On skis at the age of three and a member of the Squaw Valley Ski Team from kindergarten on, Nick Daniels is an all-around skier who honed every bit of his skills by mixing a steady diet of powder skiing and gate training at Squaw.

Injury battling has been a consistent trend for Daniels, including missing the entire 2012 season after right shoulder surgery. However, he kicked that trend to the curb in 2013 and stepped up to his first Audi FIS Alpine World Cup starts with a downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and a super G in Kvitfjell. Anytime you get a chance to start your first BIG race, you take it and soak up the experience, regardless of the finish.

Daniels did just that and carried the momentum into the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships on his home snow in Squaw Valley. He then nabbed two wins and two other podiums at an FIS Spring Series at Mammoth Mountain over three straight days to bookend his season.

FIRST TRACKS
Daniels was heading up the T Bar at Squaw with his dad by the time he was five. A few months later, he was ripping the intermediate runs and saw a group of kids in the Mighty Mites program. He joined the next day and has been gaining speed ever since.

OFF THE SNOW
It's all about surf, skate, moto, mountain biking and taking amazing pictures to share on Instagram (iamnickdaniels), especially from annual trips to Hawaii.