Fraser Pullen

Fraser Pullen began skiing in 1928 at the age of two on Fletcher’s Field in Montreal’s Mount Royal district.

Four years later, a five-cent ride on Canada’s first rope tow, installed on Foster’s Hill in Shawbridge, Que., gave him his first taste of skiing in the Laurentians. It was the start of a lifelong devotion to both alpine and Nordic disciplines that spanned more than 50 years, as an official, founder, builder and promoter.

After a shattered ankle ended his racing career, Pullen channelled his energy into the administrative side of the sport. From 1945 to 1975, he was a founder and director of the Nordik Ski Club in Saint-Sauveur, Que., which became a leader in alpine athlete development, producing 14 Class A skiers, including Canadian Olympians Bob Richardson, Bill Morris, Carolyn Kruger and Bob Gilmour.

From 1951 to 1965, he served in the Laurentian Zone as vice-chair from 1951 to 1953 and in various roles as an alpine competition official.

After moving to Calgary in 1977, Pullen helped revive ski jumping and Nordic programs in 1982. He secured sponsorship from Molson Breweries for the 1982–83 Western Canadian ski jumping and Nordic championships at Mount Norquay in Banff, Alta., and arranged for a sound truck to broadcast live coverage. The event quickly became an annual international competition.

In 1984, Pullen was appointed vice-chair of the Alberta Division of the Canadian Ski Association. A year later, he co-founded the Altius Nordic Ski Club, which hosted the 1986–87 Molson International ski jumping tournament — a pre-Olympic test event for the 1988 Calgary Winter Games.

The Altius club also hosted the Nordic events at the 1988 Games. A certified judge, Pullen directed television camera coverage from the towers of the 70- and 90-metre jumps for all ski jumping and Nordic combined events. For his contributions, he received an Alberta Achievement Award.

Pullen continued to officiate and organize events after the Olympics until December 1993, when a heart attack while foot-packing a 60-metre jumping hill forced him into retirement.

From Montreal’s slopes to the Olympic stage, Fraser Pullen left a lasting mark on Canadian skiing through leadership, innovation and dedication.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 1928 – Began skiing at age two on Fletcher’s Field, Montreal.
• 1932 – First rope tow ride at Foster’s Hill, Shawbridge, Que.
• 1945–75 – Founder and director, Nordik Ski Club, Saint-Sauveur, Que.
• 1951–53 – Vice-chair, Laurentian Zone, Canadian Ski Association.
• 1977 – Moved to Calgary, Alta.
• 1982 – Helped revive ski jumping and Nordic programs in Alberta.
• 1984 – Appointed vice-chair, Alberta Division, Canadian Ski Association.
• 1985 – Co-founded Altius Nordic Ski Club.
• 1986–87 – Hosted Molson International ski jumping tournament, pre-Olympic test event.
• 1988 – Directed TV camera coverage for ski jumping and Nordic combined events at Calgary Winter Games; received Alberta Achievement Award.
• 1993 – Retired from officiating after a heart attack during hill preparation.

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.