Chris Robinson

Chris Robinson’s career in the sport of skiing began as an amateur freestyle athlete in the early 1970’s, joining the professional freestyle circuit in 1977 and continuing to compete internationally through the inaugural season of the FIS World Cup in 1980-81. While still competing he worked as a coach of the Canadian Junior Freestyle Team for three years from 1979 to 1981.

In 1982-83 he served as Competition Manager for the Canadian Ski Association, Freestyle, overseeing the organization and operation of all national and international events in Canada and continued under contract as the association’s Marketing Director from 1984 through to the Calgary Winter Olympics in 1988.

During this period and into the early ’90’s Chris also led Freestyle Skiing Ontario and the Ontario Freestyle Ski Team as Head Coach, developing some of Canada’s most successful Freestyle skiers who went on to win World Cup, World Championship and Olympic medals. Since then, Chris has served in many volunteer positions including 5 years as President of the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association (1996 – 2000).

For 9 years he sat as Canada’s representative on the FIS Eligibility Committee (1992 – 2001) and in 2000 was appointed as Chairman of the FIS Freestyle Skiing Committee a role which he held until 2017. During that time he led the FIS Freestyle discipline through a period of growth and modernization including the introduction of Ski Cross, Halfpipe and Slopestyle into the FIS structure and addition of these events to the Olympic Winter Games.

He continued to serve the FIS for many years as an advisor to the amalgamated FIS Snowboard / Freesetyle / Freeski Committee and is the Chairman of the FIS Public Relations and Mass Media Committee since 2018.

Chris was the recipient of the FIS Journalists Award in 2016. Chris has been the President and Chair of the Canadian Snowsports Association since 2002 and was instrumental in the revival of the Ski Canada Foundation in 2005. He continues to serve on the Boards of both organizations today.

From 2002 to 2019 he was a member of the Canadian Ski Council Board of Directors and in 2007 received the CSC’s highest award, the Judith Kilbourne Award, whose recipients have made remarkable contributions to skier/snowboarder development programs, and who can be viewed as leaving a legacy to the sport of skiing and snowboarding in Canada.

Note: The 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.