"My Focus" is a weekly photo series in which TeamUSA.org (and @TeamUSA on Instagram) takes fans behind the scenes with some of the top Olympic and Paralympic athletes and hopefuls. Fans can get a glimpse into a day in the life of an athlete and see the hard work, dedication and sacrifice that is required on a daily basis to represent Team USA. In the eighth installment, follow snowboarder Alex Deibold as he trains in Boulder, Colorado.
1) Changing It Up
“My offseason training is pretty dynamic and is always evolving and changing because there are so many different aspects of fitness," said snowboardcross athlete Alex Deibold.
2) Off The Beaten Path
“One of my favorite parts about mountain biking is being out in nature, unplugging and being present.”
3) Lifetime Achievement
“I don't know if I will ever be able to put into words what it was like to win an Olympic medal," said Deibold. "You are flooded with so many different emotions at the same time that it's hard to sort them all out.”
4) Right At Home
“Boulder is such an amazing community of active, healthy people, with so much to do right in your backyard.”
5) On The Right Track
“My offseason starts with endurance, moves to strength and power, and goes into season with a focus on plyos and explosiveness.”
6) Hitting The Trails
“When you are flying downhill, toeing the line between control and disaster, you have to have absolute focus and be 100 percent in the moment."
7) Putting In The Work
“My gym workouts are a mix of building strength and preventing injury," said Deibold. "Like most athletes, I go through a progression.”
8) Lifelong Love
“I started snowboarding at age 4, and one of my first memories was building a jump on a hill behind my aunt and uncle’s house in Vermont, and hiking up and hitting it well into the dark every weekend."
9) Tools Of The Trade
“I have been riding bikes for as long as I can remember," said Deibold. "I started using it as a training tool in high school because it's way more fun than being in the gym.”
10) Grind Mode
“We are always working on different strengths and weaknesses. It's nice because it helps keep things fresh and interesting.”
11) Passion Project
“I love all of the different aspects of cycling - mountain, road, group rides, racing, I love it all.”
12) Love What You Do
“Fortunately for me, a lot of our training sessions outside of snowboarding are pretty unique and can sometimes be pretty fun.”
13) Scaling The Mountain
“The best part about living in Boulder is you can go from being downtown to the heart of the mountains in a matter of minutes.
