Erik Read has been one of the leaders on the men’s Canadian Alpine Ski Team for the last few years, regularly ablaze since his debut in 2011. Although he has raced on the world stage for nearly a decade, he only shifted his full focus to ski racing following his graduation from the University of Denver in May 2019. He represented Canada at the Olympic Games for the first time in 2018, where he finished 11th in the giant slalom and 29th in the slalom. 

While the Alberta native’s career has been full of highlights, his best came in 2019 when he finished 7th in the giant slalom in Soelden, en route to being named the 2019/20 Alpine Canada Alpin Male Athlete of the Year. Erik has 46 Top-30 finishes in the World Cup, with 22 coming in GS. 

Erik finished in the Top-15 four times in 2020/21, highlighted by two 10th place results in giant slalom in Santa Caterina (ITA). Although he has yet to capture a podium finish at the World Cup level, the 30-year-old veteran has a positive outlook on this season, as he strives towards World Cup and Olympics podiums. 

Erik relies on his trustworthy lucky ski socks on race days, a pair he has used for years, albeit washing them regularly. Erik’s younger brother Jeff is also on the team, and the two are the sons of legendary Crazy Canuck, Ken Read.