 Karina Hollekim
© The North Face® Archives  Bio: Sometimes, just sometimes, dreams come true. As a child at school Karina had the dream to fly like a bird. She thought they must be so happy, untouched by everything around them. She wanted to feel that freedom. Her teacher told her that people cannot fly, she would have to learn to be more realistic in life. Karina found a way to fly. At home in Norway she skied with her father from a young age. It taught her that the only limits to what she could achieve were in her own head and mind. As a young woman she found her vocation as a professional freeskier and BASE jumper. Highly respected for her performance in both these sports, Karina set a world record becoming the first and only woman to combine skiing and BASE jumping when she performed a ski-base jump. It was a dream world - sponsorship, competitions, films, ski-movies, magazines, documentaries. August 2006, at the World Cup in paragliding, Karina’s life turned upside down. She was invited there to entertain the crowds with some jumps. She was happy. She felt lucky to have the opportunity to play in the air ... flying ... and creating beautiful patterns in the sky. She jumped and flew. She released the parachute, but she started spinning - a tension knot in the line. Spinning to the earth, unable to control the canopy she crashed to the ground hitting a huge rock She had 21 open fractures in her right femur, 4 fractures in her left femur, and lost more than 3 litres of blood. But she was still lucky - she lived. But life became a constant battle against the infections that set in. Again she nearly died. She struggled with endless surgeries, had 12cm of her femur removed and was told time and time again that she would never walk again. But Karina found her strength - she still knew the only limits to what she could achieve were in her own head and mind. It was tough to wake everyday without the body that had let her live her dreams. But those dreams had taught her life is about challenges, about exploring the untouched terrain whether flying, or whether within your own mind. Back to baby steps. But step by step, Karina has fought each battle. She is walking again, she has felt the cold mountain winds on her face skiing on a sit-ski. And still she fights on. Her biographical documentary ’20 seconds of joy’, the result of 7 years of hard work, won prestigious awards at the Banff Mountain Film Festival. It captures that brutal reality of a child’s dream. Karina - we are with you every step of the way. You show us that dreams can come true, and that we can learn to find the strength to live with their reality. Favorite Destination: Home Words To Live By: If you have no plans, nothing can go wrong! Favorite Cook and Dish: Thai and sushi Home: Oslo, Norway Favorite Music: Mellow music. Still love Jack Johnson, maybe some Norah Jones. Career Highlights: 2005:
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