As a first-year Older Junior, Truckee local Bernie Nelson is determined to place well at this year’s Junior Olympics, especially because she is on the host team.

After taking the State Championship crown last week at Auburn Ski Club, Nelson, a senior at Truckee High School, is one of the few athletes on the team who competed in the last Junior Olympics (’05) held at Auburn Ski Club.

She recalls ’05 as her “best Junior Olympics — ever” and said she hopes to top them this year.

What was it like skiing in the 2005 Junior Olympics and how does it feel to have the national championships return to ASC?
It was one of my best JOs. It’s cool to race on the same courses I did four years ago.
I’m a senior in high school and to have JOs return to ASC. It’s nice because there will be a lot of local support. I get to race on the trails I ski on everyday. I could race with my eyes closed.

What are your goals for Junior Olympics?
To just go for it — all out. I have nothing to lose. To take one home …at home.

What other advantages do you have having Junior Olympics at ASC?
Weather and altitude: I’m used to T-shirt racing (so warm you get to race in shirtsleeves) and training (here).

How do you think Far West will do as a team?
I expect big things from our little team. We’re stronger than we’ve ever been. We’ve got a young team but we had a young team in ‘05 and we did well (5th place.)

Who’s your biggest competition?
Any girl who skis in college and is competing in JOs is going to be fast. Then again, I didn’t have to deal with my first year of college this year. It’s hard to say. (Girls born in) ‘89-‘90, those girls are just amazing. We have a solid OJ category.

Bernie Nelson

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