February 12, 2008 (Otepaeae, Estonia) – George Grey is an 8-year veteran of the Canadian National Ski Team, as well as being a 2006 Olympian. At the recent Alberta World Cup 2008 in Canmore he had his best results this season placing 17th in the 30km pursuit, just 11 seconds back from first place, and followed up that great performance with a solid 25th place result in the 15km Free technique race.

At the Torino 2006 Games the 28-year-old Grey recorded a 26th place finish in the men’s 30 km Pursuit, along with an 11th place finish in the team sprint. His racing career began as a JackRabbit and has continued right up to the highest level. Grey’s home club is the Blackjack Ski Club of Rossland, BC. We caught up with Grey as he prepared for the recent World Cup in Otepaa, Estonia last weekend.

For a couple of years you were the lone male representing Canada on the World Cup. It must be nice having more and more of your team-mates traveling with you.

George Grey: Being the lone male on the World Cup does not make for much ‘team’ atmosphere. Having a larger team now is all positive. The pressure of racing is dispersed and seems to be less prevalent when you have team mates to share the race day with you.

With the departure of Dan Roycroft and Chris Jefferies from the National team last year, you are the “old man” on campus now. Do you find that you play the “veteran” role with your younger team-mates?

GG: It is starting to sink in that I am getting old for Canadian Team standards. If I can continue to put up good results, I hope I can stick around and grow older with the team. As the old guy at 28, I do have a role to play on the team. I can be quiet and reserved but I am very willing to give advise to younger athletes that find themselves in a ‘tough place’. It would make me happy to pass along anything I have learned over the years. I wish I could have learned more from guys like Donald Farley and Chris Blanchard when I was young and new to the team. Fortunately I am good friends with Robin McKeever so I have picked his brain over the years.

Your best results the season came during the Canmore World Cups. Were those races the focus of your race schedule this year?

GG: Yes, Canmore was my focus for the year. I decided to skip the Tour de Ski in order to prepare for the races in my backyard. I went over my peaking trends during past years to find out what kind of training would best prepare me for Canmore’s courses. Hopefully I can take the form I found and apply it to the final World Cup races.

Did having your Mom, fiancée, and best friend trailside during those races help with the effort?

GG: With out a doubt I have had my best races with my parents, friends, and Lesley my fiancée at my side. They give me a little boost at every race. Ideally I would have them travel alongside me to every race. They will not be forgiven if they are not trailside at the Games in 2010!

Speaking of your fiancée, congratulations. Have you set a date and picked a place?

GG: Lesley and I will be married on June 21, 2008 in our home town of Rossland, B.C! I am a lucky man to marry Lesley.