The Hahnenkamm Races represent arguably the world's most prestigious FIS Alpine Ski World Cup race in Kitzbühel, Austria. These iconic ski races, the second oldest alpine skiing competition, have been held every year since 1931. This year a Canadian, Jack Crawford, won the glorious downhill down the fabled Kitzbuhel course. There is much more to this incredible achievement. The victory results from the humble story of a small team competing in a winter nation perched on top of one of the giants in all of ski racing. Canada is a vast land with a small number of people relative to its vast mountains and pristine forests. This is a story of unbridled determination from Alpine athletes like Jack (James) Crawford, Erik Read and more. In the sport of downhill ski racing you are always on the edge of finishing or falling. Kitzbuhel, is next level, complete chaos on two thin planks rocketing at sports-car speed down a pure ice surface. the event demands every fiber of one's attention, commitment and focus to cross t
This article first appeared on Outdoors on SI and was syndicated with permission.