July 19, 2012 (Canmore, AB) – Two-time Olympic cross-country skier Drew Goldsack will retire from competitive ski racing, Cross Country Canada announced on Wednesday. The 30-year-old Goldsack, of Red Deer, Alta., leaves the National Ski Team after racing for more than a decade against the top athletes in the world, and competing at the Torino and Vancouver Olympics, along with three World Championships.

Goldsack (l) Len Valjas post 2011 Dusseldorf Sprint Relay after placing fifth. © Marianne Valjas

“I have thought long and hard about my future in ski racing and I feel like it’s just time.” said Goldsack. “It has been an incredible ride representing Canada at the highest level in our sport. Competing in front of a home crowd at the Olympics in Vancouver and being a part of the most successful Canadian Olympic Team of all time will be one of my fondest memories from a career loaded with unforgettable experiences! I’m now looking forward to the next stage of my life and moving on to new challenges.”

Drew Goldsack in action at Rossland NorAm © Jesse Winter file photo

With Canada’s Beckie Scott having just broken through to win Canada’s first Olympic medal in the sport, Goldsack emerged onto the National Ski Team in 2002 with a group of bright-eyed, energetic young men from across the country poised and determined to follow Scott’s trail to the international podium.

(l-r) Kershaw, Renner, Grey, Goldsack © courtesy of Drew Goldsack

“We were just young guys looking for a chance to ski for our country, but after 10 years of blood, sweat and tears, I am very proud to leave the sport with the Canadian men’s team now recognized as one of the best in the world,” said Goldsack. “We now have World Championship medalists, World Cup medalists and Tour de Ski Medalists. We have developed a solid team and I know Canada is great hands with loads of talent coming up through the system.”

Goldsack was on the National Ski Team for over a decade. © CCC

Goldsack will be branching out from the ski world into an entirely different realm, pursuing a career in the film industry with Miami-based production company Modern City Entertainment. He has begun work as an Associate Producer for a feature length documentary film called Heroes Behind The Badge that will be released this fall. A trailer for the film can be viewed HERE.

Goldsack (l) and Valjas celebrate their 5th place winnings at the Dusseldorf Sprints. © Marianne Valjas

“I’d like to thank the incredibly large number of people who have passionately supported me throughout my career, in particular, my coaches, support staff, family and sponsors who worked tirelessly behind the scenes and always believed in me,” said Goldsack. “And a big thanks goes out to my teammates, who are like family to me. Over the years we’ve probably spent more time together with each other than we have with our own girlfriends/wives! My time on the road with the team is certainly one of the things I’ll miss the most. Finally, I need to thank my parents, who made my ski career possible. Their unwavering support and encouragement was always a reliable constant in the wildly inconsistent world of competitive sport.”

Goldsack at home in Canmore... © courtesy of Drew Goldsack

SkiTrax joins the ski community in wishing Goldsack all the best and fans will be happy to know that he plans to remain close with the ski community that has given so much to him as he will be joining forces with former NST teammate, Dave Nighbor, to bring Stoneham Ski Apparel to North America. Stoneham has already secured contracts with Goldsack’s former team, the Alberta Word Cup Academy as well as Alpine Canada.