Tristan Tafel at a press event in Calgary where the Canadian ski cross team unveiled a blue-jeans tribute to Nik Zoricic.
Tristan Tafel at the inaugural Nakiska ski cross World Cup.
Tristan Tafel at the inaugural Nakiska ski cross World Cup.
Tristan Tafel, Brady Leman and Dave Duncan at a press event in Calgary where the Canadian ski cross team unveiled a blue-jeans tribute to Nik Zoricic.
Tristan Tafel in a qualifying run at the ski cross World Cup in Innichen/San Candido, Italy.
Tristan Tafel in the lead during the Sport Chek Ski Cross Canadian Open in Nakiska.
Tristan Tafel in action during the Sport Chek Ski Cross Canadian Championships.
Tristan Tafel celebrates his first World Cup victory in Bischofswiesen/Goetschen, Germany.
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Tristan Tafel and Chris Del Bosco finish first and third, respectively, at the first ski cross race in Bischofswiesen/Goetschen, Germany.
Tristan Tafel leads Dave Duncan over the final jump at the 2012 Sport Chek Ski Cross Canadian Championships at Nakiska on Saturday, April 7, 2012. Tafel was the overall winner with Duncan second.
Tristan Tafel in a qualifying run at the ski cross World Cup in Innichen/San Candido, Italy.
Tristan Tafel in a qualifying run at the ski cross World Cup in Innichen/San Candido, Italy.
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Tristan Tafel getting ready for some air during the Sport Chek Ski Cross Canadian Open in Nakiska.
Tristan Tafel in action during the Sport Chek Ski Cross Canadian Championships.
Hometown favourite Tristan Tafel wins his first Canadian championship.
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Tristan Tafel en route to a World Cup victory in Bischofswiesen/Goetschen, Germany.
Tristan Tafel in action in St. Johann, Austria.
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Ski cross racer Tristan Tafel in Nakiska.
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Tristan Tafel (left), Chris Del Bosco (middle), Dave Duncan (right)
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Tristan Tafel

Ski cross

The new kid on the block, Tafel won his first World Cup in Bischofswiesen/Goetschen, Germany, in February 2012 and went on to win the Canadian championship title in Nakiska, Alta., at the end of that season. The Canmore, Alta., native, a former national development team alpine skier, suffered a career-threatening leg injury at the age of 17 but battled back to return to competition. Tafel has six top-10 World Cup results to his name and two podiums.

 
     
    Home / Athletes / Tristan Tafel

    Top Results

    1st – FIS World Cup – Bischofswiesen/Goetschen, GER (2012)
    Canadian champion (2012)
    Nor-Am champion – Nor-Am Cup (2011)

    World Cup ranking

    (2012-13)
    Overall: 15th

    Birth date: 26/02/1990
    Birth place:
    Canmore, Alta.
    Residence:
    Canmore, Alta.
    Hometown:
    Canmore, Alta.
    Ski club: Alberta Ski Cross
    Made team: 2011
    Sponsor: Gimbel Eye Centre
    Height: 5-11
    Weight: 185 pounds
    Skis: Atomic
    Boots: Lange
    Goggles: Oakley
    Q&A

    Nicknames: Taf, T, Stan, Tafel. I think people just like to shorten names.

    Best moment in skiing: Winning the Nor-Am ski cross title. I worked really hard and had a lot of fun.

    What one thing would you change about skiing? If I could change anything in skiing it would be the severe injuries that athletes endure. Maybe make lift passes cheap like they were in the good old days.

    Best World Cup stop: Best World Cup stop is obviously Blue Mountain, Ontario. It was my first World Cup race and I had an amazing time. I met tons of great people, and a few family members showed up to watch me race.

    Favourite movie: The Hangover. Need I say more?

    Hockey team: Calgary Flames. The closest team to me – it’s just outside my ’hood.

    If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? Notorious B.I.G. No just kidding . . . I don't know - depends what I'm eating.

    Something no one knows about you: I lived in Chamonix, France, for the first few years of my life and French was my first language. I’m sad to say my French is a little rusty now but hopefully I can dust the cobwebs off next season.

    Favourite activities other than skiing: Motorbikes, dirt jumping, bowl skateboarding, cliff jumping, hiking and jumping old red (my best friend’s truck).

    Superstitions: I'm not one to be superstitious. I just go with the flow and try to have fun along the way.

    If a movie was made about your life, who should play the lead role? Shia LaBeouf obviously he is epic. Maybe James Franco . . . actually Chris Del Bosco.

    What’s a talent you wish you had? Hmmm . . . let’s see. Maybe be able to sing and play the guitar. I can't do either.

    If you weren’t a skier what would you be? I would be a surf bum. I spend enough time in the cold.

    Funniest thing you’ve seen in ski racing: Too many memories to limit to one.

    Most embarrassing moment: Getting pied on my 16th birthday by Paul Stutz and Jan Hudec. It was in my eyes, up my nose, in my ears, down my shirt.

    Describe yourself in three words: I'm trouble.

    WORLD CUPNATIONALOTHER

    Podiums
    1st – Bischofswiesen/Goetschen, GER (Feb. 2012)
    2nd - Grasgehren, GER (Feb. 2013) 

    Results in the top 20
    19th - Are, SWE (March 2013)
    5th - Sochi, RUS (Feb. 2013)
    9th - Megeve, FRA (Jan. 2013)
    16th – Blue Mountain, Ont. (Feb. 2012)
    20th – Alpe d’Huez, FRA (Jan. 2012)
    15th – St. Johann, AUT (Jan. 2012)
    9th – Innichen/San Candido, ITA (Dec. 2011)

    Canadian Championships
    1st – Nakiska, Alta. (April 2012)
    2nd – Lake Louise, Alta. (April 2011)

    World Ski Championships
    9th - Voss-Myrkdalen, NOR (March 2013)

    X Games
    8th – Aspen, USA (Jan. 2012)

    Nor-Am Cup podiums
    3rd – Red Mountain, B.C. (March 2011)
    1st – Red Mountain, B.C. (March 2011)
    2nd – Big White, B.C. (March 2011)
    1st – Big White, B.C. (March 2011)
    3rd – Alpine Meadows, USA (Feb. 2011)
    2nd – Alpine Meadows, USA (Feb. 2011)
    1st – Steamboat Springs, USA (Jan. 2011)
    1st – Steamboat Springs, USA (Jan. 2011)
    1st – Mt. Hood Meadows, USA (Jan. 2011)
    2nd – Mt. Hood Meadows, USA (Jan. 2011)