By Julie Huss
DERRY — A Pinkerton Academy skier hopes to earn high scores on the slopes this week as part of the National Junior Alpine Championships.
The event runs through March 9 at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine.
Emily Husson, a sophomore, will join other young skiers in downhill, Super G, giant slalom, and other slalom races.
Husson is one of a group of 15 skiers representing the eastern region in this year's national competition.
Emily has skied since she first learned to walk, according to her mother, Kim Husson. At the age of 8, she began ski racing.
"Emily and her family ski at Cannon Mountain in Franconia and she also races for the Franconia Ski Club," Husson said. "She won the J2 state championships earlier this year, placing first in all three events — the slalom, giant slalom, and Super G."
Husson said her daughter is very involved in activities and sports at Pinkerton.
She is a member of the academy's ski team and played soccer for several years before her sophomore season was cut short due to an injury.
As for her daughter's favorite skiers? Husson said Emily's absolute favorite skier is Austria's Benjamin Raich, whom she met last December in Beaver Creek, Colo.
"And aside from Bode Miller of Franconia, her favorite U.S. skiers are Andrew Weibrecht (who won a bronze medal in Vancouver) and Julia Mancuso ( who earned a silver medal in downhill and super combined in Vancouver)," her mother said.
The junior nationals includes two downhill races, a slalom, a giant slalom and a Super G.
The top skiers could earn the chance to advance toward United States team status and future international competitions.
