Hall of Famer
Jim Hunter
Affiliated Discipline(s):
Alpine
Hometown:
Shaunavon, Saskatchewan / Calgary, AB
Active Career Period:
1970 - 1977
Induction CSHF:
1987
Induction Category:
Alpine: Giant Slalom, Downhill, Slalom
Jim Hunter, nicknamed by his teammates “Jungle Jim”, was a member of the Canadian Men’s Alpine Ski Team for 7-years, from April 1970 until April 1977. He earned a second nickname as the original “Crazy Canuck”. His daring on the race course in Europe and North America set the style for the younger National Team downhill competitors who followed, the “Crazy Canucks”, who became world celebrities between 1974 and 1984.
Although he never won a World Cup race, he placed among the top ten finishers on 17-occasions between 1972 and 1977, with 7-top ten finishes in Downhill and, to emphasize his versatility, 5-times in the Combined event. He best finish was a 3rd place finish in a Downhill event at Wengen, Switzerland, in 1976. In 1972, he became the first Canadian male skier to win a World Championship Bronze medal when he won a Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) Medal in Combined events (Downhill, Giant Slalom and Slalom) at Sapporo, Japan.
He represented Canada at two Winter Olympic Games, in Sapporo, Japan in 1972 and Innsbruck, Austria, in 1976.
Competition highlights
1971
1st place finish, Giant Slalom event, Canadian National Championships, Whistler Mountain, British Columbia
3rd place finish, Giant Slalom event, Roch Cup, United States National Competition
9th place finish, Downhill event, World Cup competition, St Moritz, Switzerland
1972
3rd place finish, Bronze Medal winner, Combined events, Winter Olympic Games, Sapporo, Japan
4th place finish, Giant Slalom event, World Cup competition, Val d’Isere, France.
1973
4th place finish, Giant Slalom event, World Cup competition, Val d’Isere, France
8th place finish, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Zell am See, Austria
1974
9th place finish, Giant Slalom event, World Cup competition, Madonna di Campiglio, Italy
4th place finish, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Schladming, Austria
1975
7th place finish, Combine events, World Cup competition, Kitzbuhel, Austria
5th place finish, Combined events, World Cup competition, Megeve, France
9th place finish, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Val d’Isere, France
1976
8th place finish, Combined events, Winter Olympic Games, Innsbruck, Austria
3rd place finish, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Wengen, Switzerland
6th place finish, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Wengen Switzerland
5th place finish, Combined events, World Cup competition, Wengen, Switzerland
2nd place finish, Combined events, World Cup competition, Kitzbuhel, Austria
7th place finish, Down hill event, World Cup Competition, Kitzbuhel, Austria
9th place finish, Giant Slalom event, World Cup competition, Mont Ste-Anne, Quebec
3rd place finish, Dual Slalom event, Mont Ste-Anne, Quebec
1st place, Giant Slalom event, Shell Cup Canadian National Championships, Bromont Quebec
1st place, Slalom event, Shell Cup Canadian National Championships, Bromont, Quebec
1st place, Combined events, Shell Cup Canadian National Championships, Bromont, Quebec
1977
1st place finish, Giant Slalom event, Shell Cup Canadian National Championships, Mont Ste-Anne, Quebec
2nd place finish, Slalom event, Shell Cup Canadian National Championships, Mont SteAnne, Quebec
1st place finish, Combined events, Shell Cup Canadian National Championships, Mont Ste-Marie, Quebec
On June 18, 1977 he received the John Semmelink Memorial Award, presented by the Canadian Ski Association, for a level of sportsmanship, conduct and ability that best represents Canada in international competition.
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. All Rights Reserved.
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.
Jim Hunter (right). Alpine Canada Alpin.
‘Jungle’ Jim Hunter signing autographs for ski fans. Alpine Canada Alpin.
‘Jungle’ Jim Hunter. Alpine Canada Alpin.
Jim Hunter. Alpine Canada Alpin.
National Alpine Ski Team c.1970 [L to R]: Brodie Lut (coach), Jim Hunter, Steve Podborski, Dave Murray, Gary Aiken, Dave Irwin, Ken Read, Scott Henderson (coach). Canadian Ski Association – Alpine Office / Lolly Moss.
Jim Hunter (inductee) and Nancy Greene at 1987 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Photo A. Irwin.
Jim Hunter (right) with Canadian Ski Museum Chair, Bill Tindale, at 1987 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Photo A. Irwin.
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 – October 1972 in Stelvio, Italy [L to R]: Carolyn Oughton, Virginian Honeyman, Kathy Kreiner, ?, Laurie Kreiner, Karen Cloutier, Diana Gibson, ?, Judy Crawford, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, Mike Culver, ?, ?, Russell Goodman, ?, ?, Peter Ballos, ?, ?, ?, Jim Hunter, ?, ?, ?, ?. Alpine Canada Alpin.
How an unusual training method turned a farm kid into an Olympic Alpine Skier | Words of Olympians
In “Jungle Jim”, alpine skier Jim Hunter explains how a chance encounter with an Olympic legend inspired him to accomplish the impossible.
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