Hall of Famer
Elizabeth Betsy Clifford
Affiliated Discipline(s):
Alpine
Hometown:
Old Chelsea, QC / Ottawa, ON
Active Career Period:
1967-1977
Induction CSHF:
1982
Induction Category:
Alpine: Giant Slalom, Downhill, Slalom
A “very frank, determined and strong person”, Betsy Clifford was talented in three alpine skiing disciplines: Downhill, slalom and giant slalom.
From 1968-1976 she was voted Ottawa’s Outstanding Skier and in 1970/1971 was voted Athlete of the Year for the City of Ottawa.
Upon her retirement, she was awarded the John Semmelink Memorial award given by the Canadian Ski Association to a skier who, through sportsmanship, conduct and ability, best represents Canada in international competition.
Racing highlights:
1967
1st place, Canadian Junior Slalom Champion, Mont Sutton, Quebec.
1968
Selected at the age of 14-years as the youngest member of a Canadian National Women’s Alpine Ski Team.
Competed at the winter Olympic Games, Grenoble, France placing 23rd in the Downhill event.
At that time she was the youngest skier to compete in the Olympic Games.
6th place, Slalom event, Du Maurier International World Cup Alpine, Rossland, British Columbia.
1969
5th place, Downhill event, World Cup Alpine , Grindelwald, Switzerland.
1970
2nd place, Slalom event, World Cup Alpine, Grindelwald, Switzerland.
2nd place, Slalom event, World Cup Alpine, Bad Gastein, Austria.
Gold Medalist, World Giant Slalom Champion, Val Gardena, Italy. At the age of 16-years she became the youngest female competitor ever to win a World Championship medal.
1971
1st place, Slalom event, World Cup Alpine, Schruns, Austria.
1st place, Slalom event, World Cup Alpine, Val d’Isere, France.
2nd place Overall Standing, World Cup Competition.
1972
Selected as a member of the Canadian Women’s Alpine team at the winter Olympic Games, Sapporo, Japan, but was unable to compete because of injury.
1973
Dominated the Can-Am racing series winning 5-races and the title, the first time a Canadian female had won this honour. She rejoined the Canadian Women’s World Cup team and won the Canadian Championships in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
1974
2nd place and Silver Medal winner, Downhill event, Alpine World Championships, St Moritz, Switzerland.
1st place, Giant Slalom event, Canadian National Championships, Owl’s Head, Magog, Quebec.
1st place, Giant Slalom event, Chilean National Championships, Portillo, Chile.
1975
1st place, Giant Slalom event, Canadian National Championships, Jasper, Alberta. She also placed on 12 occasions in the top ten in World Cup racing with a 4th place finish in Giant Slalom at Whistler Mountain, British Columbia.
1976
1st place, Slalom event, Canadian National Championships.
Retired from active competition following the Winter Olympic Games, Innsbruck, Austria.
Hall of Fame Honours:
1970 Nominated to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
1978 Nominated to American National Ski Hall of Fame
1982 Nominated to Canadian Ski Museum Honor Roll (Canadian Ski Hall of Fame)
1983 Nominated to the Greater Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame
1995 Nominated to Les Panthéon des sports de l’Outaouais
1995 Nominated to Laurentian Ski Hall of Fame
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.
Betsy Clifford at 1970 FIS World Championship, Val Gardena, Italy. Alpine Canada Alpin.
Betsy Clifford wins gold at 1970 FIS World Championship, Val Gardena, Italy. Alpine Canada Alpin.
Canadian Olympic Alpine Ski team at 1976 Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria [L to R]: Jim Hunter, Jane Helder (physiotherapist), Kathy Kreiner, Andrzej Kozbial (alpine program director), Laurie Kreiner, Ken Read, Betsy Clifford, Dave Murray, Scott Henderson (head coach-men), Wayne Gruden (coach), Luc Dubois (manager), Robert Safrata, Lynden McIntosh (coach), Dr. Bernie Lalonde (head coach-women). Alpine Canada Alpin.
Betsy Clifford. Alpine Canada Alpin.
Gold medalist Betsy Clifford at 1970 FIS World Championship, Val Gardena, Italy. Air Canada / Sirois Thompson and Co.
Betsy Clifford inside the wind tunnel at the National Research Council (NRC) in Ottawa, ON. National Research Council (NRC).
Betsy Clifford inside the wind tunnel at the National Research Council (NRC) in Ottawa, ON. National Research Council (NRC).
Betsy Clifford inside wind tunnel at the National Research Council (NRC) in Ottawa, ON. National Research Council (NRC).
Betsy Clifford inside the wind tunnel at the National Research Council (NRC) in Ottawa, ON. National Research Council (NRC).
Judy Crawford, Betsy Clifford (right). Alpine Canada Alpin.
~ Canadian Ski Association / Alpine Office / Lolly Moss.
~ Canadian Ski Association / Alpine Office / Lolly Moss
National Alpine Ski Team c. 1970 [L to R]: Kathy Kreiner, Karen Cloutier, Betsy Clifford, Laurie Kreiner, Susan Clifford. Canadian Ski Association / Alpine Office / Lolly Moss.
1971-72 National Alpine Ski Team [L to R]: Nancy Greene, Reto Barrington, Russel Goodman, Diane Culver, ?, Doug Woodcock, Carolyn Oughton, ?, Derek Robbins, Diane Pratte, Paul Carson, Peter Bellos, Virginia Honeyman, Doug Temple, Luc Dubois (coach), Rick Hunter, Betsy Clifford, Aidan Ballantyne, Mike Culver, Judy Crawford, Al Raine (alpine program director), Jim Hunter, Robert Butler (coach), Don Lyon (coach). McLeod and Yee Photography / 9600-04.
National Alpine Ski Team 1971-72 [top row]: Doug Woodcock, Betsy Clifford, Judy Crawford, Kathy Kreiner, Diane Culver, Laurie Kreiner, Carolyn Oughton, Diane Pratte, Virginia Honeyman, Russel Goodman [middle row]: Luc Dubois (coach), Don Lyon (coach), Robert Butler (coach), Al Raine (Alpine Program Director) [bottom row]: Peter Bellos, Aidan Ballantyne, Jim Hunter, Rick Hunter, Doug Temple, Mike Culver, Derek Robbins, Reto Barrington, Paul Carson. D. Richard Houlding Photography, Toronto.
National Alpine Ski Team 1971-72 [top row]: Al Raine (Alpine Program Director), Diane Pratte, Diane Culver, Judy Crawford, Robert Butler (coach) [bottom row]: Betsy Clifford, Laurie Kreiner. Rene Korot for St-Tropez Enrg., St Leonard.
National Women’s Alpine Ski Team [L to R]: Verne Anderson, Pat Ramage, Karen Dokka, Betsy Clifford, Judy Crawford, Judi Leinweber, Nancy Greene c. 1968. Source: Fotostudio Hoss Oberstaufen.
Official opening of the Canadian Ski Museum on Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON, May 10, 1971 [L to R]: Jackrabbit, Lucile Wheeler, Anne Heggtveit, Betsy Clifford. Dominion Wide Photos.
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