Rider Profile
Gary Fredrickson-US Cup Featured Rider
US Cup Rider Profile
Name- Gary Fredrickson
DOB- 6/9/1957
Residence- Moreno Valley, CA
Years Riding 10+
I, Alina (Gary’s Daughter) am writing this on behalf of my Dad. He does not know you will be featuring him as a Rider of the Month, it’s a Surprise!
1: Gary for those not familiar with you, give us a little back ground on yourself (where you work, family, hobbies, likes, interests etc)? My Dad has been employed with Albertsons Distribution Center as a Truck Driver for 20 years. Married to my mom Annette for 33 years, has 2 daughters Alina (31) & Jamie (27), 2 Son In-Laws Brian & David, 3 Grandchildren Jalyn (8), Janelle (4) & Bryce (1). My dad’s hobbies are Mountain Bike riding, Boating, Jeeping & camping. He likes to go to the River, Glamis, Ocotillo Wells & Mammoth.
2: You had a pretty bad crash at last year’s California State Championships? My Dad took a crash for the worst. We never imagined while waiting for him to make his first lap to hear over the loud speaker “If anyone is with Gary Fredrickson please come to staging”.
My dad took off in his Category with a strong lead ahead of the other riders. He approached the first big downhill out of the start line and it was all downhill from there, he crashed. When he arrived at the Hospital tests/x-rays were done and we were told he had a Broken Back. A couple weeks later at his follow-up appointment at his Doctors we discovered he not only had a broken back but now a broken hip.
My dad underwent surgery to repair his hip in late October 2011. While in surgery the Doctor discovered his broken hip was a lot worse than what they originally thought, surgery lasted 9+ hours. Due to surgery my Dad has severe Nerve Damage in his leg, Drop Foot, Blood Clots and minimal range of motion.
How is the recovery going? Recovery has been a long process but my Dad has been a trooper thru this whole tragedy! He is walking with a Walker & Cane, going to Physical Therapy twice a week, and riding his Bike Trainer daily in the garage 2-3 hours and doing Physical Therapy Exercises.
3: What are you top 5 goals for 2012? (on and off the bike) To be walking without his walker and/or cane. To hopefully have the blood clots in his leg gone so the swelling will go down so he can continue a full road of recovery. To be able to lift his leg over the seat of his bike.
4: What motivates you to get on the bicycle? To regain the normal life he used to have. His desire to ride, to get back out there with each and every rider within US Cup and be able to race one day again!
5: Where do you see yourself in five years from now? Retired, living day to day!
6: What do you like to do in your spare time? Spending time with his family who have been there the whole step of the way!
7: Any last parting words for us?
On behalf of my Dad would personally like to Thank each and every person that was at the Vail Lake Race on October 2, 2011 that was there to assist him in his time of need/injury. He has a long road of recovery but MARK my word, YOU WILL SEE HIM BACK OUT THERE ON THE TRACK!
