a clear mindset, and a community that supports long-term growth.
“If you have a very clear end goal and a clear path to that end goal, it’s a lot easier to stay motivated and know what you have to do.”
— JAYDEN CAI
Because at Cypress Ski Club, success isn’t just measured in podiums. It’s measured in how athletes develop—how they think, how they adapt, how they support one another, and how they carry themselves through the sport and beyond.
Jayden’s story is a reminder that ski racing is about more than results. It’s about discovering resilience, building confidence, learning discipline, and finding joy in the process. That’s what it means to be part of Cypress Ski Club and that’s how we continue Inspiring Skiers for Life.
And behind every athlete’s journey is a community that makes it possible. We extend our sincere thanks to parents, coaches and sponsors for their continued support of our athletes and programs. Your commitment helps create opportunities, build confidence, and fuel the passion that drives performances like Jayden’s. We are truly grateful to have you as part of our team.
