Jennifer Heil, who won the silver medal in woman’s moguls at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics on Saturday (Feb. 13), frequently skied at Marmot Basin when she was a child, said local freestyle moguls coach Chris Peel.

“She was definitely talented. We could all tell that she was destined to be something,” said Peel.

Her medal-winning performance has become a point of pride for many Jasperites, who remember watching Heil grow up skiing at Marmot Basin.

Peel says he skied with Heil and her family when she was just a kid.

“She is a really nice girl. She is pretty special and deserves everything, that’s for sure,” Peel said.

Many Freestyle coaches from Jasper knew Heil when she was young. Marmot Basin was the closest mountain for her to ski since her hometown of Spruce Grove was lacking in freestyle ski terrain.

Randy Timmins, Alberta Freestyle Team Coach, skied on the Alberta team at the same time as Heil, and recalls her talents.

“I remember she was the youngest person on the Alberta Team and she was jumping as big as us guys, and we were all like 18,” said Timmins.

Megan Gibson, spokesperson for Marmot Basin, said Heil made the Alberta team when she was only 12. Usually, the age cut-off for the team is 15.

“Because Heil’s sister, Amy, was already on the team a special concession was made,” said Gibson.

Cam Jenkins, a coach for Jasper Freeride, says his students have skied with Heil.

“It was really neat last year when she came up and did a photo shoot,” said Jenkins.

“It was the end of the year for her, she was super relaxed and had lots of fun with it.”

Heil is a leader in the ski community and host’s an annual camp for girls at Sunshine Village, says Jenkins.

“She is amazed at how good the kids in Jasper can ski,” said Jenkins.

Gibson says in April a road in Spruce Grove will be named in her honour.

Heil’s next visit to Jasper is slated for April 2 and 3. She and her family are expected to hit Marmot Basin at that time, said Gibson.