Ski Canada celebrates on the Hahnenkamm

What a celebration on the Hahnenkamm: Yesterday, Tuesday July 29, nearly 200 guests gathered to honor downhill winner James Crawford (Head) with a gondola dedication, including young and veteran ski heroes from Canada.

The power the Canadian speed team once had is illustrated by an almost eerie winning streak in Kitzbühel between 1980 and 1983: the “Crazy Canucks” led by Ken Read, Steve Podborski, and Todd Brooker, won four consecutive races on the Streif during that time. That long dry spell finally came to an end this past January thanks to James Crawford. And now, the 28-year-old had another reason to celebrate. At the site of his greatest triumph, he was honored on Tuesday with a dedicated gondola on the Hahnenkamm lift:

“I had to start 17 times in Kitzbühel before finally winning. Words can hardly describe what this means to me,” said the speed specialist from Toronto. The fact that his downhill victory on the Streif on January 25, 2025, was also his first World Cup win makes the day all the more special for James Crawford.

He was joined by his parents Angus Crawford and Laurel Scott, sister Candace, aunt Trudy, grandmother Alexandra, girlfriend Tess Thompson, teammates Brodie Seger and Jeffrey Read, as well as Canadian ski legends Ken Read, Jon Kucera, and Jan Hudec. Nearly 200 guests accepted the invitation to the gondola ceremony.

When asked what he wishes for from Kitzbühel, James Crawford answered:

And maybe, just maybe, he’ll achieve another major goal: “Anyone who wins on the Streif two or even three times becomes one of the greats.”

At the end of the ceremony on the Hahnenkamm, one of the greats of ski racing received a surprise. Ken Read, 1980 Streif winner, was also honored with his own gondola. While the gondola bearing his name has been in circulation since 1996, the 69-year-old only officially received the dedication now. Sometimes, good things really do take time.

Adapted from a release courtesy of Kitzbüheler Ski Club