Dave Murray

Dave Murray, one of the original “Crazy Canucks,” was a pioneer of Canadian alpine ski racing and left a lasting legacy as both a competitor and sport builder.

Murray joined the Canadian national alpine team in 1971 and competed internationally for 11 seasons until his retirement in 1982. He represented Canada at two Olympic Winter Games — Innsbruck 1976 and Lake Placid 1980 — and at three world championships in 1974, 1978 and 1982.

Racing with grit and grace on the World Cup circuit, Murray earned 15 top-10 finishes between 1976 and 1982. His best season came in 1975–76, when he cracked the top 10 four times in downhill. In 1979, he was ranked third in the world in downhill and was named British Columbia’s Athlete of the Year.

After retiring from competition, Murray turned his focus to developing the sport in Canada. He served as director of skiing at Whistler Mountain, founded the popular Dave Murray Whistler Summer Ski Camps, and chaired the national Masters alpine series. A Level III coach and instructor, he also worked as a product consultant and spokesperson in the ski industry.

Murray’s influence extended well beyond race results. His former teammate Steve Podborski described him as “a powerful influence on all of us … a deep thinker who realized skiing was just for the moment. He gave us balance and perspective we wouldn’t have had without him. He was a creator.”

The well-respected and affable skier grew up with four brothers in Abbotsford, B.C., and began skiing at age 15. Known for his nicknames — including Maharishi Yogi, Murr and Yarrum — Murray married Stephanie Sloan, herself a World Cup freestyle champion. Their daughter, Julia Murray, continued the family tradition, competing in ski cross on the World Cup circuit and at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

Murray received the John Semmelink Memorial Award in 1978 and was inducted into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.

He died in 1990 at the age of 37, leaving a lasting legacy through the Dave Murray Ski Camp and the Dave Murray Foundation, which provides annual bursaries to promising young skiers across the province.

Join the Dave Murray Facebook Group for more on Dave’s career.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 1974 – 8th, downhill, World Alpine Championships, St. Moritz, Switzerland

• 1975 – 6th, combined, World Cup, Megève, France; 7th, downhill, Schladming, Austria

• 1976 – 7th, downhill and 7th, combined, Wengen, Switzerland; 8th, downhill, Kitzbühel, Austria

• 1977 – 8th, combined, Wengen, Switzerland; 2nd, giant slalom, Canadian championships, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Que.

• 1978 – 2nd, downhill, World Cup, Les Houches, France; 2nd, downhill, Schladming, Austria; 8th, downhill, Val Gardena, Italy

• 1979 – 3rd, downhill, World Cup, Lake Placid, N.Y.; 9th, downhill, Crans-Montana, Switzerland; 9th, downhill, Val d’Isère, France; 2nd, downhill, Canadian championships; 1st overall, Canadian championships; ranked 10th overall, World Cup downhill standings

• 1980 – 10th, downhill, Olympic Winter Games, Lake Placid, N.Y.; 7th, downhill, World Cup, Val d’Isère, France; 3rd, downhill, Canadian championships, Lake Louise, Alta.

• 1981 – 2nd, downhill, Canadian championships

Note: The information gathered in this biography was compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments. Copyright © Canadian Ski Hall of Fame & Museum. For personal and/or educational use only. All rights reserved.