Ben Thomsen

Nicknames: Benny Alcott, Black Panther, The Rock Whisperer, Pink Pocster (because of his pink helmet).

Best moment in ski racing: Crossing the finish line in Val Gardena, Italy, and coming 16th – scoring my first World Cup points and making the team. It almost brought me to tears – it was amazing.

Worst moment in ski racing: When I crashed. I hooked my arm guard on a super-G gate. My skis blew off, I did a couple of flips, hit the ground, did a couple more flips. I tweaked both knees and had severe bruising on my femur. I thought I had broken my left tib-fib but I went to the hospital and everything was fine. I raced in Kvitfjell, Norway, three days later.

First experience of racing Kitzbuhel: I didn’t know how to feel. I’ve never been nervous or scared for a downhill. On the training runs, sitting up in the athlete area I kind of got this feeling in my stomach and I thought, ‘Oh, I’m getting nervous.’ About 20 seconds later I wasn’t nervous anymore. I was 55 in the start gate and every guy from 51 to 62 was in their skis in the start gate waiting to go – totally quiet. I’m trying to get in there and I can’t. I could tell they were shaking in their boots.

Person you look up to most in ski racing: Marco Büchel. He’s kind of like the same personality as me. He’s an adrenaline junkie. He just loves ski racing. He doesn’t care if the jumps are scary or big. You put your skis on and whatever it is, you race and you do it.

On your iPod: Mstrkft – techno. Justice, Motley Crue, Iron Maiden.

Favourite movie: I Am Legend.

Hockey team: Chicago Blackhawks. I liked how many top Canadians they had on their team.

If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? Marco Büchel.

Something no-one knows about you: I crochet. I crochet hats – they make good Christmas presents!

Favourite activities other than skiing: Dirtbiking. Surfing/wakeboarding.

Superstitions: I’m not really superstitious but I like to keep all my bibs and I travel with all my bibs from that season.
 
If a movie was made about your life, who should play the lead role? Arnold Schwarzenegger.

What’s a talent you wish you had? I wish I could play guitar.

If you weren’t a skier, what would you be? A Moto GP racer.

Funniest thing you’ve seen in ski racing: One time Glenn (Ben’s dad) was driving his van into an underground parking lot and he didn’t know if he had enough room. He put his hand in between the roof of the van and the (ceiling) and he ended up wedging his hand in there.

Most embarrassing moment: We went to a ski camp in New Zealand and I forgot to bring my skis. That was pretty embarrassing.

Describe yourself in three words: Crazy. Calm. Cool. 

Podiums
2nd – Downhill – Sochi, RUS (Feb. 2012)

Finishes in the top 20
17th- Downhill - Kitzbühel, AUT (Jan. 2013)
12th - Downhill - Wengen, SUI (Jan. 2013)
15th - Downhill - Bormio, ITA (Dec. 2012)
16th – Downhill – Beaver Creek, USA (Nov. 2012)
10th – Downhill – Schladming, AUT (March 2012)
9th – Downhill – Kvitfjell, NOR (March 2012)
5th – Downhill – Chamonix, FRA (Feb. 2012)
11th – Downhill – Chamonix, FRA (Feb. 2012)
18th – Downhill – Kvitfjell, NOR (March 2011)
16th – Downhill – Val Gardena-Groeden, ITA (Dec. 2010)

FIS World Ski Championships
17th - Downhill - Schladming, AUT (Feb. 2013)
19th - Super-G - Schladming, AUT (Feb. 2013)
18th – Downhill – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GER (Feb. 2011)
19th – Super-G – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GER (Feb. 2011)

Nor-Am Cup
Finishes in the top 10
7th - Super-G - Nakiska, Alta. (March 2013)
8th – Super-G – Aspen, USA (Feb. 2011)
10th – Downhill – Aspen, USA (Feb. 2011)
3rd – Downhill – Lake Louise, Alta. (Dec. 2010)
6th – Downhill – Aspen, USA (Feb. 2010)
6th – Downhill – Aspen, USA (Feb. 2010)
4th – Super-G – Aspen, USA (Feb. 2010)
9th – Super-G – Panorama, B.C. (Dec. 2009)
9th – Downhill – Lake Louise, Alta. (Dec. 2009)
9th – Super-G – Apex, B.C. (Feb. 2007)