James Crawford and Cameron Alexander celebrate Kitzbühel: GEPA pictures
‘Nobody is surprised’: With consistency and big wins, Crawford and Alexander are ready for the World Championships spotlight
A Week to Remember
Nearly a week later, the moment still lingered.
Sitting in a dimly lit hotel room in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Canada’s Jack Crawford and Cameron Alexander were still riding the high of sharing the Kitzbühel downhill podium.
“Obviously, we got to celebrate a special moment, which we did,” Crawford said. “Over the past week, there have been moments where it hits you. You start to see clearly everything that helped you get to a moment like that. It’s been a very cool, emotional process.”
Canada Back in the Spotlight
Despite past World Championships and Olympic medals, hearing “O Canada” play at the famed Hahnenkamm venue reignited national interest in ski racing.
Now, Crawford and Alexander lead Canada into the 2025 FIS Alpine World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, with attention reminiscent of the Crazy Canucks and Canadian Cowboys eras.
Both aim to build on past success. Crawford is defending his super-G world title, while Alexander is chasing another downhill podium after his breakout performances at Courchevel-Méribel in 2023.
‘Nobody is surprised’ heading into the World Championships
Since their Kitzbühel podium, the two have been on a whirlwind media tour—attending Hugo Boss events, meeting soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimović, and appearing at the Kitzbühel Londoner bar.
Both were scheduled to race in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, but inclement weather forced cancellations.
“There’s a lot of focus on the Kitzbühel result, and obviously, it was awesome, but at the same time, nobody is surprised,” said Canadian head speed coach John Kucera, a downhill world champion and World Cup Super-G winner. “We’ve been at this level for a while. The key is not to get too comfortable or overly confident.”
The Long Road to Consistency
Consistency has been the key for Canada’s rising speed skiers. While both have won World Cups and earned podiums at the World Championships, reaching the podium regularly has been a long process.
Early in his career, Alexander’s path was disrupted by injuries. Combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, his transition to full-time World Cup racing was rocky.
Since returning from an ankle injury in Val-d’Isère, France, in December 2020, he has steadily improved. His resume now includes four World Cup third-place finishes, a victory, and a bronze medal at the World Championships.
Crawford burst onto the world stage at the Beijing Olympics in 2022, finishing fourth in the downhill before winning bronze in the men’s alpine combined—Canada’s only Olympic medal in the combined discipline. He has since won in Kitzbühel, secured four additional World Cup podiums, and captured the 2023 super-G world title.
Staying Focused on the Next Challenge
“I feel like my skiing is in a good spot, and I have a clear approach to each race,” Alexander said. “I just need to stick to that. If I execute perfectly, it can lead to a great result.”
“Complacency will kill you,” he added. “Big results give you confidence, but you can’t assume that just because you did well in one place it will happen again automatically.”
Made for the Big Stage
At 27, Alexander has often worked outside the spotlight. His first World Cup podium was a win in Kvitfjell, Norway.
That competitive dynamic isn’t new.
A native of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Alexander grew up in a ski racing family. His younger brother, Kyle, 25, has started 28 World Cup races and has always been a motivating force.
“It’s just what having a brother feels like—you push each other daily,” Alexander said.
Both Alexander brothers raced at Whistler Mountain Ski Club, where Crawford also spent several seasons after moving from Toronto.
“You don’t really think about it growing up, but now here we are,” Alexander said.
Though both have found success on the World Cup circuit, their most significant performances have come on the biggest stages. Kitzbühel, after all, is no ordinary race.
The Pressure of Major Events
The Olympics and World Championships present a different challenge.
Alexander considers the World Championships “right up there” with the Olympics, while Crawford recognizes that defending a world title is a rare opportunity in a skier’s career.
Heading into Saalbach in 2025, both have the attention of the skiing world, national expectations, and their ambitions.
“I just look forward to laying it all out there,” Alexander said. “These one-shot races are unique. You just have to give it everything. If you mess up, you mess up. But that’s the only way to get to the top.”
Skiing for Rod
As Canadian ski racing gains momentum in both alpine and ski cross, success has come despite difficult times.
Rod Thompson, father of ski cross athlete Marielle Thompson and alpine skier Broderick Thompson, recently passed away. A dedicated Whistler and Canadian ski community member, he played an influential role in Crawford’s life.
“I’m quite close with the family, and his passing was a big blow,” Crawford said. “It hasn’t been easy this season. But having a result like that in Kitzbühel, so close to his passing, was incredibly special for me and the family.”
Marielle Thompson recently earned her 72nd career podium on the FIS Ski Cross World Cup. Broderick, meanwhile, won’t compete at the World Championships as he recovers from injuries sustained in a crash at the Beaver Creek, Colorado World Cup in November 2023.
A Special Moment for Canadian Skiing
Despite the challenges, Canadian ski racing is thriving. With Marielle’s continued dominance, Broderick’s return to skiing recreationally, and two Whistler athletes carving out their place in alpine history, the moment is meaningful for Canada and British Columbia’s ski community.
“Everything that’s happened hasn’t been easy,” Crawford said. “But that day in Kitzbühel—it felt like he was looking over me.”
About the Author: Benjamin Steiner
