A recent transplant from Bozeman, MT, Kristina moved to Bend at the beginning of the summer for what she calls a “solitary adventure.” She made the decision to retire from a career as a professional Nordic ski racer and was drawn to Bend from previous visits for ski camps and climbing. She expected Bend to be similar to Bozeman with their common “outdoor vibe” but has been surprised to discover how much bigger and urban Bend feels in comparison.

Stepping back a few years, Kristina graduated early from high school and spent a year on the US National Ski Team, racing nationally and internationally. She liked the experience but wanted more balance in her life. She was accepted at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire where she raced on the Nordic ski team and graduated in 2007 with a B.A. in Philosophy.

From there, she said, “I thought I would ‘retire’ from ski racing after my senior year but I eventually decided that I wasn’t quite satisfied with my career and wanted to make a run for the 2010 Olympics. So I worked my way back up the ranks over the past 3 years. The highlight was qualifying to race in some World Cup races in 2009 and 2010. Although I didn’t make the Olympic team, competing in the pre-Olympic World Cups in Canmore, Alberta was definitely a big accomplishment! Also, in 2009, my second year back on the circuit, I had a 5th place finish at US Nationals. I think that was one of my more memorable finishes, because it signified that I was back in the game and able to compete with the best in the US.”

Since her move to Bend, Kristina has dabbled in some fly fishing on the lower Deschutes River and has entered in some local running races. She’s keeping the running fun, and is enjoying exploring the trails close to town (though she’s placed in the top 3 in the races she entered: Smith Rocks Summer Sunrise Classic 10km, 1st Place; Spark Your Heart 5km, 1st Place; and Heaven Can Wait 5km, 3rd Place)!

“As far as other interests,” she added, “I love to read and write. I have done some ski-related writing over the past few years, and I hope to continue writing in some capacity. If I go back to school I’m looking at a Master’s in English, creative writing, or environmental studies of some sort. At home (back in Bozeman) I love riding horses, gardening, fishing, and generally spending time in the mountains.”

A few days after we had our conversation for this feature, we learned that at age 13, Kristina was the stunt double for Scarlet Johannson in the movie, “The Horse Whisperer”!  The film, directed by and starring Robert Redford, was shot in Bozeman, a place Redford had visited many times and had established a relationship with Kristina’s family.   Through that connection, Kristina was selected to ride in place  Johannson during the movie’s filming.  Kristina missed a couple of months of school, was filmed riding horses and “hung out with the stars”.  A pretty cool experience for a 13 year old!

Well we’re psyched that when Kristina road tripped from Montana to the coast earlier this year she stopped in and decided that Thump and Bend would make a good starting point in a new chapter in her life! Her warm smile and quick wit make even the busiest days at Thump fly by smoothly. We’re once again so fortunate to have such an amazing and interesting person working at Thump!