AST Athlete Journal: Gered Thompson
Hey everyone. The race season is well underway, and after completing the first races at Norquay and Panorama, I’ve come away with some solid gains, including new FIS points and NorAm points. It was an intense stretch of racing, but it’s all part of the grind. Luckily we had MOUNTAIN FIRE FOODS to keep us well fueled. We then had a much needed break for Christmas, which gave me some time to relax and recharge. I was able to train with my old team, NATC, and also spend some time free skiing at Kicking Horse, which was a great way to mix things up and have some fun before the next block of races.
After the break, we hit the training hard, starting at Nakiska. From there, it was all about preparing for the NorAms, driving over to Kimberly in our GMC trucks to focus on some serious training on the Dreadnought race track, working on downhill and super-G, with focused sessions at Lake Louise and Norquay. Speaking of Norquay, they recently water injected their run, and we got the opportunity to ski the track before the NorAms kicked off. The conditions were tough, especially when it came to getting my skis sharp enough to carve on the ice. The key to making it down Silver Legacy is all about outside ski pressure, separation, full commitment, and a tune from GEARUP SPORTS CANMORE. It’s a brutal track, but it’s the kind of challenge I love. Every run is a test, and each one helps push me to dial in for the upcoming races. Wish me and the team good luck as we’ll be racing the NorAms on Jan 27th! We’re all looking forward to repping our dashing new KARBON race suits!!
Luc and I just wrapped up 12 solid days of training in a row, and to celebrate, we stayed up until 4 AM to watch the legendary Kitzbühel DH. It was totally worth it! Watching the race live, we saw two of our Canadian boys, Jack Crawford and Cam Alexander, take 1st and 3rd. The energy was unreal, and we were going absolutely crazy as they flew down the course, especially when they crossed the finish line. We watched it with our other injured teammates, Aidan and Caleb, and it was a bittersweet moment—such a boost for the team, but also a reminder of how much we miss having everyone healthy and training together.
Training has been going great, but it’s just not the same without my three teammates, Jamie, Caleb, and Aidan. They’ve all been sidelined by knee injuries, and I really miss having them out there pushing alongside me. The energy they bring to training is something I can’t quite put into words, and it’s been tough not having them with us. Still, we’re all staying positive and supporting each other as we push through. We’ve got each other’s backs, and I know we’ll be back stronger than ever once they’re back on their skis.
As the team is getting pumped for these upcoming NorAm races, I’d like to acknowledge that this busy season would not be possible without our tremendous support from our awesome sponsors. Genstar, GearUp Sports Canmore, GMC Dealers of Alberta, Karbon, and Mountain Fire Foods you guys are truly the best, THANK YOU!!
