Under 23 Questions with Taeler McCrerey

In an effort to showcase the North Americans competing at this week’s International Ski Federation (FIS) 2017 USANA Nordic Junior World Championships and U23 Cross Country World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah, we asked those qualifying athletes several questions about themselves — actually, we had them fill in the blanks. Here we have 19-year-old Taeler McCrerey, of the University of Denver, representing the U.S. at her first Junior Worlds.

On Wednesday, she raced to 20th in the 5 k freestyle, and she’s one of four U.S. woman on the start list for Friday’s 10 k skiathlon.

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“My full name is Taeler Linnea Mccrerery, but you can call me Taeler. I was born in Frisco, Colorado, raised in Frisco, Colo., and one thing you should know about my hometown is we have beautiful mountains.

I started cross-country skiing when I was fourteen, thanks to my brother, Tucker. I currently train in Denver with the University of Denver Ski Team.

If I’m not skiing, you might find me enjoying the sunshine.

One of the things I’m most excited about for Junior Worlds at Soldier Hollow is representing the U.S on home soil! One race I’m especially targeting there is the 5 k freestyle.

The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing was slow is controlled, and controlled is fast.

If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be Stina Nilsson.

If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I’ll probably be a trauma nurse.

I’m missing seven days of school to be here, and my teachers are probably thinking, ‘Is she still in my class?‘

You can follow me on Instagram  at @taelerlinnea.”