Who’s the Greatest Skier of All Time?
Posted on October 5, 2025
The question “Who is the greatest skier of all time?” sparked a firestorm of responses on Facebook, igniting debates that spanned decades, disciplines, and downright absurd humor. From alpine racing legends to freeride pioneers and even self-proclaimed mountain gods, the responses were all over the map. This viral thread, with hundreds replies, revealed the skiing community’s deep love for the sport, a healthy dose of nostalgia, and a knack for comedy. I’ve sifted through the avalanche of responses to bring you the best pull quotes, a chart tallying the top names, and some facts about skiing’s biggest icons. Let’s dive into the powder!
The Question That Started It All
Posted on Facebook four days ago, the question was simple but loaded: Who’s the greatest skier of all time? No specific discipline, no era, just pure, unfiltered passion. The thread exploded with names like Mikaela Shiffrin, Candide Thovex, and Jean-Claude Killy, alongside obscure shoutouts, memes, and self-nominations like “Me, obviously!” What made it so engaging? Skiing’s diversity—racing, freeride, moguls, and more—means there’s no single metric for “greatness.” The responses reflected this, with fans fiercely defending their picks across generations and styles.
Top Pull Quotes: The Passion, The Humor, The Legends
Here are some standout replies that capture the thread’s vibe—serious takes, heartfelt tributes, and pure chaos:
- @MarkTreiber: “The best skier of all time has 100 World Cup wins. And I’m so disappointed at her absence on your lists. Man-oh-man. Am I missing something here, or are the majority of men on the planet still living in the ’50s, and sexist?” Why it hits: This fiery callout for Mikaela Shiffrin’s dominance (100 World Cup wins!) doubles as a clapback at gender bias. It got hundreds of likes for its boldness.
- @AndyNRachelWare: “Shane McConkey! Raced gates, pro mogul tour, skier cross, big air, big mountain, ski designer, ski BASE jumping pioneer… Tell me another name that has done more than this?” Why it resonates: This passionate case for McConkey’s versatility and innovation in skiing is a love letter to a legend gone too soon. Shared widely, it struck a chord.
- @TylerLongpine: “Saucerboy is the only one that ever stuck uphill ice.” Why it’s gold: A nod to a fictional “Saucer Boy” (a meme or inside joke?), this quip got laughs for its absurdity and nods from those in the know.
- @HansHarman: “I had the pleasure to ski with Doug Coombs. Doug often said the best skier on the mountain was the one having the most fun!” Why it’s wholesome: This tribute to freeride icon Doug Coombs, paired with his philosophy, warmed hearts and earned reposts for its feel-good wisdom.
- @JasonBaublitz: “Candide can do it all and still does. Also the only guy everyone can identify as the dude in a ten-second clip because his style is so unique and smooth.” Why it pops: This sums up why Candide Thovex is a fan favorite—his unmistakable flair and all-terrain mastery make him a standout.
Charting the Favorites: Who Got the Most Love?
To make sense of the chaos, I tallied the most frequently mentioned skiers in the thread. Below is a bar chart showing the top names by mention count, reflecting the community’s leanings across racing, freeride, and more.
What the chart shows: Candide Thovex led with 35 mentions, reflecting his cult status in freeride and all-mountain skiing. Mikaela Shiffrin (24) and Ingemar Stenmark (20) dominated the racing crowd, while Jean-Claude Killy (18) and Shane McConkey (14) bridged old-school and modern vibes. Glen Plake, Hermann Maier, and Scott Schmidt rounded out the top eight, showing love for freeride pioneers and powerhouses.
Interesting Facts About the Top Skiers
To give context to the fandom, here are some wild facts about the most-mentioned skiers:
- Candide Thovex: Known for his mind-bending edits like One of Those Days, Thovex once skied the Great Wall of China for a Red Bull project. He’s also won X Games gold in slopestyle, big air, and halfpipe, making him a triple-threat freerider.
- Mikaela Shiffrin: With 100 World Cup wins by 2025, Shiffrin broke Stenmark’s record for most alpine victories. She’s the only skier to win in all six World Cup disciplines (slalom, giant slalom, super-G, downhill, alpine combined, and parallel).
- Ingemar Stenmark: The Swedish legend’s 86 World Cup wins stood as the record for decades. He won slalom and giant slalom golds at the 1980 Olympics, despite racing on primitive equipment compared to today’s tech.
- Jean-Claude Killy: Swept all three alpine events (downhill, slalom, giant slalom) at the 1968 Grenoble Olympics, a feat unmatched since. Fun fact: He now snowboards more than skis, citing safer fun at age 82 (per @BradSilverberg’s anecdote).
- Shane McConkey: A pioneer of ski BASE jumping and fat skis, McConkey’s innovations shaped modern freeride gear. His alter ego “Saucer Boy” and starring role in G.N.A.R. added comedic legend status before his tragic 2009 passing.
- Glen Plake: The mohawked icon of Blizzard of Aahhh’s fame brought freeskiing to the masses. He still skis 100+ days a year at 61, often on 200cm+ downhill skis for kicks.
- Hermann Maier: Nicknamed “Herminator,” Maier survived a near-fatal 2001 motorcycle crash to win two Olympic golds. His 1998 Nagano crash, where he cartwheeled down the downhill course and walked away, is stuff of legend.
- Scott Schmidt: A pioneer of extreme skiing, Schmidt’s descents in Warren Miller films (like the back wall at Bridger Bowl) inspired a generation. He skied cliffs on skinny skis, no small feat in the ’80s.
Why This Thread Blew Up
This debate tapped into skiing’s soul: It’s not just a sport but a lifestyle, with heroes who inspire across eras. The thread’s hundreds replies (and counting) show fans love arguing for their GOAT, whether it’s Shiffrin’s stats, Thovex’s style, or a random “Hot Dog Hans” meme. The mix of reverence for racing titans (Shiffrin, Stenmark, Killy) and freeride innovators (McConkey, Plake, Coombs) highlights skiing’s split personality—precision vs. freedom. Plus, the humor (20+ “Me!” replies) and niche references (Harkin Banks, anyone?) made it peak X chaos.
Fun Facts from the Fringe
- Saucer Boy & Harkin Banks: These fictional characters from G.N.A.R. (a ski film parody) got multiple mentions, proving skiing’s meme culture is alive and well.
- Klaus Obermeyer: At 105, the skiwear mogul still skis in Aspen. Two users gave him props for longevity!
- Eddie the Eagle: The lovable underdog ski jumper got three nods, more for heart than hardware.
- Snowshoe Thompson: This 19th-century mail carrier skied 90 miles across the Sierra Nevada to deliver letters. He got three votes for sheer grit.
