Felix Belczyk

A two-time Olympian and the first-ever North American to win a World Cup super-G, Felix Belczyk was known for his technical prowess and smooth technique during his time with the Canadian national team from 1982 to 1992.

Felix was born in Calgary, Alberta and raised in the Kootenays with the famed Red Mountain Racers in Rossland, B.C., during their most prolific era in the 1980s when the club was qualifying ski racers for the national ski team at a rapid pace.

He was no stranger to learning, adapting and eventually winning during his successful career, highlighted by representing Canada at the Olympic Games in 1988 in Calgary, Alberta and in 1992 in Albertville, France; and was also a four-time member of the Canadian world championship teams between 1985 and 1991.

When Felix claimed the historic World Cup super-G in at Leukerbad, Switzerland in 1988, he did so by a large 0.49 second margin over the legendary Pirmin Zurbriggen, of Switzerland. Felix ultimately finished his World Cup career with 15 top-10 finishes, his first coming on the Hahnenkahm course in Kitzbuhel, Austria in 1986 when he finished fourth. He also placed third in a World Cup downhill race at Are, Sweden in 1990.

After retiring from World Cup racing, Felix went on to a successful stint in professional skiing circuits, winning multiple races on the Jeep King of the Mountain tour, as well as other endurance and downhill races.

Felix also enjoyed a brief period as a high-level coach in ski cross, and was part of the coaching team that won a gold and silver medal at the Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014. 

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 1983 – 1st place, British downhill championships
• 1986 – 4th place, World Cup downhill, Kitzbuhel, Austria
• 1988 – 1st place, World Cup super-G, Leukerbad, Switzerland; 3rd place, Olympic Games combined (downhill), Calgary Alberta
• 1989 – 1st place, super-G, Canadian Championships
• 1990 – 1st place, downhill, Canadian Championships
• 1990 – 3rd place, World Cup downhill, Are, Sweden
• 1993 – 1st place, Aspen Extreme 24 hour endurance race, Aspen, Colorado
• 1994-95 –  2nd place overall, King of the Mountain Tour
• 1994 – 2nd place, Aspen Extreme 24 hour endurance race, Aspen, Colorado.
• 1995 – Saudan Couloir, Blackcomb, B.C
• 1995-96 – 3rd place overall, Jeep King of the Mountain Tour
• 1997 – 1st place, Jeep King of the Mountain, Vail, Colorado
• 1998 – 1st place, Jeep King of the Mountain, Jackson Hole, Wyoming; 1st place, Jeep King of the Mountain Professional Downhill event, Sugarbush, Vermont

Note: The information gathered here is compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments. Copyright © 2024, Canadian Ski Museum. For Personal/Educational use only. All Rights Reserved.