Ski Racing - April 16, 2012

BACKSHOP The American Serviceman

HOW CHRIS KRAUSE BECAME ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TECHNICIANS ON THE WORLD CUP TODAY BY DAVE PESZEK

Chris Krause isn’t the first American to become a topnotch World Cup serviceman for other nation’s athletes, but he is certainly one of the best ever. At the top levels, athletes have extensive support: coaching staff, physical trainers, mental trainers, nutritionist/chefs, and equipment service all contribute to the athlete’s overall performance. Krause was the man behind the scenes for 16 of Didier Cuche’s 21 World Cup wins. Currently, he lives with his wife and two children in Ruhpholding, Germany. With the recent retirement of Cuche, Ski Racing caught up with the humble technician.

What was your first motivation to get into ski service?

I was a student at GMVS, and we had a NorAm at Sugarbush. There was a Canadian pool serviceman with the nickname of Mingo, and I would sneak down in to the ski room after lights-out to sit on a box and watch him prepare skis. This was the start of it for me, and it turns out that Mingo would play a role later on in my life, recommending me for a service position to Piot, who was the women’s head trainer with Alpine Canada, back in the summer of 2000.

GEPA Tell us a little bit about your early ski service history? After GMVS, I attended the University of Utah, where I did a quarter-term, 400- hour internship, ending up at Mount Hood and working under Billy Farwig and Jim Schaffner. During this time, I learned from Wiggy, Schaff, and Curtis Bacca, all US Salomon race technicians at the time, while all of us were handling ski service for Salomon in such diverse roles as junior program, Jeep King of the Mountain Tour, and U.S. Pro Tour. I can remember Jim Schaffner telling me to always be clean when preparing skis, and that, no matter what, always be confident, even if inside you’re not.