Similar to several other skiers I know, I grew up skiing at a very young age. I started in my dads backpack and by the time I was three I had my own skis strapped to my feet. My family and I went on day-long trips to Hatcher Pass and skied for hours, or maybe what seemed like hours to me at the time. By the time I was six, I was old enough to join the local Junior Ski Program known as the Jr. Nordic League. After a few practices I was hooked…so hooked I convinced my sisters to join me!br /br /div style=”text-align: center;”a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SYTQyzTmJJI/AAAAAAAAAQA/IOcGkLx0-Qo/s1600-h/00000001+-+Copy+%282%29.JPG”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 379px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SYTQyzTmJJI/AAAAAAAAAQA/IOcGkLx0-Qo/s400/00000001+-+Copy+%282%29.JPG” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297588632878982290″ border=”0″ //aspan style=”font-style: italic;”My family and I posing for a Christmas Ski picture in 1989br //span/divbr /My enthusiasm for skiing did not carry me all the way through elementary school. I was more intrigued with playing soccer than skiing. By the time I was in my “cool” junior high years, I decided that I really did not like skiing and after doing my first ski race I was sure that I would never race again! While my parents did not force me to keep skiing, they encouraged me to stick with it.br /br /div style=”text-align: center;”a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SYTRkKL9KXI/AAAAAAAAAQI/HFWbYe3aszs/s1600-h/00000002.JPG”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 350px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SYTRkKL9KXI/AAAAAAAAAQI/HFWbYe3aszs/s400/00000002.JPG” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297589480834541938″ border=”0″ //aspan style=”font-style: italic;”My sister and I decked out in our “cool” spandexbr /br //span/divBy the time I got to high school I joined the cross-country running team and right after joined the cross-country ski team. At this point, I enjoyed these sports from more of a social aspect. The more I skied and raced, the more I learned to enjoy it. As I got better and better, I produced improving results, which fired my desire to keep skiing. My parents and coaches were very instrumental in supporting and encouraging me and they continue to do so to this day!br /br /div style=”text-align: center;”a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SYTPk5E3cvI/AAAAAAAAAPo/tGPiKMzix0E/s1600-h/00000003+-+Copy.JPG”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 400px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SYTPk5E3cvI/AAAAAAAAAPo/tGPiKMzix0E/s400/00000003+-+Copy.JPG” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297587294398018290″ border=”0″ //aspan style=”font-style: italic;”span style=”font-style: italic;”span style=”font-style: italic;”Racing for East High School my freshman yearbr //span/span/span/divbr /After completing four years of racing on one of the best high school ski teams in the state, I decided to continue my ski ambitions as I pursued college. After skiing one year for Alaska Pacific University, I transferred to the University of Alaska Anchorage and skied for four successful years. Each year I produced improving results. As a result of my performances, I was asked to join an elite Olympic Development Team in Sun Valley, Idaho when I completed school.br /br /That is where I am today! I currently live and train in Sun Valley and I am a member of the Sun Valley Olympic Development Team. I can honestly tell you that I am very passionate about skiing and I am so thankful my parents introduced me to the sport and encouraged me to stick with it!div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5903545846797966075-5639140326986988592?l=in-the-arena-nicole.blogspot.com’//div
