Meredith Gardner

Meredith Anne Gardner competed on the Canadian women’s freestyle ski team from 1981 to 1988, excelling in ballet, moguls and aerials. Twice crowned world champion in freestyle aerials, she was the first woman to land a triple back flip on skis in 1988.

Gardner captured the world aerial titles in 1985 and 1988. She was named Canadian Athlete of the Month in December 1988 by the Sports Foundation of Canada, and in the same year was recognized as Freestyle Skiing Athlete of the Year by Ski Racing magazine in the U.S. Over her career, she amassed 76 medals at national and international freestyle competitions, including 21 gold, solidifying her reputation as one of Canada’s most successful freestyle skiers of the era.

Following her retirement in 1989, Gardner took part in the Ontario government’s “Female Athlete Motivation for Excellence” program, making more than 100 presentations to schools throughout the province. In 2000 she launched a freestyle league for children aged six to 12, developing its concept, materials and a guidebook for this entry-level program, now in place across Canada as the Freestyle Fundamentalz club program.

Meredith went on to a career in broadcasting, most notably calling Jean Luc Brassards Gold Medal performance in Lillehammer. From 2003  to 2007 , she returned to Freestyle and  led the rebuild of Freestyle Skiing Ontario and started the first Ontario Park and Pipe team, which produced several Canadian and Olympic Champions.

As the Sport Development Director for Freestyle Canada between 2008 and 2016, Meredith led the revision of Freestyle Canada’s coach programs including new Freestyle specific acrobatic training, the introduction of Skiing Skillz and the high impact month long Super Coach Academy. She also led the retooling of officials programs, and terrain guides and rebranding for the Canada Cup Series. Meredith was a key contributor to the integration of the new disciplines of Halfpipe and Slopestyle. She is very proud of her sport development teams’ effort to advance female participation and overall improve technical quality and safety for all athletes.

Gardner’s skill, leadership and dedication helped shape Canada’s freestyle skiing community and inspired a new generation of athletes.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 1981–1988 — Member of the Canadian women’s freestyle ski team (ballet, moguls and aerials)
• 1985 and 1988 — World Cup Champion, freestyle aerials
• 1988 — Named Canadian Athlete of the Month by the Sports Foundation of Canada
• 1988 — Named Freestyle Skiing Athlete of the Year by Ski Racing magazine
• National championships — 15 medals (three gold, 11 silver, one bronze)
• World Cup — 76 medals (21 gold, 22 silver, 23 bronze)
• World championships — Silver, aerials

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.