FIS remembers Dave Pym

FIS joins the world of winter sports in mourning the passing of former Canada Snowsports Association CEO and Managing Director Dave Pym earlier this month. He was 83.

Born in Vancouver, Pym took up skiing as a teenager at Hollyburn before graduating to nearby Mt. Seymour. There he was inspired by U.S. star Buddy Werner to race competitively. When he completed his law degree, he introduced his children to ski racing through the Nancy Greene Ski League.

His outspoken nature and desire to improve conditions for athletes led to him taking on a number of administrative roles starting with the presidency of Mt. Seymour Ski Club. A love of skiing and deep knowledge of the FIS rules saw Pym become a race official in the Pontiac Cup, which boasted the strongest fields in the country before Canada’s first World Cup race in 1980.

Pym went on to train Alpine officials and then spent 15 years leading the development and assigning of FIS Alpine Technical Delegates (TDs) in Canada. He was the first North American to be named TD for the classic men’s downhill at Kitzbühel, and fulfilled the role of men’s Alpine TD at the particularly challenging Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games. Despite several postponements caused by heavy snow, rain, fog and high winds, the races were held successfully.

In the late 1980s, Pym started representing Canada on a number of FIS committees with his dedication to athletes winning him admiration and respect. He later acted as Chairman of the Alpine Canada team responsible for evaluating proposed locations for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games which were eventually awarded to his hometown of Vancouver.

Recognizing his “extraordinary contribution to the sport of skiing in Canada and throughout the world”, Pym - then a director at Alpine Canada - received a special award from the Canada Snowsports Association (CSA) in June 2002.

Just under two years later, Pym would leave Alpine Canada to take charge of CSA following a fiscal and administrative crisis. In his 20 years as its leader, he helped steady the ship financially, guide the organization through the Vancouver 2010 Games and COVID-19 pandemic, and make sure Canada’s voice was heard on the global stage.

His unwavering commitment to competitors - Pym’s mantra was, “We do this for the athletes.” - and unparalleled knowledge of rules and structures made him an invaluable contributor to FIS meetings. For several years, he served as Vice Chair of the FIS Alpine Rules Committee (ARC) under Michael Huber.

Away from winter sports, Pym managed to build a successful risk management company which he later sold to a major firm. However, his achievements in ski sports will be most fondly remembered by his numerous friends at home and abroad. He was inducted to the Canada Snowsports Hall of Fame in 2008, and named an Honorary Member of ARC in 2022.

Pym passed away on January 3 2025. FIS would like to extend its deepest sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues across the world.