Kristina Koznick (USA) Born Nov. 24th - 1975 Burnsville (MN) Skis: Völkl , Boots: Tecnica Bindings: Marker America's Kristina Koznick has chosen the most difficult way to achieve her potential in the coming two seasons - doing it on her own way. The US slalom ace left the ski team in spring 2000 and decided to train by herself with the support of the former US coach Dan Stripp. Technically, she is still representing the US Team in the World Cup races - yet away from the "official" one.

Her tiny squad faces difficult times since it doesn't get any financial support form the US Ski Association which strongly disagreed with her decision. "Koz" and her entourage have to find themselves enough cash for the training and the travelling expenses. She put some of her own money in the pot and started a fund-raising campaign with the support of some friends from her region. She also collects money in selling T-shirts with her photo and through her own website (koznick.com).

After surgery on her left shoulder in May, Kristina went to Mammoth Mountain, in California free-skiing and working on her technique. She also trained t Mt Hood, in Oregon and in Chile along other skiers from the Vermont's green Mountain Valley School. Koznick is working hard managing her career yet happy about it. At least, she has the feeling to be learning some essential matters about real life.

Kristina, who has named her cause "Olympicquest" , will also be travelling with her father in Europe. She is backed a non-profit organisation called Northwest Alpine Race Patrons. People can use it to send personal donations which can be a tax writen-off.

This new challenge is also a strong motivation for the American who is already making dreams about the Salt Lake City Games. At the 2002 Olympics, she plans to eventually wear her my own flag bearing all the names of the people who helped her get there. After winning the last two slaloms in March 2000 after a difficult season start, the US leader aims now for the slalom Crystal globe and some medals at the coming "Majors" at St Anton (2001) and Salt Lake City (2002).

She was close to her first goal in 1998, when she came in 2nd behind Sweden's Ylva Nowen after an excellent season marked by her first win at Are. At Nagano, she skied out in the second run of the Olympic slalom.

In 1999, Koznick had a hard time to confirm her qualities. She was twice on the podium, winning once at Semmering, Austria, but she failed to finish the World's slalom at Vail. It has taken her a long time to express all her talent :she was 17 when she scored in March 1993 her first top-10 place in a World Cup in Are (Sweden).

It remained her best result until the start of the 1998 season. Kristina was herself surprised by her strong achievements that winter. In 1997, the skier from St Paul could not train too hard because of strong pains at her back. In the previous years her career was slowed down by serious injuries including torn ligaments at a knee. Fortunately she was able to fix her back problems with the help of an excellent physical therapist recommended by Picabo Street, Harvey Shield, who also worked with the 49ers in San Fransisco.

4th in the opening slalom at Park City, Utah, she built up her confidence from race to race until her first success in Scandinavia in a night slalom. She enjoys to ski under floodlights : that's the way she grew up in Minnesota where she skied each night after school from 7 to 9 PM. Even if her trip to Japan has not been successful, she was glad to be part of the Olympic team. In 1994 she couldn't compete in Lillehammer, Norway, after injuring herself in training at a knee few months before the Games.

At 25, she is now starting a new and exciting part in her career.