Kevin Hochtl currentluy races for the Rossignol Team, lives in Vail, and is ready for another season of showing he's ready to race with the best.

Kevin, thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for RMN.

Have you always lived in Vail, CO?
I have always lived in Vail except for my college years at ST Olaf and the year after which I spent racing in Kitzbuehl Austria.

While you were growing up, how did you get into xc skiing?
My parents are Alpine Instructors my dad is going on his 45th season in Vail.   Skiing was a part of everything.  My parents took us cross country touring starting at the age of two.  Racing did not start until later when I followed my brother who started competing in both Alpine and XC.  I think my first race was the Leadville night race in 7th grade.

What were some significant accomplishments from your introduction to skiing to when you graduated from high school? 
I competed for Battle Mountain in both XC and alpine.  The end goal was skimeister, which I won 3 out of 4 years.  I was disqualified in the state meet for missing a gate my junior year.  In XC I was 4th at state championships in Classic my senior year. 

I remember you skiing for St. Olaf in Northfield, MN.  How do you think skiing in college has worked with your pursuits into your professional ski career? 
St. Olaf was an amazing experience.  St. Olaf gave me a great education in biology and German.   The ski team was also a great experience, we had a very strong team at the time and it allowed for me to develop.  The best part of college skiing is all of the amazing friends you meet and the fun that is had being a part of the team.  St. Olaf helped with my pursuits of skiing by furthering my base and by fine-tuning technique.  It was a perfect situation for me.

What were some of your favorite moments from skiing in college? 
My favorite moments were placing second at the regional championships and qualifying for NCAA championships in Anchorage.  Anchorage was awesome except I was very tired and did not perform as well as I would have liked.  But the majority of my favorite moments were just hanging out with the team doing long distance skis, intervals, and the fun that comes along with a group of like-minded people doing what they love to do.

Would you go back to St. Olaf if you had another chance at an undergraduate college education?  Education is very important to me and ST. Olaf provided an amazing education.  I would definitely go back.  Unfortunately these days snow in MN is very hard to find, but when you are in college education should be your main focus skiing is the fun part and should always be. 

Let’s fast-forward to the years since collegiate skiing.  You have been representing Rossignol for several years, is that right? 
I have been representing Rossignol since I returned from Europe for the 2003-2004 season.  They have provided the best equipment I could ask for. Rossignol has been very loyal to me and my efforts to continue skiing and reach my goal of an Olympic birth.

What type of support have you been able to count on from skiing with Rossignol, and do you think being associated with a team like this is something younger skiers reading this should strive for?
Rossignol provides amazing equipment skis boots bindings.  As a team we are also provided with suits, Toko wax, Rudy Project Sunglasses, and One Way poles.  On the Road we are provided a travel stipend and Race Service.  The Race service provides waxing, help testing skis and logistics.  It is definitely something to strive for when you are done with school.

So now that we have an idea of your progression from youth skiing, we’re wondering how your career since college has shaped up.  What sort of goals have you set and reached in the years since you left college?
After school I just wanted to race and see the world.  I was not yet developed enough for a factory team so I moved to Austria to train and continue my language studies.  In Austria I learned I could sprint.  Those results landed me on the Rossignol team the following season.  My goal since then has always been to win races on the super tour, qualify for the world cup and make the world championships and Olympic teams.  I have not yet won my super tour race, placing 3rd too many times.  I did make the 2005 world cup team in Canada and was very close to the Olympics that same year.  My goals have not changed much since the start, but the biggest goal is to consistently improve, do my best at every race regardless, and have fun skiing!!!!!

What are some of the challenges you have faced from this path? 
I look at all of the challenges I have faced as opportunities to learn.  I have been very lucky that I have not had any serious setbacks in my health, which I feel is the most important part of life and ski racing.  I have learned to work with what I have physically, and I have learned to stretch the dollars I earn to make it all happen.

Has being able to count on the people from your hometown, and Colorado made continuing with racing easier? 
Vail is a ski and sport minded community and they have always been there to support my pursuits.  There would be no way to compete without support of people who believe in you either through coaching verbal support or a monetary donation.  Colorado is the best place to train.  We can have snow here from end of October all the way to June.  We had incredible skiing in Crested Butte on June 8th thanks to Jesse Crandall and Nathan Schultz of Boulder Nordic Sport.

For this coming season, have you made any changes this summer that will make this season even better than the last few? 
Quality Quality, Quality!!!   I will be turning 29 this October and the base training is there.  I need to be fast in the sprint so my brother Karl, Daniel Weiland and I have tailored my training to increase my speed and my endurance.   Think a lot of intervals.  

Skiing at the level you are within the US and on the International scene leads us to believe you are likely setting your sights on the 2010 Olympics.  What will you have to do throughout this season to position yourself for a birth on that team?
Everyone believes that qualification for the 2010 games starts next year.  It really starts now.  I have to be at the top this year to have a clear shot at getting to the games.   I believe one of the most important things that I need to prove is my speed in the prelim.  In the rounds it will be very interesting, there are a lot of guys giving their best.  I will need to win without any questions!!!

What other goals will you set that will make this coming season a success to you personally?  
The World Cup in Canada and then on to World Champs in Europe.  To get there it will be guns blazing all year.

Eventually ski racing will have to become a memory for you.  What will you take from this time as a ski racer that will help propel you into future endeavors? 
I will take away from skiing, work ethic, goal setting and confidence to do anything I set my mind to. 

Speaking of future endeavors, do you have an idea of what you might do with yourself in the years following your race career? 
Right now I work for my brother as a plumber and heating specialist.  I would like to get my masters license and continue in the field.  With that earning the majority of the money I would still like to be active ski coaching.  I also have interests in Wildlife management with the Department of Wildlife.

A question that is often asked of skiers in your position is one that carries a great deal of weight with younger skiers.  That question is: what advice would you impart on skiers as they welcome another season?  
#1 Have Fun.   Having fun with what you are doing will only bring positive energy to help you succeed.   #2 Have patience.  XC skiing is not a sport where you are not instantly the best, your body as a youngster will develop ( I did not get to my level until my senior year of college and even then I had many set backs).   Just keep your eye on the prize, and don’t listen to people who do not believe, I would not be here today if I had listened and not believed in myself and my dream.  #3 Work hard.   We are XC racers, it is the toughest sport out there.  There is nothing that can substitute for consistent hard work.  When tired rest but on quality days work harder than the others!  When the going gets tough, the tough get going!!!


Kevin, you make Colorado proud.  We would all like to thank you for your continued support of RMN, and the time you have taken to answer these questions.  Best of luck in the years to come, and be sure to visit often!