Kristi Leskinen and Maksim Chmerkovskiy on "The Superstars"
Kristi Leskinen is a well known X Games action sports athlete among the world's top freeskiers, constantly pushing the limits of the sport. There was a lot of history made at the 2005 Winter X Games; some athletes were decorated, and others walked away bitterly sore. But in one event, Women's Skiing Superpipe, the entire field was triumphant. It was the first year the event made its way into this marquee festival, and Leskinen was at the forefront. As a headliner, she shoulders the responsibility of women's freeskiing in particular – which has moved out from under the shadow of more established action sports to receive the respect and exposure it deserves.
At her first U.S. Open, Leskinen was the only woman doing the Big Air event and the only woman to take a run on the pipe. In 2004, little more than five years later, the U.S. Open hosted the largest women's superpipe contest in the world, with 40 athletes vying for the championship. After 10 years of professional competition, Leskinen continues to dominate the podium and lives true to her motto, "Follow the fun." Currently she is working on a new TV project which will bring out her vivacious personality and natural ability to connect with and socialize with people throughout the action sports world. In March 2009 she hosted the first ever all-female ski and snowboard slopestyle event and rail jam at her home resort of Seven Springs in Pennsylvania.