Pro skier from Uniontown will compete in CBS’ ‘The Amazing Race’
A pioneer for women skiers, originally from Uniontown, will blaze trails around the world in the upcoming season of 鈥淭he Amazing Race.鈥�
Kristi Leskinen was the first woman to compete in the U.S. Freeskiing Open in Vail, Colorado in 2000. Three years later, she placed second. She also placed second at the World Championships in Ruka, Finland in 2005, placed first in the Gravity Games in Copper, Colorado and won a bronze medal at the X Games in women蘑菇视频 halfpipe.
The 30th season of 鈥淭he Amazing Race鈥� was touted by CBS in their announcement Thursday as 鈥渢he most competitive group of racers ever to compete.鈥�
Leskinen蘑菇视频 competitive streak was apparent from childhood, according to her father, Fayette County Judge Steve P. Leskinen. In a competition at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Champion at age 11 or 12, she competed against a woman known as 鈥淭he Queen of the Mountain,鈥� about six years her senior. Leskinen said his young daughter flew down the hill far ahead of her competition, then on the final jump tried a trick that was slightly too complicated. She clattered to the ground with her equipment and cried, the ski patrol and her dad rushing to her side. As the team devised ways to move her safely for medical treatment, he realized his daughter did not seem injured.
鈥淚 said, Kristi, are you crying because you鈥檙e hurt, or are you crying because you didn鈥檛 win?鈥� he said. 鈥淪he said, I should鈥檝e won!鈥�
At Killington Mountain Ski School, which she attended for a portion of her junior year at Laurel Highlands High School, the students participated in a five-part fitness test with a free lift ticket for the boy and girl who did the best.
鈥淣ot only did she have the best score at the Killington Mountain School, but she had the best score they鈥檇 ever recorded,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he always stood out.鈥�
She will compete on #TeamExtreme with fellow professional skier and friend Jen Hudak, a two-time X Games gold medalist.
鈥淚 was intimidated by her, because she was this pioneer of this sport and I really looked up to her,鈥� Hudak said in a promotional video for the show.
Traveling the world in competitions, the two formed a bond, she said.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been females in male-dominated sports,鈥� Kristi Leskinen said.
They spoke of overcoming serious injuries and maintaining the drive to come back from them.
鈥淭hat toughness 鈥� and you have to keep going 鈥� that蘑菇视频 something we bring to the race,鈥� she said.
In the first episode, racers will meet in Washington Square Park in New York City and travel to their first destination in Iceland where the competitors will face their first obstacle 鈥� traversing a canyon high above the Geitargljufur River, according to the CBS press release.
In addition to many skiing championship placements, Leskinen also placed 2nd in 1999 as a wakeboarder at the Wakeboarding National Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, and competed nationally in pole vaulting for the Laurel Highlands track team.
She was featured on the covers of Freeskier Magazine in 2003 and of Powder Magazine in 2004. On Oct. 31, she was a guest investor on 鈥淎dventure Capitalists.鈥�
Leskinen said he does not expect nerves watching his daughter compete on the show.
鈥淣ervous was when I got a phone call that she was on a life flight from Lake Tahoe to Reno,鈥� he said, referring to an accident that caused cerebral hemorrhaging. 鈥淭hat was nervous.鈥�
He said he plans to watch the episodes live when they begin airing Jan. 3 on CBS and record them to examine the shows more closely.
鈥淵ou always miss something the first time. We鈥檒l probably watch them two or three times,鈥� he said.
Leskinen said he watched the show before, but not fanatically.
鈥淵ou become a fanatic when there is someone you have direct interest in,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o I will be a fanatic.鈥�
She lives in Scottdale, Arizona with her husband and makes frequent visits to Uniontown to visit her family and friends.