The following story was distributed by Dylan Henderson, Program Director for the Whitewater Ski Club.
On September 20, 2025, tragedy struck when Bob lost his modest home, tools, and belongings in a devastating fire on his property near Salmo, B.C. Now, he needs our support to rebuild.
We hope to raise $30,000 for the rebuild! Last week his good friend and former teammate Nancy Greene Raine spoke to the head coaches of the province to bring attention to Bobby’s tragedy and gave a call to action!
Robert “Bobby” Swan has been a fixture in the Canadian and Kootenay ski scene for decades, inspiring many with his dedication to the sport of ski racing. He is a member of the Whitewater Ski Team and competes in the local U14 Teck Kootenay Zone Races and at Masters events. Bobby is 82 years old and still ski racing!Jackie Atkins-Whitewater U16 coach- has made a documentary called Swabber! that will be showing at film festivals this year!
Bob was one of the original members of the Canadian National Ski Team, based at Notre Dame University in Nelson in the mid-1960s. He competed in the 1964 and 1968 Winter Olympics, representing Canada in slalom and giant slalom, and posted multiple top-ten finishes on the World Cup circuit.
His passion for skiing didn’t end with the Olympics. Bob went on to the pro circuit, where he won three U.S. Masters titles and eight Canadian Masters championships. To this day, he still trains and competes. Many locals have seen him setting up slalom gates (from hazelnut cuttings collected from his property) at Whitewater Ski Resort, or carving turns on the course he built in his own backyard.
Bob has always lived simply. For decades, he has made his home in a small, self-built cabin without electricity, skiing in the winter and gardening in the summer, selling organic produce to the community. His property has been his sanctuary. Now, after the fire, rebuilding even a modest shelter is imperative — and with your help, possible.
With volunteers expected to assist in the rebuilding, funds will be used to cover the essentials: purchasing building materials, a wood stove and firewood for heat, replacing vital tools like a chainsaw and gardening equipment, and restoring some of the personal belongings that were destroyed.
Here is the man himself in action!
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– Dylan Henderson