The most decorated male American Downhill and Super G skier in history. Daron won 12 World Cup races, had 28 World Cup podiums, 7 US National Titles, is the 2001 World Champion in Super G, Silver medal at the 2005 Worlds in DH and Bronze medal in GS. He was the winner of the legendary Hahnenkamm Downhill in 2003 and SG in 2004 along with 7 podium finishes in Kitzbuhel over 5 years. 2007-2010 Ski Cross was the competition of his choice. In 2008 Daron took the win in Skier X at Winter X Games 12 and finished 3rd overall on the Jeep Skiing/48 Straight Tour. Top World Cup Ski Cross finish was 2nd place in St Johan, Austria in 2010 and that year he made the US Olympic Team for his fourth time to debut this new ski discipline in Vancouver, Canada.
Daron Rahlves was born June 12, 1973 in Walnut Creek, California. Growing up in Nor Cal he was exposed to all kinds of sports: soccer, tennis, golf, waterskiing, jet skiing, motocross and snow skiing. Every winter in Tahoe and summers at Clear Lake, snow skiing and water sports became one of Daron's many strong suits. At the age of 12, Daron's family moved up to Tahoe so that he could focus on competing. During the summers, he stayed serious about another passion: jet skiing. After 4 years racing 440 Super Stock and the modified class he became the Expert World Champion in 1993 and that same year was named to the US Ski Team. 15 years on the National Team included racing World Cup in Alpine and then Freestyle, being named to 6 World Championships teams and 4 Winter Olympic Games. Also on his plate is a goal of big mountain free skiing and filming with the top ski movie crews. "My goal is to explore more of the sport of skiing. That's why I decided to retire from World Cup racing when I was on top and healthy. On my own terms." As an ambassador for Sugar Bowl Resort, Daron works with their ski academy and ski team passing on his knowledge from his ski racing success. Time is spent at home in Truckee, CA and balancing that out with a place at the beach in Encinitas, CA. Life is good for he and wife Michelle raising twins Dreyson and Miley. Their place in north county is a perfect escape from the mountains for surf and socal mx tracks on his KTM.
2011 he established the Rahlves' Banzai Tour to bring a unique event to the snow sports community. It's a ski and snowboard race for both men and women. Heats of four battle it out to claim fastest one down the mountain, top to bottom, over natural terrain on a wide open course set by Daron. 2015 will mark it's 5th season with events at Alpine Meadows, Kirkwood Mountain Resort and the Final and Super Final at Sugar Bowl Resort. Make it Happen!
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A SMILE ON MY FACE AFTER WINNING A RACE, ON TOP OF A SNOW COVERED MOUNTAIN, SHOWING UP TO THE TRACK, EMPTY WAVES I’M ABOUT TO PADDLE OUT TO, GETTING A PAW FROM MY TWO FURRY FRIENDS, SEEING MY KIDS SMILE, AND HOLDING MY WIFE.
What is your greatest fear?
NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ALL OPPORTUNITIES TO SHINE.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
CHUCK YEAGER
Which living person do you most admire?
MY DAD.
What is the trait that you most deplore in yourself?
NOT ENOUGH PATIENCE.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
DISRESPECT
What is your greatest extravagance?
FOOD
What is your favorite journey?
GOING ANYWHERE THAT FULLFILLS MY IDEA OF HAPPINESS
What do you consider your most overrated virtue?
DETERMINATION
On what occasion do you lie?
RARE
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
NOTHING
Which living person do you most despise?
THOSE BRAINWASHED TERRORISTS
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
HONEY
What is your greatest regret?
NONE
What or who is you the greatest love of your life?
MICHELLE, MY WIFE
When and where were you the happiest?
THE DAY MY KIDS WERE BORN
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
MORE PATIENCE
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
BEING ONE OF THE GREATEST SKI RACERS OF ALL TIME
If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?
ME
What is your most treasured possession?
MY MIND
What do you regard as the lowest depths of misery?
SADNESS
Where would you like to live?
MY OWN PERFECT WORLD WITH A HUGE MOUNTAIN TO SKI, WARM WAVES TO SURF, MOTO TRACK IN THE BACK YARD
What is your favorite occupation?
SKIER
What is your most marked characteristic?
WORK ETHIC
What is the quality you most like in a man?
CONFIDENCE
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
CONFIDENCE
What do you most value in friends?
SUPPORT
Who are your favorite writers?
MICHELLE
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
CAPTAIN AMERICA
What is it that you most dislike?
MY KIDS CRYING
What is your motto?
MAKE IT HAPPEN!
