Hall of Famer
Christopher Simboli
In the mid-1980s, Christopher Simboli was recognized as one of the world’s most versatile and talented freestyle skiers.
Between January 1984 and March 1989, Christopher competed in 217 International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup and World Championship events, finishing in the top 10 on 123 occasions. At a time when most skiers began to specialize in one discipline, he remained competitive across all three — ballet, moguls and aerials — and stood on the podium 29 times in combined events. His greatest strength came in ballet and aerials, where he posted 13 podium finishes.
Christopher’s most memorable season came in 1989, when he captured the FIS world championship combined title, the FIS World Cup combined title, and the FIS World Cup Grand Prix title — awarded to the top overall competitor across all three freestyle disciplines over an entire season. The feat became known as the “trifecta” of freestyle skiing.
That same year, he received the John Semmelink Memorial Award, given annually to the skier who, through sportsmanship, conduct and ability, best represents Canada in international competition. He was also named Ottawa’s Athlete of the Year in April 1990 and was nominated for both Ontario and Canadian Athlete of the Year.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- 1981 — 2nd, ballet, International Youth Championships, Saas-Fee, Switzerland
- 1984 — 3rd, aerials, World Cup, Campitello Matese, Italy; 3rd, aerials, World Cup, Tignes, France; 2nd, combined, World Cup, Tignes, France
- 1985 — 3rd, ballet, World Cup, Mt. Gabriel, Que.; 2nd, combined, World Cup, Lake Placid, U.S.A.; 2nd, combined, World Cup, Breckenridge, U.S.A.; 3rd, ballet, World Cup, La Sauze, France; 3rd, ballet, World Cup, Kranjska Gora, Slovenia; 3rd, aerials, World Cup, Kranjska Gora, Slovenia; 3rd, ballet, World Cup, Oberjoch, Germany; 3rd, combined, World Cup, Oberjoch, Germany; 2nd, combined, World Cup, Pila, Italy; 2nd, aerials, World Cup, Sälen, Sweden; 3rd, combined, World Cup, Sälen, Sweden
- 1986 — 2nd, combined, World Cup, Mt. Gabriel, Que.; 3rd, aerials, World Cup, Lake Placid, U.S.A.; 2nd, combined, World Cup, Oberjoch, Germany; 1st, combined, World Cup, Voss, Norway; 3rd, combined, World Cup, Tignes, France
- 1987 — 2nd, combined, World Cup, Lake Placid, U.S.A.; 3rd, ballet, World Cup, Lake Placid, U.S.A.; 3rd, combined, World Cup, Breckenridge, U.S.A.; 2nd, ballet, World Cup, Calgary, Alta.; 3rd, combined, World Cup, Oberjoch, Germany; 3rd, combined, World Cup, Tignes, France; 3rd, combined, World Cup, La Plagne, France
- 1988 — 3rd, combined, World Cup, Lake Placid, U.S.A.; 3rd, combined, World Cup, Breckenridge, U.S.A.; 3rd, ballet, World Cup, Oberjoch, Germany; 1st, combined, World Cup, Oberjoch, Germany; 3rd, combined, World Cup, La Clusaz, France; 1st, combined, World Cup, Meiringen-Hasliberg, Switzerland; 3rd, combined, World Cup, Tignes, France; 2nd, combined, World Cup, Mt. Gabriel, Que.; 2nd, combined, World Cup, Lake Placid, U.S.A.; 2nd, combined, World Cup, Calgary, Alta.; 3rd, ballet, World Cup, Breckenridge, U.S.A.; 2nd, combined, World Cup, Breckenridge, U.S.A.; 2nd, combined, World Cup, La Clusaz, France;
- 1989 – 1st, combined, World Ski Championships, Oberjoch, Germany; 2nd, combined, World Cup, Voss, Norway; 3rd, combined, World Cup, Åre, Sweden
Note: Information compiled from several sources; may not include all accomplishments. © Canadian Ski Museum & Hall of Fame. For personal/educational use only. All rights reserved.
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]: Michel Longtin, Lloyd Langlois, Murray Cluff, Pat Henry, ?, Jacques Dumaine, Daniel Cote, Peter Judge (coach), Chris Simboli [L to R front]: Lucie Barma, Anna Fraser, Janice Cannon. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.
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.
Chris Simboli at 1993 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. CSHFM Collection.
Chris Simboli - Breckenridge Freestyle World Cup 1987
Chris Simboli's jump at the Breckenridge Freestyle World Cup in 1987 with commentary.
SUBSCRIBE
