The Winter Olympics are here, as if you didn't know. Cross-country skiing or if you prefer Nordic Skiing is dominated by Europeans where toddlers learn just after learning to walk.  Kikkan Randall is from Alaska and comes from an extremely completive family. She feels she has a good chance for a medal in the 2010 Olympics.  Her father first put her on skis when she was 1 year old.  As she grew older, she became a cross-country runner and that became her strength.  Then came the skiing and Ms. Randall became a great skier, Alpine and Nordic. 

The competition for both types of skiing made her have to choose one or the other (because they were held on the day in competitions) and Kikkan choose Nordic.  It took Randall four years to become an Olympian and she did becoming the first American woman to medal (silver) at the Nordic World Championships. Kikkan Randall must ski in the straight-stride or 'classical style' while she has more experience with the freestyle of Nordic skiing. She knows she has a hard road ahead of her but she says she is up to the challenge.  I will be watching for her...on TV.