A short lifetime of dedication and a local connection has vaulted Mountain resident Dan Kruse into show biz.
Just 15, the Mountain talent has corralled professional sponsors and has been tapped to appear on the PBS series Biz Kid$.

Kruse has been strapping on skis since the age of 2.

“I started skiing about the same time I started walking,” Kruse said.

It didn’t end at skiing, however, as he was hurtling down mountains and
digging his toes into the pedals of mountain bikes at the same time. In biking,
Kruse holds the longest consecutive win streak in Northwest Cup history.

Now, he’s the biggest thing on the mountain.

But to Kruse, it’s all about being young – and talent doesn’t hurt.
“Skiing is all about having fun and being creative,” Kruse said. “It’s really just
about having as much fun as possible.”

Jamie Hammond, the executive producer of Biz Kid$, was tipped off about
Kruse from a friend of hers, Josh Linn, who works at the Welches Fly Fishing
Shop.

“I don’t usually get involved at the level of interviewing talent,” Hammond
said. “But because of Josh, I met Dan and he was perfect for the show.”
Kruse took the offer in stride.

“I was really excited,” he said. “It’s really cool.”

Biz Kid$ is a weekly TV series that teaches kids about money – featuring
stories about real-life kid entrepreneurs. Hammond took on the show after a
successful run in which she produced Bill Nye the Science Guy.

Kruse is in business for himself and is sponsored by Dakine, POC, Evil Bikes
and the Mt. Hood 26 Board Shop in Welches – a connection made through the
tireless work of the shop’s owner Scotty Conerly.

“It’s my job to find great talent,” Conerly said. “In my 15 years (of
sponsorship) I have met a lot of talent. Dan has that aura about him. He is a
chosen athlete. He’s a very competitive person, but at his roots he’s really
just having a good time out there.”

Kruse has lived his whole life on the Mountain and has been heavily influenced
by his father, Steve Kruse, who is general manager at Timberline and by his
mother, Sydney Kruse, a ski instructor, who passed away last year.

“He has great parents,” Conerly said. “Dan stayed on the right track because
of his great family. His star is shining bright (due to) good family values.”

Besides his TV debut, Kruse can be seen busting sevens and switch 540s on
the terrain park – as well as working the Timberline slopes with his father.

Hammond has been nominated for seven national Emmys and captured two of
the prizes as producer of Bill Nye the Science Guy.

She won an International Gold Camera award as producer of The Back Is
Where It’s At and two Environmental Media Awards. She lives in Seattle.

Kruse’s episode airs at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 3 on PBS.