GEPA pictures/ Mathias Mandl

James “Jack” Crawford once scored a game-winning goal assisted by National Hockey League superstar Connor McDavid. The 8th-grade classmates played together on an under-14 hockey team at a Toronto sports academy.

Crawford was so taken by McDavid’s mind-blowing skills that he decided his future on skis would be brighter than lacing up hockey skates.

The versatile athlete and well-rounded Alpine Canada ski racer undoubtedly made the right choice. His world super-G title last season and near medal at the Beijing 2022 Olympics were validation. The Edmonton Oilers captain and NHL MVP affirmed that Crawford made the right decision.

However, the humble 26-year-old athlete from Toronto still believes he had a fighting chance to make it to a high level in that other winter sport so dear to Canada.

“I was pretty good at hockey – I had the ability, but he (McDavid) said that I chose the right sport,” Crawford said in an interview with Ski Racing Media. “Now, I have the ability to contend with superstars in a sport that is not quite as deep.

“Instead of being a third or fourth liner in the NHL, I get to contend with some of the best ski racers in the world.”

Bold words from Crawford about potentially having the talent to mix it up in the corners with hard-nosed, elite-level wingers. It speaks to his overall athleticism and confidence, traits that the Canadian downhill racer is again demonstrating on the race hill this season.

Off to a solid start in Italy

Crawford – who achieved two second place results and one third last season – kicked off his 2023-24 season with consistency, over a tough stretch of five consecutive days of competition in Val Gardena and Alta Badia. He joined Marco Odermatt and Marco Schwarz as racers who started all five races.

The Canadian speed skier barely missed podiums, notching a pair of fifths in downhill, sixth in super-G, and also scored points with consecutive top 25s in giant slalom. He knows what it will take to build upon those results.

“The last three days have been really good for me, showing that my skiing is at a place where I can contend every day,” Crawford said, following the trio of Val Gardena races. “If I can continue to refine, push a little harder, and execute a little better, the big results will come.”

While Crawford’s crowning achievement was winning the world super-G title last season, a race in which he shocked Aleksander Aamodt Kilde by .01 hundredth of a second, he is still seeking an elusive first World Cup victory.

“The victories will come, but for me, it’s really about the mindset and mentality,” Crawford said. “I really try to keep my mind off results and expectations. To me, success is bringing my best every time I push out of the start gate.”

The Canadian currently ranks fifth in the World Cup downhill standings, 60 points behind the two-time defending discipline champion Kilde and Bryce Bennett. Next is the vaunted Stelvio downhill in Bormio on Dec. 28 with a super-G to follow.

New Slovenian coach, new opportunities

Crawford reveals he plans to modify his tactics and approach to the upcoming classic downhills in Bormio, Wengen, and Kitzbühel. Valuable course experience will also help.

The Canadian racer says he is eager to continue to put his head down and work methodically alongside new Alpine Canada Assistant Speed Coach Urban Planinsek. His hard-charging, tight-knit Canadian teammates, Cameron Alexander and Jeffrey Read, also motivate him.

The Slovenian Planinsek brings an impressive resume to the Canadian alpine program, transitioning from his former position with the Stifel U.S. Ski Team.

Crawford believes that with the assistance of Planinsek, he can raise his game and improve upon his career-best downhill results at the three renowned venues. He has finished 2nd in Bormio, 14th in Wengen, and 6th in Kitzbühel, all in 2022.

“For Wengen and Kitzbühel, it takes a lot of experience to get really comfortable and understand how to be fast at those places,” said Crawford, who made his World Cup debut at the historic Austrian venue in Jan. 2016. 

“In Kitz over past years, I’ve taken too much risk and too many chances, and that’s one of the reasons it’s never worked for me,” he says about the Hahnenkamm downhill, where fear is an emotion that needs to be conquered.

Alpine skiing legends are born on the two venerable race courses. Todd Brooker was the last Canadian to win the Hahnenkamm in Kitzbühel in 1983. Jeffrey’s dad, Ken Read, was Canada’s last to attain victory in Wengen in 1980.

“I think I have the ability on both of those tracks,” Crawford says. I’ve had a lot of success in sections but haven’t put a full run together at either of them.

“Moving forward, if I bring the skiing I know how to do, there’s no reason I can’t compete with the top guys at those races,” he said.

It’s been a long time for Canada

Crawford will undoubtedly make the ‘Great White North’ proud if he can find the speed, consistency and mental fortitude it takes to raise a downhill crystal globe. It remains an accomplishment ascertained only once by a Canadian downhiller – Steve Podborski, in 1982.

The Canadian rising talent finished fifth in the 2022-23 World Cup downhill standings. He is philosophical about why more Canadian and American ski racers haven’t captured season titles.

“There’s definitely some mental challenges being from North America,” Crawford says. “It becomes easier as we get older and can deal with that stuff more effectively.

“That’s the biggest hurdle and when it comes to consistency – it’s about being fully engaged and locked into what you’re doing away from home and being somewhat isolated as a North American. “It’s a challenge all North Americans battle. I’d say it’s (winning a season title) more suited to the mental aspect than your ability and speed.”

If everything aligns for Crawford, he seems capable of making a legitimate run at a World Cup downhill globe. To do so, he’ll have to dethrone Kilde, who won six of ten downhill races last season. The powerful Norwegian is off to another fast start this season. He finished runner-up at each of the recent Val Gardena downhills.

“I hope I can contend with those guys, but it’s definitely a tough challenge,” Crawford said, referring to Kilde and Odermatt. “I’m happy to take it on.

“Anyone and everyone is beatable.”