Todd Brooker

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Throughout a short but distinguished international career, Todd Brooker, the last of the « Crazy Canucks », exemplified a true competitive spirit over a 10-year  career with the national ski team (1977-87) where he earned seven World Cup medals including three victories (Kitzbuehel, Austria, Aspen, USA, Furano, Japan).

Born in Waterloo, Ontario, Brooker learned to ski and ski race at Blue Mountain, near Collingwood and qualified for the national ski team in 1977. In his first-ever World Cup race in Val Gardena, Italy, Brooker finished an impressive 14th, launching a career which included the 1984 Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo, and the World Championships at Schladming, Austria, in 1982 and Bormio, Italy, in 1985. Brooker entered 28 World Cup downhill races, earned points in six World Cup overall standings, and finished in the top 15 on 15 occasions.

Brooker greatest achievement – and most gut-wrenching accident – both happened during the Hahnenkahm races in Kitzbuehel, Austria, the most physically and mentally demanding alpine race on the World Cup circuit. Brooker conquered The Streif in 1983, winning the race – which was also the third in a row for the Canadian team (Ken Read in 1980, Steve Podborski in 1981) – breaking the European dominance at the event. But the difficult race course ended his career four years later when he crashed at the top of the Zielschuss in January 1987 during a training run, with the most gut wrenching spectacular ragdoll head-over-heels cartwheeling fall ever captured on film. The crash ended his season and ultimately his racing career.

Brooker was recognized and awarded the Johnny F. Bassett Memorial Award in 1987, recognizing a Canadian « Champion of Champions », for his competitive achievement and caliber of character.

Todd Brooker went on to become one of the most celebrated and respected commentators in television, working with major networks over numerous World Cup, Olympic and World Championship events where he provided colour commentary and analysis. He returned to his roots in southern Ontario and today manages a real estate company in Collingwood, Ontario.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 1975: 1st place, Downhill, Canadian Junior Championships; 2nd place, slalom, Canadian Junior Championships; 3rd place, Giant Slalom, Canadian Junior Championships.
• 1976: 1st place, Downhill, Ontario Championships.
• 1977: 2nd place, Downhill, Pontiac Cup, Mont Ste Anne, Quebec.
• 1982: 2nd place, Downhill, World Cup, Aspen, Colorado, USA.
• 1983: 1st place, Downhill, World Cup, Kitzbuhel, Austria; 1st place, Downhill, World Cup, Aspen, Colorado, USA; 2nd place, Downhill event, World Cup, Val Gardena, Italy; 2nd place, Downhill, World Cup, Val d’Isere, France; Recipient of a Sport Excellence Award; Winner, Canadian Alpine Skier of the Year Award.
• 1985: 1st place, Downhill, World Cup, Furano, Japan; 3rd place, Downhill, World Cup, Kitzbuhel, Austria; Recipient of a Sport Excellence Award.

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