Malcolm Hunter

Malcolm Hunter is the product the Ottawa Ski Club (which claimed to be the largest ski club in the world with 14,000 members in the late sixties). 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 midget racer, winning both the Slalom and Alpine Division Midget championships in 1962.

At 15, Malcolm combined his love of the woods with being an endurance athlete, and became a full-time x-county racer. By the age of 18, he had won both the Junior and Senior national championships, progressing the next year to achieving 19th place at the Junior World Championships, and then 41th place in the World Nordic Championships. By 1972, he was top Canadian at the Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan.

In 1973, Malcolm took up coaching fulltime, and for the next four years coached divisional teams in the National Capital Region and 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 surprisingly became the 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 team 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 currently resides part-time in Gatineau where he continues to explore his passion for x-country skiing which will always be a central point in Malcolm’s life.

Highlights

Olympic Athlete 1972.

Over 25 years of service with CSA-Cross Country Canada in various capacities including 2 times as Executive Director.

Life-long builder of the sport and athletes.

Author of “100 Years Cross Country Skiing in Gatineau”.

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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