Lorne O’Connor

Lorne O’Connor’s involvement with alpine skiing extended over a long period of time both as a competitor and official representing the highest levels of the sport.

In 1961, by then a Level IV Instructor (and a Level II Coach for the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation), he was appointed a Director and Vice-President of the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance. While serving the CSIA he joined Blue Mountain Resorts, Collingwood, Ontario, as its Director of the Ski School (1961-1965), followed, in the same capacity, by Timberline Lodge, Mount Hood, Oregon, USA, (1965-1967), and Director of the Mount Hood Summer Racing School (1965- 1967). He was made a Life Member of the CSIA in 1986.

For two years, from 1968 until 1970, he worked as Executive Director on Vancouver’s unsuccessful bid to host the 1976 XII Olympic Winter Games which was eventually awarded to Innsbruck, Austria. Nevertheless, he still found time to author the Official Canadian Ski Technique published in 1968.

From 1971 until 1976, working tirelessly as the Alpine Technical Director for the Canadian Ski Association, he travelled throughout Canada upgrading the technical skills of race officials and organizers. From 1973 onwards, he served first as a Committee Member on a Subcommittee for Alpine Courses and, additionally from 1979 onwards, on the Rules & Control of Competitors Committee for the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS).

One of his major accomplishments was the task he undertook for the 1988 XV Olympic Winter Games at Calgary, Alberta. When the FIS Alpine Organizing Committee was restructured in 1987, he was asked to serve as a Senior Technical Advisor. The guidance and expertise he provided the Committee proved invaluable in the successful outcome of all the alpine events “in spite of enormous difficulties” (Dorothy “Dee” Read).

As an FIS Homologation Inspector, he served on race juries at the highest level including several World Championship juries and in 1989 was the Women’s Technical Delegate for all events at the World Championships held at Vail/Beaver Creek, Colorado, USA.

He was an FIS Team member in 1958 and on the Canadian alpine for the VIII Olympic Winter Games (1960) at Squaw Valley, USA but was unable to compete because of injury.

Competitive highlights in Canadian and North American competition:

1957
1st place, Giant Slalom event, Sun Giant Slalom, Grouse Mountain, Vancouver, British Columbia.
1st place, Downhill event, Red Mountain Open, Rossland, British Columbia
2nd place, Giant Slalom event, Daffodil Cup, Mt Rainer, Washington, USA

1958
2nd place, Downhill event, Golden Rose, Mt. Hood, Oregon, USA

1959
1st place, Downhill event, Golden Rose, Mt. Hood, Oregon, USA

1960
1st place, Giant Slalom event, Heather Cup, Mt. Baker, USA
1st place, Downhill event, Golden Rose, Mt. Hood, Oregon, USA

1961
1st place, Slalom event, Tyee Slalom, Grouse Mountain, Vancouver, British Columbia
1st place, Giant Slalom event, Ryan Cup, Mt. Tremblant, Quebec

At the international level, he competed for Canada in 1958 and 1959 at locations throughout Europe (Austria, France, Germany, Norway and Switzerland) in three alpine disciplines, Downhill, Giant Slalom and Slalom.

Please Note: The ski information gathered here is compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments.
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