TWIN BRIDGES –

The Tahoe region is home to nearly one dozen athletes competing in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.  Three of them trained at Sierra at Tahoe Resort.  And one, snowboarder Jamie Anderson, has captured gold.

Anderson won the gold medal Sunday in slopestyle, a new Olympic competition featuring snowboarding tricks and jumps.

“She grew up here at Sierra at Tahoe,” said resort communications manager, Steven Hemphill, in a Monday evening conversation with FOX40.

Anderson is one of eight kids.  Her family lives in the small town of Meyers, near South Lake Tahoe.

“It’s been absolutely incredible to see the excitement that has come, not only to the mountain, but just the town,” explained Hemphill.  “It’s really cool to see everyone get behind her.  She is really a true South Lake local.”

Hemphill is confident his friend will still be the same down-to-earth Jamie Anderson when she returns to Sierra at Tahoe with her gold medal which she most definitely earned.  “She is the true essence of what a snowboarder is; really uses the mountain as her canvas.  She has so much style and technicality.  Both those things played into her winning a gold medal.  And we’re extremely excited for her to bring it back here to the U.S.”

The two other 2104 Winter Olympic athletes from Sierra at Tahoe are skier Maddie Bowman and snowboarder Hannah Teter.