Quebec Air Force
Freestyle skiing in Canada was flourishing in the 1970s to the early 1990s, setting the stage for a motivated, creative and talented group of freestyle skiers from Quebec.
Hall of Famer
John Eaves
Affiliated Discipline(s):
Freestyle
Hometown:
Montreal, Que. / Toronto, Ont. / Calgary, Alb.
Active Career Period:
1974–1982
Induction CSHF:
1988
Induction Category:
Athlete
The son of Canadian Olympic skier Rhoda Wurtele, John Eaves was born in Montreal in 1953. He began skiing at age two and quickly moved into ski racing in Quebec’s Laurentian Zone until his mid-teens.
Eaves went on to compete professionally in freestyle skiing from 1973 to 1982, winning 42 World Cup events as well as three world aerial skiing titles and three world combined titles. In international competition, he was one of Canada’s most successful freestyle skiers, capturing six world championships — combined overall in 1977, aerials and combined overall in 1978, aerials and combined overall in 1979, and aerials in 1980.
Between 1980 and 1982, he placed in the top 15 in 30 of 39 events, underscoring his consistency against the world’s best.
Following retirement, Eaves entertained audiences worldwide with his spectacular stunt skiing. Notably, he doubled for actor Roger Moore in the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only, skiing down the iced bobsled run at Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, at speeds nearing 120 km/h.
In the film White Magic, his talent was tested on icebergs in Iceland, skiing down 50-degree faces of sheer ice more than 60 metres high on skis modified with special sawtooth edges for grip. In 1988, he produced and starred in his own film Skier’s Dream, and in 1995 he doubled for Jackie Chan in First Strike. This time his stunts were performed on a snowboard, including a daring leap from a cliff to grab the skids of a hovering helicopter.
Eaves’ distinctive jump in front of a wall of fire in Fire and Ice remains one of his signature moments. He performed many other stunts for Willy Bogner’s ski films, cementing his reputation as one of the sport’s premier stunt skiers.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- 1973–1982 — Competed professionally in freestyle skiing
- 42 World Cup wins — Including aerials and combined events
- 1977 — Combined freestyle overall world title
- 1978 — Aerials and combined freestyle overall world titles
- 1979 — Aerials and combined freestyle overall world titles
- 1980 — Aerials freestyle overall world title
- 1981 — Stunt double for Roger Moore in For Your Eyes Only
- 1988 — Produced and starred in Skier’s Dream
- 1995 — Stunt double for Jackie Chan in First Strike (snowboard stunts)
Note: Information compiled from several sources; may not include all accomplishments. © Canadian Ski Museum & Hall of Fame. For personal/educational use only. All rights reserved.
John Eaves in Action
Willy Bogner Film // Best of John Eaves: John Eaves did a lot more great stunts for Willy Bogner's movies. Here's the best of the best.
John Eaves. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.
John Eaves. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.
John Eaves. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.
John Eaves. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.
John Eaves. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.
John Eaves is 3rd from left, below the ‘Labatt’ sign. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.
John Eaves wins 1978 Labatt Freestyle Combined event at Mt. Ste-Anne, QC. R. Bowie places 2nd. Canadian Freestyle Ski Association.
Inductee John Eaves and mother Rhoda Wurtele-Eaves (right) at 1988 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. CSHFM Collection.
Rhoda Wurtele and (son) Inductee John Eaves at 1988 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. CSHFM Collection.
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