Philippe LaRoche

A tireless ambassador, exemplary sportsman and outstanding athlete, Philippe LaRoche brought integrity, style and innovation to the world of freestyle skiing.
A member of the Canadian freestyle team from 1987 to 1995, he represented Canada at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France, where he won a gold medal in aerials (then a demonstration event). When the event was granted full Olympic medal status at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway, LaRoche captured the silver medal.
In World Cup, Fédération internationale de ski (FIS) races and world championship competition between December 1987 and February 1995, he placed first, second or third in 42 of 66 aerials events, finishing in the top 10 on 61 occasions—an astonishing record.
Philippe LaRoche’s career helped define Canada’s golden era in freestyle aerials on the world stage.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 1987 – 3rd place, Tignes, France; 1st place, La Plagne, France

• 1988 – 3rd place, Lake Placid, U.S.; 1st place, Breckenridge, U.S.; 4th place, Inawashiro, Japan; 1st place, Oberjoch, Germany; 6th place, La Clusaz, France; 2nd place, La Clusaz, France; 3rd place, Meiringen-Hasliberg, Switzerland; 3rd place, Tignes, France; 4th place, La Plagne, France

• 1989 – 2nd place, Mont-Gabriel, Que.; 7th place, Lake Placid, U.S.; 1st place, Breckenridge, U.S.; 4th place, La Clusaz, France; 3rd place, Oberjoch, Germany, World Ski Championships; 4th place, Åre, Sweden; 2nd place, Tignes, France; 4th place, La Plagne, France

• 1990 – 1st place, Mont-Gabriel, Que.; 1st place, Lake Placid, U.S.; 2nd place, Breckenridge, U.S.; 4th place, Calgary, Alta.; 9th place, La Plagne, France; 2nd place, Tignes, France; 1st place, Zermatt, Switzerland; 2nd place, Piancavello, Italy

• 1991 – 5th place, Blackcomb Mountain, B.C.; 1st place, Breckenridge, U.S.; 1st place, Mont-Gabriel, Que.; 1st place, Lake Placid, U.S., World Ski Championships; 2nd place, Oberjoch, Germany; 1st place, Hundfjället, Sweden; 2nd place, Tignes, France; 3rd place, Zermatt, Switzerland; 1st place, Piancavello, Italy

• 1992 – 1st place, Blackcomb Mountain, B.C.; 7th place, Breckenridge, U.S.; 1st place, Lake Placid, U.S.; 1st place, Oberjoch, Germany; 2nd place, Albertville, France, FIS event, Olympic Winter Games (demonstration event qualification); 3rd place, Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria; 6th place, Tignes, France; 3rd place, Piancavello, Italy

• 1993 – 6th place, Lake Placid, U.S.; 1st place, La Relève, Que.; 8th place, La Plagne, France; 1st place, Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria; 1st place, Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria, World Ski Championships; 6th place, Lillehammer, Norway; 4th place, Tignes, France; 5th place, Piancavello, Italy

• 1994 – 3rd place, Blackcomb Mountain, B.C.; 1st place, Breckenridge, U.S.; 4th place, Lake Placid, U.S.; 1st place, La Relève, Que.; 3rd place, La Clusaz, France; 1st place, Hundfjället, Sweden; 2nd place, Lillehammer, Norway, FIS qualification event

• 1995 – 3rd place, La Clusaz, France, FIS qualification event; La Clusaz, France, World Ski Championships

Aerials Canadian National Championships:

• 1987-88 – 2nd place

• 1990-91 – 1st place

• 1991-92 – 1st place

• 1992-93 – 2nd place

Note: The information gathered in this biography was compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments. Copyright © Canadian Ski Hall of Fame & Museum. For personal and/or educational use only. All rights reserved.