The speed course at Kvitfjell, near Lillehammer in Norway, brings luck to the US Ski Team: Tommy Moe clinched Olympic gold there in 1994, Kyle Rasmussen won one of his two World Cup downhills on that demanding run in 1995 and in March 2000, Daron Rahlves achieved the almost incredible performance to beat twice in a row all the European favorites in downhill. The Californian, who scored a promising 4th place there in 1995 at his first appearance on the World Cup tour, finished ahead of all the stars of the specialty including Kristian Ghedina, Hermann Maier and Didier Cuche despite a very high startnumber.

A series of other good results in the last races on the season allowed him to reach a promising 20h place in the final Overall World Cup standings - and two 10th in the speed events. He also passed the margin of 400 points, which guarantees him a good start-order in all the World Cup races for the coming season.

These top-results were not totally a surprise for the former jet-ski world champion (in 1993) whose potential has been recognized a long time ago by his trainers and his friends.

Nagging injuries and health problems slowed down his career after he conquered the US GS title as well as the Super-G Nor-Am standings in 1995. In April 1996, Rahlves broke his left collarbone while riding his motocross - his other passion in the off-season. He dislocated his right hip in training in New Zealand in August of that year yet he tried to comeback in action in October 1996. It was an error: he scored some top-10 finishes but his injuries troubled him for a long time afterwards. He underwent surgery in March 1997 to fix them. A bone graft was taken from his left hip and attached to his injured collarbone with six screws and a plate. Yet Daron was not able to train as hard as usual in the following months and he lost touch with the world elite in 1998 despite his 7th place in the Olympic Super-G at Nagano.

In 1999, he didn't make the top-10 in any major event, which forced him to change his attitude as well as his skis.

He enjoyed working out on the new programs presented with the US Sport Science Director Andy Walshe which insisted more on increasing his endurance strength.

Three top-10 results in the first four speed events, including a 8th at Lake Louise boosted his confidence and proved that he had no problems getting used to his new Atomic skis.

After some satisfying performances in the middle of the winter - 10th in Super-G at Kitzbühel and 12th at St Anton - Daron had the good idea to fly back home to tank some energy with his friends. A day of free skiing at Squaw Valley with some of them including Olympic and World champion Jonny Moseley tuned his mind up. He found back all his feeling for perfect gliding and his momentum that day and he was charged with very positive emotions before returning to Europe. Clocking an excellent time in the downhill training run reinforced his determination and he had no problem to reach his limits on the race days. He had a harder time afterwards answering all the phone calls he got from home. In the Super-G, he was close to make it to 3 in three days - he came in 5th!

At the finals at Bormio, he scored some points in GS as well as top top-10 in the speed events before conquering another US title in Super-G at the Nationals at Jackson Hole. Devil Daron inherited his passion for skiing from his parents, who spent a great time in the mountain with their kids when they were young. Daron's younger sister, Shannon used to race in Nor-Ams before a bout with mononucleosis slowed down her career. Now she is working hard to become a world class athlete in triathlon — with the aim to compete at the 2004 Olympics at Athen.

They live in a wonderful mansion near the Tahoe Lake where Dennis and Sally Rahlves raise horses. Dennis, a former water-skiing world champion, is also a passionate rodeo cowboy — specialized in roping! Shannon takes now care of the real-estate business which gives more time for Daron to have fun with his dirt-bike, his black-and-chrome Harley Fat Boy and his jet-ski boats or to go to Alaska with his dad for some great fishing.

Daron likes to take risks and be on the edge — this included 1,000 feet bungee-jumps out of an helicopter in New Zealand!

Both Rahlves are also great hunters — ducks in the neighborhood and some wild animal in the rest of the world.

Daron's parents strongly supported his career in his younger years when he was training and competing on his own outside the US system in 1993 and 1994.

He learned a lot about managing himself and finding out what's the best for him — now he knows.