AST Athlete Journal: Gered Thompson
Hello everyone! I’m Gered Thompson, and I’m excited to share that this is my third year with the Alberta Alpine Ski Team, after previously being part of the NASA team. I’m reaching out to you from my home in Calgary, where I just returned from an incredible preseason training trip in Chile. Today, I’m unpacking my Fischer skis and getting everything ready for the upcoming season. I can confidently say that this year’s preseason training camps have been the best of my life. We spent an impressive 17 out of 21 days in Saas-Fee and 14 out of 16 days in Chile, racking up 9-15 runs in a single day, not including our warm-up runs!
Next on the agenda for our team is the fall fitness testing. Throughout the summer, we conducted fitness assessments to track our progress in the gym, and now we’re ready for another round of rigorous testing. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to evaluate our strength, agility, and endurance. The tests include vertical jumps to measure explosive power, agility drills for quick directional changes, and cardiovascular assessments that gauge our overall fitness. It’s both a challenging and rewarding experience that helps us prepare for the demands of the season ahead.
During the summer months, I kept myself busy running my business, Alpine Lawn Mowing, and I also started working towards my private pilot’s license. I’ve found that there are striking similarities between competing in skiing and undergoing flight training. Both activities involve navigating uncontrollable factors and dealing with varying weather conditions. They require split-second decision-making, precision under pressure, and the ability to remain calm amidst unpredictability. Success in both skiing and aviation hinges on thorough preparation, situational awareness, and the capacity to adapt quickly to changing environments. Thankfully, if a flight training session gets canceled, there’s no cost—an amusing perk!
Lastly, I want to give a big shoutout to our sponsors—GMC Dealers of Alberta, Karbon Sports, and Genstar Canada—who support the Alberta Alpine Ski Team. A special thank you to my Fischer representative, Mitch Conner, for ensuring I have top-notch ski gear. There will be an on-line auction fundraiser being announced soon. Don’t forget to bid generously on my two favorite silent auction items: My aunt Karen’s painting featuring the same blue dye from the last World Cup at Lake Louise in 2022, and a fantastic $350 massage and product package from APEX Massage. Your support makes a world of difference!