Scott Henderson

Scott Henderson was part of a transformative generation of Canadian alpine skiers who blended higher education with elite training during the 1960s. A two-time national men’s downhill champion and national men’s slalom champion, he represented Canada at the Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck in 1964 and Grenoble in 1968.

In the mid-1960s, Scott joined the innovative Notre Dame Ski Team Experiment based at Notre Dame University in Nelson, B.C. The program — Canada’s first large-scale attempt to combine full-time coaching, year-round training and post-secondary education — attracted top athletes such as Nancy Greene, Peter Duncan and Verne Anderson. With access to Kokanee Glacier for summer skiing and Red Mountain and Silver King for winter training, Scott benefited from structured off-hill workouts, academic support and an unprecedented training environment for Canadian alpine athletes.

Scott’s most memorable moment as an athlete came in 1967, when he won two of three races in Australia during the World Cup summer circuit. But his competitive career ended abruptly in 1969 after he broke his leg racing in France.

After retiring from competition, Scott turned to coaching and program development. From 1972 to 1977 he served as head coach of the Canadian men’s alpine team, where he was instrumental in developing the Canadian Amateur Ski Association’s downhill-only program. This initiative laid the foundation for the “Crazy Canucks,” Canada’s most successful downhill team, which included “Jungle” Jim Hunter, Dave Irwin, Dave Murray, Steve Podborski and Ken Read. In 1975–76, Scott coached the team to the No. 1 downhill ranking in the world.

He later entered the ski industry in Colorado, marketing and distributing alpine products, but remained closely tied to the sport he helped to elevate in Canada.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Early 1960s — Competed nationally and internationally; enrolled in Notre Dame Ski Team Experiment in Nelson, B.C.
• Two Canadian titles — National men’s downhill champion (twice); national men’s slalom champion
• 1964 & 1968 — Represented Canada at the Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck and Grenoble
• 1967 — Won two of three races on the World Cup summer circuit in Australia
• 1969 — Broke leg racing in France, ending competitive career
• 1972–77 — Head coach, Canadian men’s alpine team; developed downhill-only program for CASA
• 1975–76 — Coached the “Crazy Canucks” to the No. 1 downhill ranking in the world

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.