All Sam Sweetser could do was watch the results come in on his computer.

Nursing an injury at his home in Utah, the Cumberland Center native had to skip the U.S. Alpine Ski Championships last year in Alaska. In between his rehabilitation sessions, he checked the results on the Internet.

“I always want to know how the guys are doing,” he said. “We’re all really good friends on the circuit. It was a little bit hard sitting there thinking, ‘I wish I was there,’ but you can’t dwell on that kind of stuff.”

Sweetser has a more vested interest this year, as the Nationals return to Sugarloaf. Sweetser will watch races unfold on the leader board on a hill he’s skied his whole life. Though big names like Bode Miller, Ted Ligety and Steve Nyman are not expect to compete, there’s still an opportunity for Sweetser to prove himself against some of the country’s best.

“It’s always nice whenever you get all these guys together, and you get to race against them, especially when it’s on a hill I’ve skied a thousand times,” said Sweetser, who was testing skis Tuesday at Sugarloaf. “I’m really happy to have an opportunity and hopefully, prove myself against these guys on a hill I really know very well.”

Olympic gold medalist Julie Mancuso and World Cup champion Lindsey Vonn lead the list of top women competitors.

Training runs are scheduled Wednesday and Thursday, followed by an FIS downhill race Friday. The National championships start Saturday with the downhill. The championships continue through Wednesday.

After working his way back from a broken leg, Sweetser is excited about the opportunity to ski in the Nationals for the sixth time.

“I’m psyched to just be able to race again,” Sweetser said. “You don’t really realize how nice it is to race until you can’t do it for a couple of months. Then you’re like ‘Wow, I really want to ski.’ This is what I really love to do.”

Sweetser, a 23-year-old graduate of Carrabassett Valley Academy, broke his leg last February. He spent the summer and fall working his way back.

“It’s always a bummer to get hurt and miss part of a season,” Sweetser said. “Last year, I went into the season skiing really well. I had some good results to start the season, but then it was over pretty quickly.”

He’s been skiing the NorAm circuit most of the year and even placed first in the FIS Giant Slalom at Jackson Hole, Wyo. Because he got a late start to this ski season, that may be to his benefit.

“I’m pretty fresh right now,” said Sweetser, who was the Junior National Downhill Champion in 2004. “A lot of guys are coming back from Europe. They’re pretty tired. That’s definitely to my advantage.”

Sweetser is among many competing this week with local ties. Auburn’s Bump Heldman is making his third straight appearance in the Nationals. Leo Menard, a 23-year old Bates College senior, qualified with a first in the TD Banknorth Eastern Alpine Championships at Sugarloaf.

CVA will be well represented. Ben Morse, a sophomore, earned a spot, thanks to his performance in the J2 Nationals last week. CVA students Kristin Waddle, Emma Coffin and Katie Houser are also competing, giving the school a total of 38 students participating in National events in the coming weeks.

“I’ve told a bunch of people that two years ago when (Nationals) were here, I remember watching and thinking that maybe five years down the road I’d be here,” Morse said. “It’s neat to have it happen so quickly.”

The 15-year old Farmington native took third in the slalom in Aspen last week and was third overall. He didn’t know that would get him his first try at the Nationals, but had an inkling that it could.

“It was a discretionary invite,” said Morse, who competed in the Trofeo Topolino last year in Italy. “So you don’t really know until they tell you. When I did that podium, the people ahead of me were already in Nationals. So there was a chance, but I was still surprised.”

Heldman, the 19-year old Auburn native, is coming off a strong showing at the NorAm’s last weekend. He had the second-fastest run in the giant slalom Sunday.

“My season’s kind of been up and down,” Heldman said. “I’ve had some good races and some not so good races. I feel like my season is going pretty well right now. We had some races in upstate New York that went pretty well. So I’m definitely coming into the races with a lot of confidence.”

Last year, Heldman did not finish the slalom and super-G in the Nationals at Alyeska, Alaska. He placed 19th in the giant slalom and was 25th in the downhill. The year before that at Sugarloaf, he was 18th in the slalom, 30th in both the giant slalom and super-G, 41st in the downhill.

“My best Nationals was probably my first one at Sugarloaf,” said Heldman.

Heldman was part of the U.S. Development Team this year. A strong showing at Sugarloaf will only enhance his future with the National team.

“I’d definitely like two top 10s in the downhills,” Heldman said. “That would be great for me. The rest I’m just looking for some good results. I’m not really looking for too much, but downhill is one of the races I need to do well in to make the ski team next year.”