Athlete Bios: Snowboarding GS

Chris Klug (USA)
Birthday: 1972
Home Base: Aspen, Colorado

Born in Vail, Colorado, I learned to ski at a very early age and have been involved in winter sports my whole life. I moved with my family to Bend, Oregon in 1976, and began snowboarding in 1983. I lived near the Mt. Bachelor Ski Area in Bend, Oregon until my family moved to Aspen, Colorado in 1992. I train in Aspen as my race schedule allows. I am 25-years-old, and snowboard racing is my passion -- along with surfing, golf, mountain biking and fly fishing!

I began competitive snowboard racing as an amateur. Meeting with success at local events, I moved on to participation in the Northwest Race Series, where I was the Northwest Overall Champion for two years running. I went on to compete in national events in Canada and at the U. S. Open at Stratton Mountain, Vermont.

I became a professional snowboarder in 1991. Last winter I got a number of top 5 finishes, including a first place in the Slalom event at the U. S. Open at Stratton.

In most recent years, I have been on the international tour, racing throughout Europe, North America and in Japan. In 1996-'97, I finished second overall in the ISF ranking.

This season, I finished fourth at the Whistler World Cup as the top USA rider and finished second place at the Sugarloaf Grand Prix, again the top USA finisher.

My goal for this year is to have an even better pro racing season, and to be named to the United States Olympic Team for Nagano.