Dave Pym

Dave Pym’s exceptional contributions to skiing in Canada has influenced the progress of the nation’s progress as an elite snowsports entity.

Pym has worn many hats in skiing over the past 40 years. Growing up in Vancouver, in his early teens he discovered an old pair of Gresvig wooden skis in a friend’s shed, and on them learned the basics of skiing on Hollyburn Mountain, where he first saw alpine ski racers training, then to Mt. Seymour when he saw U.S. star Bud Werner in his prime. 

Later, after a law degree, he took his three kids up to Mt. Seymour for a sunny winter afternoon, and was drawn into a Nancy Greene Ski League for his kids. Ever the outspoken participant, he was soon involved in the rebirth of the then-sagging Mt. Seymour Ski Club as the President, spurred on by Billie Bartley in the Division office, as well as Lorne O’Connor and Dr. Peter Andrews, both members of the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame.

Pym’s willingness to pitch in, and his knowledge and love of skiing led to duties as a race official in the Du Maurier, Pontiac Cup and other alpine races before the advent of World Cups in Canada. Training alpine officials followed, and 15 years leading the training and assigning of the alpine Technical Delegates (TDs) for Canada was one result. Dave was the first North American invited to be the TD at the famous Hahnenkamm downhill ski race Kitzbühel, Austria, and repeated the next two years – an unheard of achievement in the heart of European downhill skiing.

When Canadian skiing needed representation on the important committee works of the International Ski Federation (FIS) in the late 1980s, Dave responded to the call for help with a series of alpine committees.Dave was also the men’s alpine TD at the 1998 Nagano Olympic Winter Games (OWG).

Dave was chairman of Alpine Canada Alpin’s (ACA) Canadian Olympic Winter Games evaluation team that was called upon to evaluate all proposed Canadian locations for 2010 and was a member of the Board of ACA.

The Canadian Snowsports Association selected Dave as the recipient of it’s Pat Ramage award in 2001/2002 as well as a special award “In recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the sport of skiing in Canada and throughout the World” in June 2002.

Dave’s many ski achievements were carried on while he founded and built a world leading firm in risk management, which was purchased by a major firm a few years ago. Fortunately for skiing, this allowed Dave to spend more time in the organization of skiing activities, and he continues as the Managing Director of the Canadian Snowsports Association (CSA).

Note: The information gathered in this biography was compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments. Copyright © Canadian Ski Hall of Fame & Museum. For personal and/or educational use only. All rights reserved.