It has now been a decade. Way back on May 10, 2016, the downhill world lost one of the best to ever do it. Steve Smith passed away after a motorcycle accident. He was 26 at the time.
Smith wasn’t just another fast Canadian. He was the one. The rider who broke through, won at the highest level and made it feel like Canadians belonged there.
The year everything clicked
For Smith, everything came together in 2013. He won at Leogang, Hafjell and Mont-Sainte-Anne. Which led to the overall World Cup title; the high-water mark for Canadian downhill (until Goldstone’s 2025 season). It wasn’t just the results. It was the way he rode. Fast, aggressive and fully committed.
More than just a result sheet
Smith’s impact wasn’t limited to podiums. He set a tone. For riders coming up behind him, he made the path clearer. It wasn’t theoretical anymore. Someone had done it.
A name that still runs through Whistler
In Whistler, his legacy is carved into the trail network. The 1199 track, named after his 2013 points total, was built as a tribute. The goal was to create something worthy of his riding. A proper downhill track that could stand on the world stage. And in 2026, it will be the eighth stop of the UCI World Cup tour. Finally, riders from around the world will get to race on this purpose built track.
From Prevost to the world
Smith’s riding started on Vancouver Island, on the steep, technical trails of Mt. Prevost. By the time he hit the World Cup circuit, he already had the skillset. What followed was the breakthrough.
And then, for a brief stretch, dominance.
Still part of it
Ten years on, Smith’s name hasn’t drifted into the background. It comes up in conversations. In start gates, comparisons and expectaions. Chainless chainsaws brapping trackside from local races to the World Cup. Riders like Chainsaw don’t leave the sport. They become part of it.