Malcolm Hunter

Malcolm Hunter is a product of the Ottawa Ski Club (which claimed to be the largest ski club in the world with 14,000 members in the late 1960s). Malcolm began skiing at the age of seven and has skied in the Gatineau area for over 60 years. From his first time skiing with his dad to Keogan’s Lodge, then proceeding through the Ottawa ski club’s instruction program, Malcolm went on to become a ski racer, winning both the slalom and alpine division championships in 1962.

At 15, Malcolm combined his love of the woods with being an endurance athlete, and became a full-time cross country ski racer. By 18, he had won both the junior and senior national championships, progressing the next year to achieving 19th place at the world junior championships, and then 41st place at the world nordic championships. By 1972, he was top Canadian at the Olympics in Sapporo, Japan.

In 1973, Malcolm took up coaching full time, and for the next four years coached divisional teams in the national capital region in southern Ontario and was also involved in the TEST ski programs, helping many athletes achieve national championship status.

After becoming a chartered accountant and starting on a business career, Malcolm took the role of executive director for Cross-Country Canada which, at that time, was financially compromised. Under his reign, the national program developed significantly leading up to the 1988 Olympics in Calgary.

Malcolm left Cross-Country Canada in 1990 only to return in 1994. It was a difficult time for sport organizations due to dwindling government support. Fortunately, the team re-established a national junior program that included future Canadian Olympic medal winners Beckie Scott, Sara Renner and Chandra Crawford. In addition, Cross-Country Canada transferred their national office to Canmore, Alberta, home of the cross-country events in the 1988 Winter Olympics held in Calgary.

More recently, Malcolm has been a member of the board of directors of the Canadian Ski Marathon. In 2018, Malcolm wrote a book entitled, “The Trail Beckons 100 Years of Cross-Country Skiing in the Gatineau” which is a genuine piece of culture and history. It has been published in both English and French.

Malcolm resides part-time in Gatineau where he continues to explore his passion for cross country skiing which will always be a central point in his  life.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Olympic Athlete 1972.
• Over 25 years of service with Cross Country Canada in various capacities including twice  as executive director.
• Lifelong builder of sport and athletes.
• Author of “The Trail Beckons 100 Years of Cross-Country Skiing in the Gatineau”.

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.