Jake Fejos: Sensational Ski Captain

Fejos’ history with skiing dates back to when he was three years old. Fejos used to accompany his parents on their skiing trips in Vermont: “My parents enjoyed skiing for fun on the weekends, so I accompanied them as our family’s tradition.” At age seven, he joined a ski team there, a step that turned his skiing from pastime to competitive. Fejos noted how mountains in the region have ski programs open to any age group, saying, “Since the day I joined the program, I have stuck with it.” In eighth grade, he joined the Hopkins Ski Team.

Fejos’ affinity for skiing was abruptly interrupted when Covid shut down the slopes he skied on, causing him to miss two seasons. He explained that he had visited Mount Snow Academy weekly before the lockdown. Reflecting on that period, Fejos recalled what skiing meant to him prior to Covid: “Before, I skied for fun with friends I had known since I was young.” The lockdown, as well as his hiatus from the sport, changed his view on skiing: “It was after missing two seasons of racing that I realized how much I liked doing it– only after it was taken from me.” After the lockdown, Fejos reminisced on his previous experiences on the Mount Snow Academy Ski team, crediting it for incentivizing him to “pursue skiing more seriously.”

Revisiting his time in the sport, one defining challenge stood out to Fejos the most. He stated, “Travelling three hours and losing your whole run due to a fall is a nerve-racking thought that bothers me occasionally.” To combat this feeling, he implements a resilient mindset: “Lately, I have taken the attitude that ‘it is what it is.’ Hopefully, I can do my best, but if not, there is always another chance for me to go for.” Similarly, rather than dwelling on who shows up to the races and how they will compare to him, Fejos chooses to focus on his own progress outside the statistics. 

As a captain on the team, Fejos focuses on inclusion and teamwork, especially given the wide range of ages and ability level within the team. He explained, "New teammates often get nervous on race days. By making sure they understand the course and answering questions, I can alleviate any pre-game jitters they could be feeling.” Along with keeping teammates composed, Fejos also emphasized the importance of honesty with his team: “I always try to be transparent with them by saying things like, ‘This is hard, but I know you can do this,’ or ‘You are capable of doing more than you think.” This approach is shaped by his previous experiences from navigating the sport at a young age. Having been in his teammates' shoes, Fejos understands the pressure they feel: “When I was younger, I always felt unsure before big moments such as age group changes.” 

His sports experience and sincere geniality hasn’t gone unnoticed by teammates. The co-captains and teammates have seen firsthand how his composure and expertise glue the team together. Co-captain Aiden Chan ‘26, who has known Fejos since kindergarten, admires him for being “a guiding force with deep knowledge of the sport.” Chan also recalled that during their most recent race, Fejos “sat on the side of the trail with me and gave every racer that skied by advice.” Fejos’ astuteness was echoed by other co-captains as well. Ella Rinaldi ‘26 opined that if you have questions about your skiing, you go to him. She continued: “He is always available to give good advice.”

Varsity Ski Team Head Coach John Isaacs, who has been coaching and mentoring Fejos for the past five years, admires his innate coordination. He stated, “Fejos is strong and very technical. He has tremendous power and pop when he lays into a carved turn, especially on the race course.” Beyond his physical skills, Isaacs has seen continuous growth from Fejos over time: “I have seen frustration turn into growth over the years.” Isaacs noted, “Above all, he constantly works to incorporate new ideas.” 

This dedication has yielded results for Fejos. Isaacs remarks that “each year he is closer to the top.” In the most recent races, he placed fourth and third above hundreds of other skiers. A first-place finish is still uncharted territory for Hopkins according to Isaacs, but Fejos’ commitment suggests that milestone may soon be within reach. Fejos plans on continuing to ski in college, though not competitively.