A native of Steamboat Springs, Gordy took to skiing as naturally as most kids take to ice cream. By the time he had graduated from the local high school he was already a frequent champion, at first in jumping and later in the alpine events.

After four years in the 10th Mountain Division during WW II, he resumed competition by qualifying for all four events in the 1948 Olympics, he placed fifth in Olympic Special Jumping at St. Moritz. His amazing versatility was most apparent in 1950 when he jumped with the FIS Team, took first place in the National Nordic Combined Championships, and second in the National Giant Slalom Championships. He was the first American to jump 300 feet.

A special interest in teaching youth led him into coaching at Steamboat Springs and from 1955 to 1959, the position of Director of Recreation for the city of Reno, Nevada, where he developed a ski program involving 500 boys and girls. He assisted Frank Bulkley with the formation of Denver's Eskimo Ski Club.