Tomas KRAUS CZE

Tomas Kraus has established himself as arguably the top men's ski cross competitor in the world since making the switch from Alpine Skiing seven years ago. The 35-year-old has won two of the last three world titles (2005 and 2007) and has finished first in the ski cross World Cup standings four of the last five seasons. The only season in the last five in which he didn't win the World Cup title - 2006-07 - he finished second. And though he finished a disappointing 23rd at the 2009 World Championships, some inconsistency is far from surprising in a decidedly unpredictable event.

Kraus began competing in ski cross on the World Cup circuit during the 2002-03 season. He recorded his first World Cup ski cross victory in 2002, and entering the 2009-10 season, he had 14 career World Cup victories.

In addition to being a world champion, World Cup champion and gold medal hopeful in the Olympic debut of ski cross, Kraus is an avid windsurfer, a trained engineer and a father. He and his wife, Lenka, have a daughter, Lucinka, born in Jan. 2008.