Thomas' Story
Sara's Story

About Thomas

World Cup Champion

• Sport-Alpine skiing
• Events- Giant Slalom and Slalom
• Birthdate- December 27, 1972
• Birthplace- Bolzano, Italy
• Residence- Canmore, Alberta, Canada
• Ski Club- Banff Alpine Racers
• Favorite activity- Flyfishing

Thomas was born shortly after his mom hit a large jump while tobogganing in the Dolomite Mountains in his birthplace of Italy. The family of five immigrated to Banff when he was two years old. In the era where the Crazy Canucks reigned supreme, Thomas’s father encouraged him to tackle the giant slalom; the technical event that he felt required the complete package of skills- agility, balance, power and a healthy attraction to speed.

Thomas’s dream took flight on a backcountry skiing trip with his family into Skoki Lodge. On the sustained pitch approaching the lodge, Thomas succumbed to gravity many times, his sisters were more than amused, but he became more determined with each crash. In the guest book he wrote that one day he would be the best skier in the world. The journey had begun. There was hardship along the way- a broken leg from GT snow racing accident, a misfortunate incident where he was beaten by this older sister in club training, multiple knee surgeries and a back problem. Considered to be one of the hardest working athletes on the international circuit, these setbacks were heartbreaking at the time, but strengthened his resolve to do what no Canadian had done before- to win a technical event in Alpine Skiing. Just before his thirtieth birthday, Thomas won his first Giant Slalom in front of friends and family, only a few kilometers from his birthplace in Bolzano. He was champion again two days later in Austria.

Career Highlights

• Gold 2004 World Cup Giant Slalom, Alta Badia, Italy
• Gold 2004 World Cup Giant Slalom, Flachau, Austria
• Silver 2005 World Cup Slalom, Kranjska Gora, Slovenia
• Silver 2004 World Cup Slalom, Kitzubuel, Austria
• Bronze 2006 World Cup Final, Are, Sweden
• Bronze 2006 World Cup Slalom, Shigakogen, Japan
• Bronze 2005 World Cup Giant Slalom, Kranjska Gora, Slovenia
• Bronze 2005 World Cup Slalom, Shigakogen, Japan
• Bronze 1997, World Cup Giant Slalom, Park City, USA

• Third Overall World Cup Giant Slalom 2004-2005
• Fifth Overall World Cup Slalom 2005-2006
• Sixth Overall World Cup Giant Slalom 2005-2006

• 4 Olympic Games

• 11 National Championship victories