Jim Hunter (skier)
Encyclopedia
Jim Hunter nicknamed "Jungle Jim", is a former Canadian
alpine ski racer who represented Canada at two Winter Olympic Games
in 1972
and 1976
, and won a bronze medal in the 1972 World Championships. He was a member of the Canadian Men's Alpine Ski Team nicknamed the "Crazy Canucks
", and is considered to be the original Crazy Canuck.
Hunter was born in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan
, Canada, and started skiing at the age of eleven. Hunter had a reputation as an off-beat individual; he practiced his racing tuck position atop a rack he built and placed in a pick-up truck
as his father drove at over 100 km/h (62.1 mph), and tested his balance by placing himself in the wheel of a moving tractor and jumping out.
Hunter joined the Canadian Men's Alpine Ski Team in 1970, and earned himself the nickname "Jungle Jim" with his aggressive style on the slopes.
Hunter represented Canada at two Winter Olympics. At the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan, he placed twentieth in the downhill, eleventh in the giant slalom, and nineteenth in the slalom. Although he didn't win an Olympic medal, the Olympic competition was also that year's World Championship, and the combined results were good enough to earn him a bronze medal in the alpine combined event. This was the first World Championship medal in alpine skiing won by a Canadian male skier. At the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, he placed tenth in the downhill, twenty-second in the giant slalom, and twenty-third in the slalom.
Hunter placed in the top ten at seventeen World Cup events but never won a gold medal. He did reach the World Cup podium twice, a third place finish in the downhill
at Wengen, Switzerland in 1976 and a second place finish in the combined at Kitzbuhel.
Hunter retired from the Canadian ski team in March, 1977. Hunter hosts the "The Jungle Jim Hunter Show" on The Fan 960 radio station.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
alpine ski racer who represented Canada at two Winter Olympic Games
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
in 1972
Alpine skiing at the 1972 Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the 1972 Winter Olympics consisted of six events, held near Sapporo, Japan, from February 5–13, 1972. The downhills were held at Mount Eniwa, and the four technical events at Teine.-Downhill:February 7, 1972...
and 1976
Alpine skiing at the 1976 Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the 1976 Winter Olympics consisted of six events, held near Innsbruck, Austria, from February 5–13, 1976.Similar to the 1964 games, the men's downhill was held on Patscherkofel , the other five events at Axamer Lizum....
, and won a bronze medal in the 1972 World Championships. He was a member of the Canadian Men's Alpine Ski Team nicknamed the "Crazy Canucks
Crazy Canucks
The Crazy Canucks was a group of Canadian alpine ski racers who rose to prominence in the World Cup during the 1970s and 80s. Dave Irwin, Dave Murray, Steve Podborski, Jim Hunter and Ken Read earned themselves a reputation for fast and seemingly reckless skiing....
", and is considered to be the original Crazy Canuck.
Hunter was born in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan
Shaunavon, Saskatchewan
The town of Shaunavon is situated in Southwest Saskatchewan at the junction of Highways 37 and 13. It is 110 kilometres from Swift Current, 163 kilometres from the Alberta border and 74 kilometres from the Montana border. Shaunavon was established in 1913 and settled along a railroad line...
, Canada, and started skiing at the age of eleven. Hunter had a reputation as an off-beat individual; he practiced his racing tuck position atop a rack he built and placed in a pick-up truck
Pick-Up Truck
"Pick-Up Truck" is a song written and recorded by Belgian acid house musician Praga Khan. It is the third single from Praga's eighth studio album, Soundscraper....
as his father drove at over 100 km/h (62.1 mph), and tested his balance by placing himself in the wheel of a moving tractor and jumping out.
Hunter joined the Canadian Men's Alpine Ski Team in 1970, and earned himself the nickname "Jungle Jim" with his aggressive style on the slopes.
Hunter represented Canada at two Winter Olympics. At the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan, he placed twentieth in the downhill, eleventh in the giant slalom, and nineteenth in the slalom. Although he didn't win an Olympic medal, the Olympic competition was also that year's World Championship, and the combined results were good enough to earn him a bronze medal in the alpine combined event. This was the first World Championship medal in alpine skiing won by a Canadian male skier. At the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, he placed tenth in the downhill, twenty-second in the giant slalom, and twenty-third in the slalom.
Hunter placed in the top ten at seventeen World Cup events but never won a gold medal. He did reach the World Cup podium twice, a third place finish in the downhill
Downhill
Downhill is an alpine skiing discipline. The rules for the Downhill were originally developed by Sir Arnold Lunn for the 1921 British National Ski Championships....
at Wengen, Switzerland in 1976 and a second place finish in the combined at Kitzbuhel.
Hunter retired from the Canadian ski team in March, 1977. Hunter hosts the "The Jungle Jim Hunter Show" on The Fan 960 radio station.
External links
- Sword of the Lord, NFBNational Film Board of CanadaThe National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
documentary about Jim Hunter - Photos of Jim Hunter at the Canadian Olympic Committee