Taylor Rapley (17) journeyed with nine other Olympic hopefuls to the Chinese capital earlier this month for a seven-day familiarisation.
They saw rowing and gymnastic events, toured the city, met their sporting heroes and attended the New Zealand opening ceremony, which "made you want to make New Zealand proud," she said.
"It was amazing.
There's a really good group of athletes competing and not competing and I got a lot out of being around people who aspire to what I do.
"The first games to compete in would be very overwhelming so being there now to see the hype means we won't be overwhelmed later and we can focus on the events."
The Olympic experience came via the Air New Zealand Aspiring Young New Zealander scholarship she received earlier this year.
Last May, Taylor was selected for the New Zealand women's ski team, along with fellow Queenstowner Harriet Miller Brown, and Janelle Miller and Alli McGlinn.
Team selection meant they were trained by the country's best skiers and learned from the finest coaches, fitness trainers and sports psychologists.
Skiing since she was 12, Taylor competes in slalom, grand slalom, super G and downhill, reaching speeds of up to 100kmh, although she said she has yet to decide if she wants to specialise.
"I made some good results in my first year competing in slalom in the 2005 FIS [Federation Internationale de Ski] races and when I went to Alberta, I started making some good results in grand slalom.
"I came first in the Albert Cup Series race and the GS open women's and other podium finishes."
The Wakatipu High School pupil said Coronet Peak was her homefield and it was superb for ski racing thanks to its variety of terrain and hard and fast snow.
She was being mentored by World Cup winner Claudia Reigler and Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ulmer through the scholarship.
Taylor was forced to take the Southern Hemisphere ski season off after suffering a leg injury while skiing in Canada in January.
However, she said she was undeterred by the concussion, torn ligaments, surgery and plaster cast and she was now making the most of physio and hours of gym training.
"I'm stronger than I've ever been and I've put on more body mass, which was my aim, so I'm more solid and flexible.
"I do hate not being able to ski, especially on days like this, but I'm skiing in my mind. I'm always thinking about it and I'm still around my team and watching the World Cup, which is my long-term goal."
"To be a World Cup skier, you've got to be pretty good. Competition is really strict in Europe. I want to be a top contender and I don't like going into races unprepared."
Taylor said she was looking forward to devoting next year to full-time skiing.
She intends chasing the snow to North America and possibly Europe after her last exam in November.
Her aim was to qualify in the world ranking by more competing and lowering her FIS points.
"My long-term goal is to be the best in the world. However long it takes, we'll get there."
