Team Members

Kimiko Zakreski
Alpine

Full name	Kimiko Zakreski
Date of birth	December 31, 1983
Age (as of January 1, 2010)	26
Birthplace (Birth)	St. Albert, AB
Hometown (Grew-up)	Calgary, AB
Residence (Currently reside)	Calgary, AB
Snowboard/Ski Club	Kananaskis
Current coach	Mark Fawcett
Training center	Calgary Sport Center
Board Company you ride on	Kessler
Stance on board	Goofy
Boots company	Deelux
Personal website	www.kimi.ca
Nickname	Kimi
Sponsors	Lululemon, Ensign, POC, CanFund,
Years on National team	4
Language you speak	English

RESULTS
>> FIS World Cup
>> FIS Nor-Am Cup
>> World Championships

Why and how did you start snowboarding?

I learned how to snowboard when I was 12 years old at Canada Olympic Park (COP). I absolutely fell in love with the sport immediately and my childhood friend Sherry Lawrence, former National Ski team member and Olympian encouraged me to join the Kananaski Ski Club with her but in the snowboard program. That is where I met my first coach Craig Smith who got me into snowboard racing and I never looked back.

What is your first memory of snowboarding?

My first memory of snowboarding is being in the park by my house and some of the kids in the neighbourhood had a board with a leash attached to the nose of the board which you held on to and we road them down the tiny hill in the park. I remembering it being really hard and looking up to the older kids that could do it. My second memory is learning how to really snowboard at COP in regular Sorel boots that had absolutely no ankle support whatsoever… that was painful.

Why is snowboarding so much fun to you?

Snowboarding is so much fun to me because it is such a free and exhilarating feeling. Being able to ride and move down a mountain at high speeds powered purely by your own inertia, power and balance is empowering. It doesn’t get much better then being able to go to work everyday in the Mountains and close to nature.

Who has had the most influence on your snowboarding career and why?

Mark Fawcett, he was always a huge role model for me growing up and I always looked up to him as an amazing athlete and now I have the pleasure of having him as my coach. He the best coach on tour and we are so lucky to have him.

What is the most memorable moment you had in your career?

Getting on the podium for the first time at the Limone, Italy World Cup last year. It was snowing so hard outside that the whole day felt like a dream. I won Silver, Matt Morrison won gold and Jasey-Jay Anderson won bronze so it was an amazing day for the whole team. Just seeing how proud our coaches were made the whole experience that much cooler.

Do you currently support a charity of any kind?

Clean Air Champions Motion Ball Special Olympic Association

Do you do competitive sports other than snowboarding?

High school teams (volleyball, field hockey) Use to horseback ride in Western Shows and Gymkhanas when at age 10-15.

Did you win any awards? If yes, which ones?

Athlete of the year (at Vincent Massey Junior High.) I joined every team I could. Citizenship Award (being that I was involved in sports, outdoor ed trips, choir, drama) 3C’s Award (Can’t remember what it stood for)

What do you do in the summer?

Train with my trainer Shawn Preston Golf Yoga Training camps on snow

How would you describe your style of snowboarding?

Aggressive and athletic

What was your first job?

Hostess at a Brunch restaurant called DD’s that use to be in Calgary. My best friend worked there with me and we had a great boss.

What was your first car?

Toyota Corolla

What is your highest level of education?

Graduated from NSS (National Sport School) in Calgary Alberta 1 yr of Natural Sciences at University of Calgary Realtor Licensed out of the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB)

Do you play a musical instrument?

Piano

What’s on your Ipod right now?

A million songs

Favourite musical type?

Everything literally- indie, pop, dance, rap, country, punk, electronic, house, rock, folk, alternative etc… everything.

What music do you listen on race or contest day?

A mix

Favourite band of all time?

Kings of Leon

Favourite movie of all time?

Dirty Dancing!!!! Princess Bride.

Favourite food/meal?

Sushi Perogies

Favourite book/reading material of all time?

Celestine Prophecy

Favourite World Cup region/location to compete?

Switzerland or Japan

Favourite travel/touristic destination?

Maui

Who’s your snowboarding hero/favourite snowboarder?

Mark Fawcett, Lisa Kosglow, Daniella Mueli

Who’s your hero (actor, athlete, etc)?

Wayne Gretzky, Tiger Woods, Elizabeth Manley

Do you have any hobbies?

Yoga, Golf, Road biking.