Article

Rob Boyd

Published Online November 24, 2009

Last Edited February 10, 2014

Rob Boyd, alpine skier (b at Vernon, BC 15 Feb 1966). A skier from age 3, he began competing at 11, and entered both national (Fleischmann Cup) and international (Nor-Am) competition at 14.

Boyd, Rob

Rob Boyd, alpine skier (b at Vernon, BC 15 Feb 1966). A skier from age 3, he began competing at 11, and entered both national (Fleischmann Cup) and international (Nor-Am) competition at 14. Over the next few years he advanced from overall Fleischmann Cup winner in 1984 to an auspicious 10th-place finish in his first World Cup downhill at Val Gardena, Italy, in December 1985, and a first-place tie in the season's Nor-Am downhill standings. His reputation for aggressive, all-out attack of even the most treacherous terrain was reinforced by a dramatic victory from 26th starting position on his second appearance on the demanding, icy Val Gardena course in December 1986.

At age 20, Boyd became the youngest male World Cup winner in over 10 years and a key member of a resurgent Canadian downhill team. After a disappointing 16th place finish at the 1988 Olympic Games, he rebounded with a victory at Whistler, BC, during the 1988-89 World Cup season. Plagued by injuries, which reduced his time to train, he was not able to regain consistently good results and retired from the World Cup circuit in 1997. He continued to compete on the professional circuit until 2000, the year he was inducted into the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame.