I have always felt that it was my destiny to be a winter athlete: I was born in a snowstorm, had skis on my feet at age two, and have lived in the Sierra Nevada mountains at Lake Tahoe my entire life. I love the feeling of snow on my face when I am outdoors surrounded by the power of nature.

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 An Olympic dream began when I kicked out of the start of my first race when I was six years old. My father, mentor and coach, Vojko - a top ski racer from Slovenia - was the one I wanted to ski like...and to beat.

I acquired a natural passion for skiing from him and launched my career in Alpine racing as a member of the Diamond Peak Ski Team. I raced in all disciplines throughout the Western Region and consistently placed at the top of my field as a young racer.

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When I was 16 years old, I was named to the U.S. Ski Team. In the six years as a National Team member, I achieved a high level of skill and success while pursuing my sport with focus and passion and embracing challenges with grit and grace. Being on the team freed my love of travel and exploring new cultures while I represented the USA racing on mountains around the world.

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I won my first North American Cup Slalom Overall Title in 2014, and was on my way to the World Cup. However, the next season I endured an injury that kept me from racing for 18 months.