Cody Thompson-McCarthy Profile
Hometown: Whitefish, Montana
Home Ski Hill: Big Mountain, Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana
Highlights:
2-time US Alpine Masters Overall Champion: 1997, 1998
Double National Champion in 1998: US Telemark National Champion and US Alpine Masters Champion
Silver Medal in Classic at World Championships in 1999 at Stöten, Sweden
3rd Place World Cup overall in Giant Slalom in 1999
2nd place woman in World Cup overall in 2000 with a 2nd place overall in the Classic
1st Place World Cup finish in Classic in Kimberly, Canada in 2000 and 5 other podium finishes in 2000
10 World Cup podium finishes
US Telemark National Champion for 3 (or 4) years. Records for 2002 are incomplete: 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002?
The Early Years
Cody (Nicole) Thompson grew up in Minnesota and learned to ski and then race in Highland Hills near Bloomington, MN. She later moved to Colorado and raced for Team Breckenridge from 1986 – 1992 and was nationally ranked in the top 10 in Downhill and Super G in 1990-1992.
She raced at US Alpine Nationals in 1988 through 1993.
Thompson earned a two-year scholarship for ski racing in 1991; later that year, she raced in the World University Games in Zacopane, Poland and placed 24th in the Downhill.
She tuned skies and worked in ski shops to support her racing.
Thompson moved to Whitefish, Montana in 1993.
1997 – 1998
Cody claimed her first US Telemark National Championship in her first year of competitive Telemark racing. The Championships were held at Big Mountain, her home ski hill, for the first time.
“The whole weekend was a lot of fun.” Thompson said of the races. “The Thursday night telemark race league has really helped a lot and it’s great to see all the competitors here.”
Thompson also claimed the US Alpine Masters Overall Championship this same year. This was her 2nd masters championship.
1998 – 1999
This was Thompson’s first year of racing at the World Cup level.
She had a 2nd place in the Classic at World Championships in the Classic in Stoten, Sweden and a 2nd place Finish in the Giant Slalom in Aurdal, Norway.
Cody’s home mountain, Big Mountain, hosted their first World Cup this year. She placed 5th in the Classic.
Cody finished the World Cup season 6th overall with a bronze medal in the overall Giant Slalom
At the US Telemark National Championships at Stevens Pass, Thompson won the National Championship for the 2nd year.
“American Telemark skiers can’t really make enough with their sport to live on.” But according to Persons It’s not the money that keeps these skiers going. “It’s something much more precious. It’s the love of the sport.” —US Team Member Neil Persons
Cody Thompson wins Bronze in the Sprint (and the Classic) at Big Mountain World Cup
1999 – 2000
Big Mountain hosted a series of World Cup races this season and Cody Thompson place 3rd in two of the three races.
“With so many US Team members from Whitefish, the crowds have been amazing,” commented Thompson. “At all the World Cup races we’ve been to in Europe, I’ve never heard a roar from the crowed like that, anywhere…”
Thompson was the Silver Medalist in the World Cup overall. She placed first in the Classic at Kimberly, BC and finished the World Cup season with 6 podium finishes.
Cody did not compete at the 2000 National Championships this season.
In 2000, Seven of eleven US Team Members lived and trained in Whitefish Montana at the Big Mountain. Chris Rice and Taug Boschen moved to Whitefish to train with “Team Fish.” Read More about “Team Fish.”
2000 Team Members: Seven of the eleven team members lived and trained at Big Mountain in Whitefish Montana. Back Row: Reid Sabin, Chris Rice, Taug Boschen, Glenn Gustafson, Jef Elliott. Front Row: Neil Persons, Cody Thompson, Lori Stahler, Carol Hill, Jimmy Ludlow.
2000 – 2001
Thompson claims 2001 US Telemark National Champion title at Crested Butte, Colorado
Thompson had 2 podium finishes in Hafjell, Norway, third place in both the Giant Slalom and the Sprint Classic.
She finished 6th Overall in the World Cup standings.
2001 – 2002
World Cup returned to Big Mountain in Whitefish Montana for 6 of the 17 World Cup races held in 2002.
Thompson had 2 podium finishes with a 2nd place in the Sprint Classic and a third place in the Giant Slalom. She only raced the World Cup events in the USA this season and finished in 10th place overall.
We do not have a record of this year’s National Champions at Crested Butte, CO. It is likely that Thompson was the winner, if she was there.
In 2002, Thompson placed 3rd in the Arctic Man ski/snowboard race in Alaska
2002 – 2003
Cody Thompson (now McCarthy) raced at the World Cup Finals/US Telemark Nationals combined event at Crystal Mountain, WA and then at World Championships at Big Mountain, Montana. She was winding down her career and planning to start a family. She just missed a podium at the World Championships on her home hill by .17 seconds. She was the only US woman to place in the top 5 at World Championships.
Beyond Racing
Following her racing career, she participated in Ski Joring events in Whitefish.
Cody Thompson McCarthy (right) claims third place overall at the 2010 National Championships. Kelsey Schmid-Sommer is 1st and Erika Walters is 2nd overall.
In 2010, the US Telemark National Championships were held at Whitefish Mountain Resort (formerly Big Mountain) and Cody entered these events after years of retirement. She raced to third place overall with 2nd place finishes in the Classic, Sprint Classic and Slalom and a 3rd place finish in the Giant Slalom.
Cody plays competitive hockey in Whitefish where she lives with her husband and two children.
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