2ndAct

INTERVIEW BY COLIN W. SARGENT

When did you frst dream of becoming an RN, and where have you worked since then? Thank you for your service, by the way!

When I retired from skiing in 1998, I’d already taken about two years of college credits.

For a while I considered medical school, but a er a full and long career as a ski racer, I didn’t have the energy in me to commit to a long education process. I wanted a work life balanced with an enjoyable play life! I worked in Winthrop in long-term care and skilled nursing; at Maine General in Augusta on a medical-surgical oor; and now in Kalispell, Montana, where I’ve been for six years, in gastroenterology (endoscopy).

Has a patient done a double-take and said, “Aren’t you…”? Patients recognized me all the time when I worked in Maine. at was really fun— it gave me a bit more street credibility, and it was just fun to talk with people about skiing. Here in Montana I’ve been recognized quite a few times too. Usually it’s by people who have a long history in ski racing.

In 2010, we were moving back to Maine from Michigan a er my husband, Tim

Nuce, nished his medical residency. As we passed through the toll booth on I-95 near Augusta at 11:30 p.m., the booth operator recognized me! I had a car full of four kids and a dog. We were so tired and ready to get to our new place in Winthrop, and this guy casually said, “Hi, Julie! You moving back home?” It was absolutely awesome and hilarious.

Where did you get your training?

I got my nursing degree from the University of Southern Maine in 2003. Now I work as an endoscopy nurse in a busy unit doing colonoscopies and endoscopies. It’s a great job: never boring, no emergencies to deal with, all outpatient, and pretty healthy people.

We just ran a story called “Swiss Miss” (December 2022) about the log cabin your family used to own on Rogers Circle in Carrabassett Valley. It’s for sale. The seller told us you came back once after they bought it, and their girls (both avid skiers) went crazy sad because they missed seeing you. You were no doubt thinking about old family memories. What’s your favorite moment in that cabin? I can’t believe it’s for sale! I wish I could buy it—I’d buy it in a second. I remember going in on a whim—I felt embarrassed interrupting people, but they were very nice and let me poke around inside. Lots of fantastic family memories there. My sister and I spent weeks living there alone when we were really young and attending Carrabassett Valley Academy as winter-tutorial students. We’d cross-country ski in the early morning over to CVA and spend the day there in school and skiing, then ski cross-country back home at night. We were like 11 and 12, and our Mom would come up on the weekends. It was awesome and scary at the same time. We’d eat tons of cinnamon-sugar toast and hang out together playing backgammon and trying not to be scared in the dark Maine woods. Love those memories!

Surprise: Shawnee Peak is Pleasant Mountain again. What’s your favorite ski run there?

I’m so glad to hear Pleasant Mountain is back! I really miss skiing in Maine and in New England in general. I love old traditional ski areas. Big resorts don’t appeal to me. I like skiing tighter, narrow trails that feel like they were just cut yesterday—and never waiting in lines. at’s real skiing to me! Even if it’s icy and gnarly, I love it. You can’t lose when you have a trail named Fat and Happy.

Are you in communication with the next generation of skiers who are Olympic hopefuls for Milan 2026?

I don’t know any of the new skiers anymore. I don’t really follow it that closely either.

Kind of a been-there-done-that attitude, and I am not raising ski racers. When I watch, it feels like a di erent sport—too produced—to me today. I’m not a fan of the branding and the ashy presentation of the World Cup now. It used to be gritty and more low-key, much more focused on the athleticism and less on the presentation. I don’t remember anyone wearing makeup or glamorous clothing when I was involved. I’m not a fan of that in general in our world today, but I guess I’m old-school!

How is family life different as an RN than as an Olympic skier?

Because I was an Olympian, and more speci cally a ski racer, I’m an adaptable and exible person. Ski racing is a tough sport requiring lots of adjustments, sometimes even second by second. I appreciate my past very much because I’m able to adjust without a lot of drama. Sometimes nurses are in exible and dogmatic, very much driven by strict protocols and rules. My training as a ski racer made me less dogmatic, and I have much more fun with patients and coworkers than nurses who are bound by structure. My family is really awesome. Only two of our kids like to ski. Our oldest, Alex (21), is a great skier and enjoys skiing White sh with his buddies every weekend. He’s in construction and carpentry and doing really well. Hen- ry is 20 and No. 96 on the D Line for the famous Griz (University of Montana Grizzlies football team), and we travel to every game. e Griz are so powerful and fun to watch! You can see his games on ESPN+. He was coached by the world-famous Je Tweedie from Winthrop, who we love and adore. Henry’s majoring in Human Physiology. He’s also a sherman and outdoorsman, a love which started in Maine. Josie is 18 and has her pilot’s license. She’ll graduate from high school in about 10 days and pursue her ying career. She’s a natural pilot. We’re incredibly proud of how fast and easily she got licensed. She also likes to ski and is usually my partner on the slopes. William is 15 and is our biggest kid at 6' 4" and 300 pounds, so he’s a natural O lineman. He’ll play football next year and is a cheerful, funny, great kid.

Please tell us all the places you’ve lived in since we last interviewed you (see “My Favorite Maine Runs & What They Mean to Me,” Winterguide 1999).

Since 2000 I’ve lived in Maine, Grenada (for Tim’s med school), Michigan, back to Maine, and now Montana. Maine and Montana aren’t that di erent. People are very similar, and the feel here is similar to Northern Maine. We just have bigger mountains.

How often do you get back to Maine?

My parents lived in Cumberland Foreside for 20-plus years until we moved them out to Montana to live near us about a year and half ago. My Dad was starting to get weaker, and my Mom needed more help with him, so the decision was made. It’s been tough on my Mom to leave her friends behind, but we’re having lots of fun together here, and she’s comfortable. My Dad died a year ago. He didn’t want an obituary written or any fuss being made over his death. He was an orthopedic surgeon in Lewiston for 35 years. I’m sure there are some readers who may remember him. We miss him every day. I haven’t been back to Maine in a few years now, but I would go to Winthrop and see my friends there and catch up on their families. We miss all our friends in Winthrop.

How has COVID affected your work? COVID? Boring—not going to discuss. We are nally getting away from requiring COVID swabs before procedures, which is good.

What’s your biggest thrill as a skier, and most rewarding moment as a nurse?

My World Cup win in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, in 1991. My family was there, my high-school friends, even gradeschool friends. It was an awesome day: perfect weather, perfect snow, and I remember being 100 percent in the zone. I could never re-create that 100 percent. It lives in my memory as my best moment in skiing. I can conjure up the feeling in my body of the moment I knew I’d win the race. Between runs, and before the second run, I just knew I was going to win. e con dence and preparation all came together at the right moment. I’ve been reaching for that feeling ever since! e striving is good and helpful. I have rewarding moments every day as a nurse, whether it’s healthy, productive communication with doctors and coworkers, or funny moments with patients. You just have to laugh at stu . I really enjoy easing people’s white-coat syndrome and nervousness about procedures. I’m really good at reassuring people and making things light and easy.

Have you had patients ‘splain to you about skiing without knowing who you are?

I’ ve had not only patients, but my own kids try to kid-splain being a good athlete, a good competitor, and a good skier to me. I’m thoroughly amused every time it happens. My own daughter to this day doesn’t believe I am a three-time Olympian, which is pretty funny and also pretty awesome in a way. Life moves us forward, and the best thing is to ride that forward-moving wave! n