Gerald Hayden
In 2006, Gerald Hayden competed on the biggest mono-skiing stage in the world, the Paralympic Winter Games. In Torino, he collected top-20 finishes in both the slalom (19th) and giant slalom (20th). Hayden is now a full-time ski racer and is hoping his dedication pays off with a spot on the 2010 U.S. Paralympic Team that will compete in Vancouver.
Hayden kicked up his training regime for the 2007-2008 season and it all paid off with 10 top-20 finishes in World Cup competition - the highlight of which was an eighth place finish in the giant slalom in Korea. Hayden then wrapped the season by grabbing second place in the Super G at U.S. Championships, along with fourth in the slalom and fifth in the downhill.
Hayden was a recreational skier and snowboarder before he suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident in 1995. Within a year of his injury, Hayden signed up for a ski lesson at Tahoe Adaptive Ski School and learned not only that he could still ski, but that the experience was exhilarating.
Hayden has a degree in economics from UC-Davis, enjoys reading John Steinbeck novels and eating Thai food.
Major Achievements
- 2008: Fifth place, slalom - The Hartford Ski Spectacular, Breckenridge, Colorado
- 2008: Second place, Super G; fourth place, slalom; fifth place, downhill - U.S. Championships
- 2008: Eighth place, giant slalom - World Cup, Korea
- 2008: 10 top-20 finishes in World Cup competition
- 2006: Member, U.S. Paralympic Alpine Skiing Team - Paralympic Winter Games, Torino, Italy
- 2006: Silver medal, giant slalom; silver medal, Super G; bronze medal, slalom - Meridian Cup, Winter Park, Colorado
- 2006: Third place, giant slalom - Huntsman Cup, Park City, Utah
