Anthony Dransfeld/For the Townsman
What a skiing resume!
With four World Cup Downhill victories (most ever by a Canadian woman), Geraldine Sorensen was the World Cup Downhill Champion of 1982, which means best in the World.
Sometimes the best skier does not win a medal at the Winter Olympics, and such was the case in 1984 at the Sarajevo Olympics where Gerry finished fifth in the Downhill when she was a prohibitive favorite to win the event.
Missing with your wax can mean the difference between first and 15th place — when you blow it with the wax, you feel as if you could run down the mountain faster. It is a very frustrating thing.
A bit of background: Gerry was born and raised in Kimberley to Diane and Chris Sorensen. Both parents were pretty athletically inclined. Gerry’s mom Diane was an outstanding curler, golfer and bowler, ditto for Chris, who also could really dangle out on the hockey rink. Chris actually broke his leg ski jumping when he was 16, so Geraldine came by her athletic genes honestly.
Her Grandad Chris Sr. was a Professional hockey player, before coming to Kimberley to play for the famed Dynamiters way back in the day.
For you history buffs Gerry Sorensen’s Great Grandfather operated a ferry between Invermere and Golden I do believe, in the late 1800s. So the Sorensen family has been around for a while.
Gerry Sorensen took up skiing at 10 years of age — a relatively late start. But did she ever make up for lost time! An exemplary ski racing career culminating with her election to the Canadian Ski Hall Of Fame in 1988. Ms. Sorensen was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall Of Fame in 1989. Another skier who put Kimberley B.C on the map.
She learned to ski downhill on the Dreadnaught up at Kimberley Resort, a great starting point for many skiers. Nancy Greene trained on the Dreadnaught for one season when she was 16 years old, attending Selkirk High School, and living with Bill and Marg Rodgers in Townsite.
Nancy always maintained that winter here was huge in her ski development. Nancy always spoke highly of the Dreadnaught Downhill run)
Gerry Sorensen is married and resides with her husband and children in California. Her family still reside here in Kimberley. Sadly, her mom Diane passed away some years ago.