Charles Gagnier (born July 19, 1985 in Victoriaville, Quebec) is a Canadian freeskier, best known for inventing the Octograb in 2006.[1][2][3]

Charles Gagnier
Personal information
BornJuly 19, 1985 (1985-07-19) (age 39)
Victoriaville, Quebec
Sport
Country Canada
SportFreestyle skiing
EventSlopestyle
Medal record
Men's freestyle skiing
Representing  Canada
Winter X Games
Gold medal – first place 2005 Aspen Slopestyle
Silver medal – second place 2006 Aspen Big Air
Silver medal – second place 2008 Aspen Big Air

Career

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Gagnier began skiing with his family at Canada's Mont-Sainte-Anne resort.[4] He started his competitive career as an alpine ski racer in Quebec, Canada before switching to freestyle skiing. He credits his brother Antoine for pushing him towards freeskiing, introducing him to twin tips at age 15.[5] Gagnier's first major competitive freestyle skiing win was in the U.S. Freeskiing Open Big Air Invitational at Copper Mountain in Frisco, Colorado.[6][7] He won Gold in Men's Ski Slopestyle at the 2005 Winter X Games IX in Aspen, Colorado.[8][9] At the 2006 Winter X Games X, he placed second in the Men's Ski Big Air event to T.J. Schiller, and at the 2008 Winter X Games XII, he again placed second in the Men's Ski Big Air event to Jon Olsson.[10][11] In 2012 and 2013, he won the Slopestyle ski event at Red Bull Playstreets.[12]

Personal life

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Gagnier has two brothers, Antoine and Vincent.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "Charles Gagnier". level1productions.com. Level 1. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Breckenridge Dew Tour: Slopestyle prelims today | SummitDaily.com". Archived from the original on 2012-04-05. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  3. ^ Apfel, James (17 May 2022). "The History of Competitive Freeskiing". XC Skiing. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  4. ^ Matt Masson (30 October 2019). "The Vincent Gagnier Interview". Newschoolers.com. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  5. ^ Erica Aarons (8 April 2015). "Forum Q&A with Charles Gagnier". newschoolers.com. Newschoolers. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  6. ^ Devon O'Neil (20 January 2007). "Gagnier tries something new, wins $10K". vaildaily.com. VailDaily. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  7. ^ Amirault, Dave (6 November 2007). "Bula Signs Charles Gagnier and Wiley Miller". FREESKIER. Storm Mountain Media. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Gagnier Unseats Hall in Slopestyle". skimag.com. Outside Interactive, Inc. 5 February 2005. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  9. ^ Mutrie, Tim (30 January 2005). "Locals crash out in slopestyle". aspentimes.com. Snowmass Sun. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Men's Slopestyle: History Not Repeated". skimag.com. Outside Interactive, Inc. 29 January 2006. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Few podiums, much disappointment at X Games XII". Pique Newsmagazine. Glacier Media Digital. 1 Feb 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Charles Gagnier Wins Red Bull Signature Series' Freeski Event, Playstreets". dewtour.com. Dew Tour. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  13. ^ Tom Pietrowski (23 December 2015). "Best Job in the Ski Industry - Vincent Gagnier, Pro Skier". newschoolers.com. Newschoolers. Retrieved 11 March 2023.