After countless ski battles and long hours of travel, silence has fallen upon the epic competition between two longtime friends. National team members George Grey and Stefan Kuhn have hung up their bibs after the Canadian Ski Nationals.
“It’s always tough to transition because it’s something you love and still love. But everybody has to finish up at some point and this is the right time for me,” Kuhn said.
Kuhn and Grey began racing against one another as 12-year-olds. They were two smaller skiers, lucky to crack the top 10 once in a while. However, skiing together, they developed a strong friendship.
“Growing up, my goal was always to beat Grey. We were never top five, we were 13th and 14th or 15th and 16th,” Kuhn said. “I invited him to train in Canmore and I went there (Rossland, B.C.) in the summer.”
Jackrabbit races turned into world junior races and subsequently spots on the Canadian national team. The two raced hundreds of times, resulting in epic battles on the classic track, and their friendship – and medal count – grew.
Kuhn and Grey were best men at each other’s wedding and when Kuhn left the sport to travel and become a chef, it was Grey who helped convince him to come back and realize an Olympic dream.
“He was one of my big inspirations to come back. He’s a cool friend to get out of skiing and life,” said Kuhn.
It’s been a lot of highs and some lows, but it’s been a journey. “The experience with teammates that have become best friends has been incredible,” Grey said.
The highlights for the duo are brilliant, culminating with strong performances at the 2010 Whistler/Vancouver Olympics. In their home country, both skiers peaked, with Grey earning a seventh in the team relay and an eighth in the 30 kilometre race, while Kuhn grabbed 15th in the sprint.
Both skiers are part of the 1988 Olympic legacy, which inspired many of the current crop of athletes. Seeing the Olympics first hand growing up in Canmore shaped his life, said Kuhn, and he hopes the accomplishments of the next group of national team athletes does the same.
“There’s a huge crew who saw the games in ‘88 – you see a bunch of guys like Phil (Widmer), myself, Chandra (Crawford) – hopefully we’re able to affect another group of young skiers,” Kuhn said.
Both remember the days before Canada was a force on the world scene. Grey spent months alone in Europe as the only Canadian competing, maintaining a national presence.
But after the Olympics results and a push to compete in the world championships in Oslo, Norway this year, both knew it was time to step down.
“I found 2010 was my peak, but I thought I’d try this year and see if I could pull off a medal. But with knee surgery in the spring and a new baby boy… this is the year to retire,” Grey said.
“There’s age, life, other life goals. The things I wanted to achieve in skiing have come. Finishing 15th at the Olympics is a dream come true. At 31, you have to look at yourself and see where you are at in life,” Kuhn said.
Grey’s father Robin has been a doctor and coach with the national ski team. Tears welled in his eyes as he watched George cross the finish line for the last time, and he reflected fondly on his most proud moments. He praises his son for making the proper decision, but was emotionally affected.
“For George, it (highlight) has to be the Whistler Olympics, where he finished eighth in the pursuit – but I’ve been proud of him all along,” Robin Grey said. “I back his decision completely. Rationally, he’s made all the right moves. From an emotional point I’m really sad, but we completely support him.”
The final race itself was classic Grey, who edged Brent McMurtry and Kevin Sandau in the men’s 50 km skate. Grey hung back with the lead pack, conserving his strength before breaking the pack. The younger McMurtry and Sandau pressed, but could not break the veteran in the last 100 metres. Grey has repeated the scene several times in his career, yet the only difference was tears welling in his eyes at the finish.
Kuhn the sprinter stayed back, choosing to ski with friends and teammates and finished 25th.
“I was really excited for this race, I always find it fun. Fifty kilometres is kind of low stress – your shape just shows at the end,” Grey said. “I was looking forward to skiing with my friends and teammates for the last time in my competitive career.”
While Kuhn plans one more trip to the U.S. to compete and Grey said he’s got a few other plans, it’s unlikely they’ll disappear from the sport forever. Kuhn is exploring other opportunities in skiing, and there’s interest in keeping him around the national team.
“You’d like to give back to the sport that has helped you for 15 years. I love skiing and I love living here... If I have a fun gig that takes me to Europe once in a while, that sounds pretty good.”
