For the past nine years, Gerald Klassen served as an esteemed board member, vice chair, and recently, our board chair. Gerald has served his term with CFSK and is moving on. His energy, enthusiasm and passion for improving our South Kootenay region will be greatly missed.
Beyond his contributions to CFSK, Gerald has volunteered as treasurer for the Blackjack Cross Country Ski Club, chaired the St. Michael’s Catholic School board for 11 years, and supported the Miss Trail Ambassador Program for over a decade. He has organized and sponsored numerous sporting events and clubs in our region and frequently donates to local minor hockey, baseball, and curling teams.
Gerald was born and raised in Nelson, B.C. and moved to Trail at the age of 23 to open his first sporting goods store, Gerick Cycle & Sports. Alongside his brother Rick, they expanded to open stores in Cranbrook, Kimberly, Westbank, Kelowna, Castlegar, and Nelson. Gerald has dedicated over 30 years to the sporting goods industry, promoting health and fitness in the communities they served.
As a seasoned marathon runner, Gerald competed in Calgary, Vancouver, and Honolulu. He was the first Kootenay resident to complete Ironman triathlons, finishing 5th overall at the 1986 Penticton Ironman and qualifying for the world stage Ironman in Kona, Hawaii. He also participated in many 10K races, half-triathlons, and road bike races across Canada and the US.
At 64, Gerald remains an avid cross-country skier, road cyclist, runner, strength trainer, and continues to stay active any way he can.
Gerald loves living in the Kootenays and now will likely have more time to enjoy all the region has to offer. As he says, “You don’t need to travel when everything you love doing is right out your back door.”
From our entire team at CFSK, we thank Gerald from the bottom of our hearts for his service and dedication to our organization.