Canadian World Cup skier Broderick Thompson has announced his retirement from alpine ski racing, bringing an end to a career that included a World Cup podium, Olympic appearances, and one of the most remarkable recoveries in recent memory. The 32-year-old shared the news in an emotional post on Instagram, explaining that while he still feels capable of racing, lingering concerns following a traumatic brain injury suffered in a training crash at Beaver Creek in 2023 have ultimately forced him to step away from the sport. “Personally, I think it’s that easy physically, but mentally it’s a shift in lifestyle, personality, focus, structure, and success,” Thompson wrote. “I’m looking forward to the shift and establishing my new goals.”
Thompson said retirement has been difficult to process because he still feels strong enough to compete. “It really sucks to cut my career short due to injury. It sucks because I feel good, maybe great, I feel as though I could push out of the Kitzbühel start gate again tomorrow,” he wrote. “That feat and the risk it takes is not medically advised after my brain injury.”
The decision closes a chapter that very nearly ended in tragedy.
The Crash That Changed Everything
On November 29, 2023, Thompson crashed during a downhill training run on Beaver Creek’s infamous Birds of Prey course in Colorado — the same course where he had earned his World Cup podium two years earlier. The accident occurred shortly after the Golden Eagle Jump, one of the most challenging sections of the World Cup circuit. Austrian men’s head coach Marko Pfeifer, who witnessed the crash, described it as one of the worst accidents he had ever seen. Thompson was airlifted to a Denver hospital.
He sustained both a traumatic brain injury and a severe spinal injury. He does not remember the crash, or anything that happened in the two weeks that followed. When he became lucid, he could not recall anything from the entire year leading up to the accident.
His first memory from the aftermath is a doctor telling him they had never seen someone with those injuries who had not become a quadriplegic. Recovery outcomes were uncertain, both physically and cognitively.
In the months that followed, Thompson underwent rigorous rehabilitation. Through photographs and stories shared by those around him, he was able to reconnect with many of his memories. He relearned to walk, regained the ability to drive, and surprised medical staff with the speed of his recovery. But the physical recovery was only part of the battle. Thompson had to face doctors telling him he should never ski again.
“I’ve been working at this for 20 years. I was trying to be a world champion, Olympic medallist, and World Cup medallist. And at 30 years old, I was told: ‘This is it, you’re done.'” He had pictured 30 as the beginning of his prime. Instead, he was facing the possibility that his career was already over.
On November 29, 2024 — exactly one year to the day of his crash — Thompson posted a photograph of himself skiing on Instagram with perhaps the most understated caption possible: “not much to say :).” He had kept his word. True to what he had told doctors and teammates, he had given his brain a full year before returning to snow.
In the 2025-26 season, he entered FIS-level slalom races in Canada — Panorama in December 2025, Kimberley in January 2026, Whistler in March 2026, and Sun Peaks in April 2026. Disciplines far removed from the 130 km/h downhill speeds that had nearly killed him. The first three races ended in DNFs. At Sun Peaks in April — his final start — he finished 44th. It was not the comeback he had imagined. But he got down the mountain. For someone who had been told he would never ski again, that was enough.
In his retirement announcement, Thompson thanked the doctors who saved his life and said he was trusting the medical advice he had received. “I respect the science and the care I’ve been provided,” he wrote. “I’m stepping away from the risk, finding other rewards and letting my life evolve.”
A Pioneer for Canada’s Current Speed Team
Born in Whistler, British Columbia, Thompson made his World Cup debut in 2015 and spent more than a decade competing at the highest level of alpine skiing.
His career highlight came in December 2021, when he finished third in the Beaver Creek Super-G, earning the first World Cup podium of his career. The result was significant not only for Thompson but also for the next generation of Canadian speed skiers who followed. Canadian teammate Erik Read highlighted that impact in his response to Thompson’s retirement. “Your World Cup podium kicked off the current generation of Canadian speed skiers,” Read wrote. “Lots of proud moments.”
Thompson represented Canada at multiple World Championships and Olympic Games, becoming one of the country’s most recognizable speed-event athletes during a transitional period for the Canadian men’s team.
Respect From Across the Ski World
The announcement prompted an outpouring of support from fellow racers around the world. Norwegian speed star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde wrote, “You’re already missed, Brod!! Enjoy the other side.” Fellow Norwegian and Olympic champion Kjetil Jansrud added, “Always a crazy Canuck, but now also a smart crazy Canuck. Good luck, Brod!”
Among Thompson’s Canadian teammates, the reactions reflected both admiration and gratitude. Erik Read wrote that Thompson’s breakthrough helped pave the way for Canada’s current generation of speed skiers. His younger brother, Jeffrey Read, thanked Thompson for his leadership, writing, “Thanks for always being a leader, Brod! Already missing having you around.” Canadian World Cup racer Cassidy Gray added, “Cheering for you through everything!!!!! I’ll always be a fan.”
Swiss World Cup winner Justin Murisier wrote, “You can be proud of your career and of the fight you have been through,” while former U.S. downhill star Steven Nyman also praised Thompson’s perseverance. “You’re the man, Brod! Always loved watching you push your limits and battle with the best in the world. Your knowledge and experience will be incredibly valuable for the next generation.”
The Next Chapter
While Thompson’s World Cup racing days are over, he made it clear that skiing will remain a major part of his life. He said he plans to continue coaching and helping develop younger athletes, passing on the lessons learned during a career that featured both remarkable highs and devastating setbacks.
“I’m proud of my all,” Thompson wrote. “I truly gave it my all, and I’m glad it gave me a bit back for the next chapter.”
He also made sure to leave the door open — at least jokingly — to one final comeback. “If I drop 40 lbs and [former teammate Conrad Pridy’s coach Dykster] moves back to Whistler,” he joked, “I’d continue my comeback in slalom.”
For now, however, one of Canada’s most respected speed skiers is choosing a different finish line — one defined not by risk, but by the opportunity to keep skiing, coaching, and building the next chapter of his life.
