PARK CITY — Nate Roberts has always known he loved skiing moguls.
The Park City native has been competing in moguls since he was 7 years old, in fact. He chose to go to the Winter Sports School so he could reach his potential in the sport, and in six seasons on the World Cup tour, he'd never missed an event.
In the first event of the 2008-09 season, however, his good fortune ended with a fall that caused a severe bone bruise in his knee. After trying to let it heal, he finally had micro-fracture surgery and is now back to skiing bumps with the world's best.
This weekend, Roberts returns to his "home course" at Deer Valley and hopes to get on the podium in both of the World Cup mogul competitions scheduled as part of the Visa Freestyle
International. It is not only a chance to do what he loves, it's a chance to make the Olympic team.
"Last year, I sat at the bottom and watched (the competition)," he said. "Now it will be that much better to be out there skiing."
The U.S. Olympic Freestyle team will be announced at Deer Valley on Jan. 26, and so far, only two members are certain. Lacy Schnoor (Draper) and Jeret "Speedy" Peterson won the Olympic Qualifier in December to secure their spots on the team.
In addition to Roberts, Schnoor and Peterson, more than 300 athletes from about 24 countries are expected to compete in this weekend's World Cup.
The Mogul Finals will be Thursday at 1 p.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m. On Friday at 8 p.m., the freestyle team's aerial skiers will compete in a World Cup event. Fireworks will follow both of the Friday and Saturday night competitions at Deer Valley. The events are free to the public, and all VIP tickets are sold out.
On Thursday at 7 p.m., there is a free concert by The Bravery and fireworks on Park City's Historic Main Street.
Roberts said he's looking forward to the event for several reasons, including skiing in front of his friends and family.
"From a skier's point of view, this is the best course in the world," he said of Deer Valley's Champion Run, the course of the 2002 Winter Olympics. "It's challenging because of the length and the pitch. It definitely separates the skiers from the great skiers."
Roberts said he isn't worried about World Cup standings but is instead focused on another international competition.
"This year it's about making the Olympic team," he said. "It's nice to have this one at home."
Roberts narrowly missed making the 2006 Olympic team.
The 27-year-old still does physical therapy at the U.S. Ski Team's Center of Excellence, and he said it has been key to his recovery.
"It took all summer to heal," he said. "If it wasn't for my physical therapist, I wouldn't be back."
It was a painful injury that still causes him some discomfort.
"It's definitely painful," he said of the injury. "It gets discouraging and frustrating, but you just work through it."
Freestyle Skiing
What: Visa Freestyle International World Cup
When: Today through Saturday
Where: Deer Valley Resort
Who: More than 300 of the world's best freestyle skiers from 24 countries competing in two different moguls events and an aerial event.
Schedule of events: Mogul finals today at 1 p.m., Saturday at 8 p.m.; aerials World Cup finals, Friday at 8 p.m.
Other events: free concert by The Bravery tonight at 7; fireworks tonight on Park City's Historic Main Street, and fireworks following the competitions on Friday and Saturday nights.
e-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com