Karen Percy-Lowe

At the height of a distinguished career, Karen Percy was one of the top women’s alpine competitors in the world, a double medalist at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games placing 4th in Downhill and 3rd in Combined events in World Cup standings in the same year.

Her first notable success came at the age of 15 when at the 1981 Canadian Juvenile Championships held at Fortress Mountain, Alberta, she placed 2nd in Downhill and 5th in Giant Slalom. Named to the Canadian Women’s National Alpine team in 1984, she won her first Downhill race in international competition in a Europa Cup event held in Valzoldana, Italy. From that event until her retirement from the National team in August, 1990, she competed in 107 races on the World Cup circuit with 25-top 10 finishes, four World Championships including two Junior World Championships, and 7 consecutive Canadian National Championships from 1983 to 1989. A consummate skier, she refused to specialize
and competed in all Alpine disciplines.

In 1988, she was a recipient Canada’s highest award when she became a Member of the Order of Canada, followed, in 1989, by an Olympic Champion award at The Tribute to the Champions.

Competitive Highlights in Canadian National competition (top 10 finishes)

1983
5th place, National Alpine Championships, Super G, Mont Ste Anne, QC
6th place, National Alpine Championships, Downhill, Mont Ste Anne, QC

1984
6th place, National Alpine Championships, Downhill event
5th place, National Alpine Championships, Super G event

1985
2nd place, National Alpine Championships, Slalom event
4th place, National Alpine Championships, Giant Slalom event
6th place, National Alpine Championships, Downhill event

1986
1st place, National Alpine Championships, Downhill event, Mont Ste Anne, QC
1st place, National Alpine Championships, Super G event, Mont Ste Anne, QC
4th place, National Alpine Championships, Giant Slalom, Mont Ste Anne, QC

1987
3rd place, National Alpine, Championships, Giant Slalom event Rossland, BC
2nd place, National Alpine Championships, Downhill event, Rossland, BC
2nd place, Canadian Alpine Championships, Super G event, Rossland, BC

1988
5th place, Canadian Alpine Championships, Downhill event, Panorama, BC
1st place, Canadian Alpine Championships, Super G event, Panorama, BC
1st place, Canadian Alpine Championships, Giant Slalom event, Panorama, BC

1989
1st place, Canadian Alpine Championships, Giant Slalom event, Lake Louise,AB
Competitive Highlights in Olympic, Europa Cup, World Cup & World Championship
competition (top 10 finishes)

1984
5th place, Europa Cup, Downhill event, Puy St Vincent, France
3rd place, Europa Cup, Super G event, Verbier, Switzerland
2nd place, Europa Cup, Downhill event, Valzoldana, Italy
1st place, Europa Cup, Downhill, Valzoldana, Italy

1986
10th place, World Cup, Downhill event, Furano, Japan
3rd place, World Cup, Downhill event, Banff, Alberta
9th place, World Cup, Downhill event, Val d’Isere, France

1987
8th place, World Cup, Super G event, Pfronten, Germany
10th place, World Championships, Downhill event
9th place (tie), World Cup, Downhill event, Mount Allan
9th place, World Cup, Downhill event, Val d’Isere, France
8th place, World Cup, Downhill event, Leukerbad, Switzerland
4th place, World Cup, Super G, Leukerbad, Switzerland

1988
2nd place, World Cup, Downhill event, Zinal, Switzerland
10th place (tie), World Cup, Downhill event, Leukerbad, Switzerland
9th place, World Cup, Downhill event, Bad Gastein, Austria
7th place, World Cup, Combined event, Bad Gastein, Austria
Bronze Medal, XV Olympic Winter Games, Downhill event, Calgary Alberta
Bronze medal, XV Olympic Winter Games, Super G event, Calgary, Alberta
4th place, XV Olympic Winter Games, Combined event, Calgary, Alberta
7th place, World Cup, Slalom event, Aspen, Colorado
5th place, World Cup, Downhill event, Rossland, British, Columbia
6th place, World Cup, Downhill event, Val d’Isere, France
10th place, World Cup, Giant Slalom event, Valzoldana, Italy

1989
5th place, World Cup, Giant Slalom event, Schwarzenberg, Austria
9th place, World Cup, Giant Slalom event, Schwarzenberg, Austria
10th place (tie), World Cup, Slam event, Mellau, Austria
10th place, World Cup, Downhill event, Tignes, France
6th place, World Cup, Downhill event, Lake Louise, Alberta
4th place (tie), World Cup, Downhill event, Lake Louise, Alberta
6th place, World Cup, Downhill event, Steamboat Springs, USA
8th place, World Cup, Super G event, Steamboat Springs, USA
10th place, World Cup, Slalom event, Shigakogen, Japan

Please Note: The ski information gathered here is compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments.
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