Emily Cook, a 22-year-old on the U.S. ski team that is based at Park City, Utah, shares a weekly diary on her preparations for the Olympics.

In my last entry, our team was still waiting for snow to fall so that we could start winter training. We are finally ready to go. We will be traveling to Calgary tomorrow morning and will be in the air on Saturday. Because I still don't have too many exciting training details, I would love to share some of the experiences I've had in my sport.

EMILY COOK

Cook Birthdate: July 1, 1979 Hometown: Belmont, Mass. Sport: Freestyle skiing -- aerialist Accomplishments: The No. 1 freestyle aerialist in the United States, she won the gold medal at the 2001 U.S. Championships and the silver medal at the 2001 Grand Nationals. She won a bronze medal at the 2001 World Cup at Deer Valley. Personal: She attends the University of Utah. When she's not on the slopes, she enjoys scuba diving, rock climbing, yoga, fly-fishing and reading. When she was only 2 years old, her mother was killed by a drunk driver. Her father taught her how to ski when she was 4.

Around age 16, I was given one of my favorite books, Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are, by Dr. Seuss. At the time I didn't quite realize the significance of this gift. I thought it was cute and had a nice message, but I guess I may not have realized exactly how lucky I was back then.

Throughout the years, I have had numerous opportunities through my sport. I have had the unique experience of being able to do what I love every day. I have had the chance to represent my country and to connect with the children in my community. I have even had the opportunity to stand on stage with female sports legends Billie Jean King, Julie Fowdy, Cathy Turner, Nadia Comaneci, and many more to sing America the Beautiful in New York City after Sept. 11. I no longer need to be told how lucky I am; I get reminded of it every day.

How is it that I have been provided with so many opportunities is something that I marvel over often. Though I am in an individual sport, I have to say it has truly been a team effort to get me to where I am. My family, friends, coaches, teammates and especially my father, have endlessly supported me since I began this dream at age 12. When I was 18, I gained another huge supporter, my sponsor Visa.

With the help of Visa, the U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Ski Team, I was able to move to Park City, Utah, to train on the best facilities and with the best coaches in the world. I truly believe that without their support throughout the years I would not be a national champion and an Olympic hopeful for this February.

An example of one of the amazing opportunities that have come my way through my sport was the chance to participate in a program called The One Year, One Card Challenge. In March, Visa asked me to use only their credit card and online banking for one year to prove how much easier this lifestyle is to live and to help me through a potentially difficult season. For nine months, I have used only my Visa card and my computer for all purchases over $10, and it has changed my life. For me, the highlight of this program has been the amount of stress that has been lifted from me financially while traveling; I can now focus entirely on my jumps and not worry about my bills at home; I now pay them all from my computer. I am amazed that I am finally 100 percent in control of my finances.

Being that it is almost December, I am definitely ready to hit the snow. Tomorrow, our team flies to Calgary to finally begin our on-snow training. I will start jumping on Saturday with a few single flips to get warmed up, and quickly move on to my more difficult tricks on the double jump, which is designed for two flips. I once again feel lucky to be able to begin the season I have been waiting for since I was a child.

I'll leave this entry with a quote from the ingenious Dr. Seuss, that I refer to when I forget for a moment what luck life has sent me.

When you think things are bad,
When you feel sour and blue,
When you start to get mad ...
Just do what I do!

Just tell yourself, Duckie,
You're really quite lucky!
Some people are much more ...
Oh, ever so much more ...
Oh, muchly much-much more
Unlucky than you!