Tom Velisek is a Nelson native who grew up in Vernon but lives in Squamish. He competed in the snowboardcross on Feb. 16.
24 hours: It must've been an honour to race in snowboardcross' Olympic debut.
Tom Velisek: "It was a lot of fun, the course was really well designed, all the riders were liking it a lot. It's just going to make the sport explode."
24: After you competed, what other sports did you enjoy?
Tom: "I saw the women's gold medal match and three men's games."
24: What's your post-Olympic plan?
Tom: "I'm going back to Squamish on the 27th, going to go the back country. Then I'll race in Lake Placid and then the finals in Japan."
24: What do you do when you're not boarding?
Tom: "I fish for salmon, they're only running at certain times in Squamish. I'm also into mountain biking.
24: Which sports figure, past or present, would you like to meet?
Tom: "I'd have to say Bruce Lee. I've always had this theory that if he were in a snowboardcross race, he'd be the best because he had the greatest reaction time."