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Nate Holland will chase Olympic gold to add to his collection of X Games hardware. Photo by Harry How

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Olympics 2010: Nate Holland

Medal favorite in boardercross

** UPDATE **

Nate Holland advanced to the boardercross finals in Olympic competition at Cypress Mountain in Vancouver Feb. 15, where he faltered early in the course and finished fourth. Seth Wescott of the U.S. won gold, while Canada's Mike Robertson took silver, and Tony Ramoin of France finished with the bronze medal.

Nate Holland dominates in boardercross. That’s a bold statement, but his five consecutive gold medals at the X Games back it up. He won his fifth on Jan. 30 at X Games 14 in Aspen, CO. After that victory, he returned home to Tahoe for a week before turning around and diving back into the pressure cooker at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The Squaw Valley rider breaks down the Olympic experience.

Moonshine Ink: You’ve won a record five straight X Games gold medals. What would it mean to add an Olympic medal to the mix?
Nate Holland: An Olympic medal is one medal I don’t have in the trophy case. It would mean a lot to me to do well up there; however, I’m not putting too much pressure on myself. No matter what happens I’m going to ride my heart out on the course.

MI: This is your second Olympics. What are you most excited to experience again?
NH: It’s pretty much all good, all the time. You feel like a total rock star up there. It’s little things like having the secret service or whoever pop out of the shadows and tell you nice training run. Things like that are pretty unique and you just don’t get that at other competitions.

MI: What events are you going to try and watch?
NH: I’m definitely going to catch all the snowboard events to root on my teammates. I definitely want to catch skicross and watch the local guys. Hopefully Daron [Rahlves] is feeling better by that point and I’ll root on Errol Kerr. I’m going to catch as many of my friends competing as possible, and get in the mix and enjoy it as a spectator and fan.

MI: What’s your strategy for the Olympics?
NH: It’s the Olympics, so I’m going to lay it on as thick as I can. I’m planning on walking away on top of that podium or in the fences. On that course [in Vancouver] if I don’t end up in the hole shot you can definitely see me pouring it on later in the straight section, where I’ll use my skills and strengths to pass the others. I race my best when I’m going for it. When I hold back at all that’s when I start making mistakes.

Read an interview with Shannon Bahrke, a Tahoe City native competing in women's moguls. See a full viewing guide to following local favorites in Vancouver here.