The 1988 Winter Olympic Games XV marked Canada's debut as the host of this prestigious international event. Heralded at the time as the most successful games ever, Canadians and, more specifically Albertans, were eager to show-off their winter paradise to the world.
Mount Allan's first claim to fame was in the late 1940's when coal was discovered at the eastern base of the mountain. Close to 40 years later Mount Allan was chosen as the site for the Olympic Alpine events and in 1986 construction began on what is now known as Nakiska.
Banff local Karen Percy quickly became Canada's Olympic hero with a double medal performance, taking bronze in both the Downhill and Super-G races. Percy, competing despite a broken thumb, also took 4th in the Alpine Combined event. You need to look back to 1968 in Grenoble, France to find the last Canadian woman to win 2 medals in the alpine events at the Winter Olympics.
1988 Winter Olympic Alpine Gold Medal Winners
| Event |
Gold
Medal |
Time |
| Men's Events |
| Men's Downhill |
Primin Zurbriggen
- Switzerland |
1:59.63 |
| Men's Slalom |
Alberto Tomba -
Itlay |
1:39.47 |
| Men's Giant Slalom |
Alberto Tomba -
Italy |
2:06.37 |
| Men's Super GS |
Franck Piccard
- France |
1:39.66 |
| Men's Alpine Combined |
Hubert Strolz -
Austria |
36.55pts |
| Women's Events |
| Women's Downhill |
Marina Kiehl -
West Germany |
1:25.86 |
| Women's Slalom |
Vreni Schneider
- Switzerland |
1:36.69 |
| Women's Giant Slalom |
Vreni Schneider
- Switzerland |
2:06.49 |
| Women's Super GS |
Sigrid Wolf - Austria |
1:19.03 |
| Women's Alpine
Combined |
Anita Wachter |
29.25pts |
Italy's Alberto Tomba dominated the World Cup in 1988, with 7 victories leading up to the games. He added to a brilliant season with 2 Olympic gold medals in the slalom and giant slalom events.
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1988
Olympic Trail Map
circa 1988
Nakiska Trail Map complete with
Olympic Alpine Courses
Click
Here for a large version of our trail
map. |
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