Asphalt Now, Snow Later

Red Bull athlete and freestyle skier Kristi Leskinen is mixing in a little NASCAR as she prepares to go for superpipe gold in January’s Winter X Games 12. She’ll hang out with Red Bull Racing Team this weekend at Phoenix. The Pennsylvania-bred Leskinen has helped establish women’s freeskiing as a mainstream action sport, but she’s extreme in everything she does. Named one of FHM’s “100 Hottest Women of 2005,” Leskinen recently spent a week skiing, bungee jumping and paragliding in New Zealand, golfing in Las Vegas, dirt biking in Phoenix and wakeboarding in Florida.

Race Note: Vickers earned the 22nd qualifying spot, but will start from the back of the field due to an engine change before the first practice session on Friday morning.