Hall of Famer

Alain LaRoche

Affiliated Discipline(s): Freestyle
Hometown: Lac Beauport, QC
Active Career Period: 1982 - 1990
Induction CSHF: 1999
Induction Category: Freestyle: Ballet, Aerials, Moguls
Alain LaRoche. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.

Freestyle skier, Alain LaRoche, a member of the colourful and legendary ‘Quebec Air Force, competed on the World Cup freestyle circuit from March 1982 until his last event at La Clusaz, France on March 14, 1990, competing in 199 events in all.

An unusually versatile skier, he competed in all three Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) disciplines, Aerials (71 events), Moguls (65 events) and Acro (Ballet) (63 events). Perhaps even more impressive was his showing in his 58 World Cup Combined placings in which he placed in the top three in the world on 39 occasions, his worst place being an 8th. In individual World Cup events he placed among the top 10 finishers 96 times, 58 in Aerials, 7 in Moguls and 31 in Acro – a remarkable achievement.

He won a Sport Excellence Award in 1982.1983 and named Athlete of the Year by the Federation Quebecoise de Ski in 1983.

Career Highlights
In major Canadian competition at the Senior National Championships:

1983
Ballet 4th place, Moguls 1st place, Aerials 2nd place, Combined 1st place.

1984
Ballet 1st place, Moguls 1st place, Aerials 2nd place, Combined 1st place

1987
Ballet 5th place, Moguls 3rdplace, Aerials 6th place Combined 2nd place

1988
Ballet 4th place, Moguls 5th place, Aerials 5th place, Combined 2nd place

World Cup events, top ten finishes in individual events
1982
10th Aerials Tignes, France
8th Moguls Tignes, France
10th Aerials Oberjoch, Germany
5th Acro Oberjoch, Germany
7th Acro Livigno, Italy
9th Aerials Livigno, Italy
4th Acro Adelboden, Switzerland
8th Aerials Sella Nevea, Italy
6th Acro Sella Nevea, Italy
6th Aerials Mt Ste-Anne, Quebec, Canada
4th Acro Poconos, USA

1983
5th Aerials Angel Fire, USA
1st Aerials Angel Fire, USA
7th Moguls Angel Fire, USA
1st Aerials Ravascletto, Italy
9th Acro Ravascletto, Italy
7th Aerials Livigno, Itals
6th Acro Livigno, Italy
9th Acro Oberjoch, Germany
4th Acro Mariazell, Austria
1984 2nd Aerials Tignes, France
10th Moguls Tignes, France
6th Acro Tignes, France
5th Aerials Tignes, France
4th Moguls Tignes, France
4th Acro Tignes, France
7th Aerials Salen, Sweden
7th Moguls Salen, Sweden
6th Aerials Campitello Matese, Italy
7th Moguls Campitello Matese
3rd Aerials Oberjoch, Germany
4th Acro Oberjoch, Germany
3rd Acro Ravascietto, Italy
3rd Aerials Gostling, Austria
4th Acro Gostling, Austria
3rd Aerials Courcheval, France
6th Acro Courcheval, France
2nd Aerials Breckenridge, USA
5th Acro Breckenridge, USA
3rd Aerials Stoneham, Quebec, Canada
7th Acro Stoneham, Quebec, Canada

1985
4th Aerials Tignes, France
3rd Aerials Salen, Sweden
6th Acro Salen, Sweden
7th Acro Mariazell, Austria
2nd Aerials Oberjoch, Germany
4th Aerials Kranjska Gora, Slovenia
8th Acro Kransjka Gora, Slovenia
7th Aerials La Sauze, France
6th Acro La Sauze, France
6th Aerials Breckenridge, USA
7th Acro Breckenridge, USA
4th Aerials Lake Placid, USA
6th Aerials Lake Placid, USA
5th Moguls Lake Placid, USA
2nd Aerials Mont Gabriel, Quebec, Canada
4th Acro Mont Gabriel, Quebec, Canada

1986
5th Aerials Voss, Norway
5th Aerials Oberjoch, Germany
6th Aerials Mariazell, Austria
7th Acro Tignes, France (FIS World Ski Championships)
5th Aerials Tignes, France (FIS World Ski Championships)
7th Acro Breckenridge, USA
5th Acro Breckenridge, USA
5th Aerials Lake Placid, USA
4th Aerials Lake Placid, USA
8th Aerials Mont Gabriel, Quebec, Canada

1987
3rd Aerials La Clusaz, France
7th Aerials Voss, Norway
5th Aerials Mariazell, Austria
4th Aerials Calgary, Alberta, Canada
9th Aerials Breckenridge, USA

1988
5th Aerials La Plagne, France
5th Aerial s Tignes, France
8th Aerials Breckenridge, USA
8th Aerials Lake Placid, USA
3rd Aerials Mont Gabriel, Quebec, Canada
5th Aerials La Plagne, France
6th Aerials Tignes, France
9th Aerials Meiringen-Hasliberg, Switzerland
6th Aerials La Clusaz, France
9th Aerials La Clusaz, France
5th Aerials Oberjoch, Germany
8th Acro Madarao, Japan
6th Aerials Inawashiro, Japan
10th Acro Inawashiro, Japan

1989
10th Aerials Breckenridge, USA
10th Acro Breckenridge, USA
7th Aerials Calgary, USA
9th Acro Calgary, Alberta, Canada
3rd Aerials Lake Placid, USA
10th Acro Mont Gabriel, Quebec, Canada

1990
5th Aerials La Clusaz, France
9th Aerials Calgary, Alberta, Canada
9th Aerials Breckenridge, USA
8th Aerials Mont Gabriel, Quebec, Canada

 

Please Note: The ski information gathered here is compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments.
Copyright © 2021, Canadian Ski Museum. For Personal/Educational use only. All Rights Reserved.

Alain LaRoche (center) winner of 1980 Shell Cup. Pat Henry (right) placed 3rd.
Alain LaRoche (center) winner of 1980 Shell Cup. Pat Henry (right) placed 3rd. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.
Alain LaRoche 1989-90.
Alain LaRoche 1989-90. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.
Alain LaRoche (center) winner of 1980 Shell Cup. Pat Henry (right) placed 3rd.
Alain LaRoche (center) winner of 1980 Shell Cup. Pat Henry (right) placed 3rd. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.
Alain LaRoche.
Alain LaRoche. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.
1985-1986 World Cup - National Freestyle Ski team member, Alain LaRoche (1st).
1985-1986 World Cup – National Freestyle Ski team member, Alain LaRoche (1st). Athlete Information Bureau C85-31828.
Alain LaRoche.
Alain LaRoche. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.
Alain LaRoche.
Alain LaRoche. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.

Alain LaRoche and Lucie Barma. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.

Canadian Freestyle Ski Team 1985 [L to R back]: Alain LaRoche, Dave Walker, Dave Walker, Bill Keenan, ?, Pat Henry, ?, Pierre Poulin, ?, ?, ?, ?, Richard Peirce, Craig Young, Chris Simboli, Peter Judge (coach) [L to R front]: Lee Lee Morrison, Meredith Gardner, Janice Cannon, Lucie Barma. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.

National Freestyle Ski Team at 1985 Oberjoch World Cup [L to R]: ?, Yves LaRoche, Janice Cannon, Pierre Poulin, ?, Alain LaRoche, ?, Chris Simboli, Lucie Barma, ?, Daniel Cote, Meredith Gardner. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.

National Freestyle Ski Team 1985 [L to R back]: Peter Judge (coach), Roch Otis, Murray Cluff, Alain LaRoche, Craig Young, Daniel Cote, Yves LaRoche, Pierre Poulin, Lloyd Langlois, Pat Henry, Roch Otis, Bill Keenan, Dave Walker, Chris Simboli [L to R front]: Anna Fraser, Lucie Barma, Meredith Gardner, Janice Cannon. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.

National Freestyle Ski Team 1987
National Freestyle Ski Team 1987 [top row]: Lucie Barma, Murray Cluff, Anna Fraser [middle row]: Meredith Gardner, Pat Henry, Peter Judge, Lloyd Langlois, Alain LaRoche [bottom row]: Lee Lee Morrison, Richard Peirce, Chris Simboli, Dave Walker, Craig Young. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.

National Freestyle Ski Team 1988 [L to R top]: Jeff Violo, Rick Shwinghammer (manager), James Boyd, Peter Judge (coach), Chris Hatton [L to R middle]: Tanya Clarke, Murray Cluff, Dave Walker, Dominick Godon, Richard Peirce, Alain LaRoche, Pat Henry, Craig Young [L to R front]: Nancy Walkling, Sue Kirkwood, Meredith Gardner, Janice Cannon, Lee Lee Morrison, Shannon Carey. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association,

National Freestyle Ski Team 1988 Tignes, France [L to R]: Rick Schwinghammer (manager), Alain LaRoche, Tanya Clarke, Dominick Godon, Craig Young, Dave Walker, Nancy Walkling, Chris Hatton, Shannon Carrey, Sue Kirkwood, Richard Peirce, Peter Judge (coach), James Boyd, Jeff Violo, Murray Cluff. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.

Ski acrobatique Le Relais 1993 - Frères Laroche

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