ANTHONY DRANSFELD
For the Townsman
Local girl Judi Leinweber burst upon the International Ski Scene as a 17-year-old competing for Canada in the 1968 Winter Olympic Games, which were held in Grenoble, France.
Born and raised in Kimberley, Judi, was — for lack of a better word — a natural. On the Canadian National Ski Team at the age of 15, Judi was actually still in High School whilst competing in the Winter Olympics, finishing a very creditable 20th in Downhill, and 25th in Giant Slalom.
Ms. Leinweber and a team mate carried a jubilant Nancy Greene on their shoulders to accept the Gold Medal for Canada in Giant Slalom.
The best skiing family to ever come from Kimberley would undoubtedly be the Leinweber Family. Brother Lonnie was an excellent racer, before he went into instructing at Kimberley Resort. Lon also has taken local instructors to Japan every winter for many seasons to teach skiing in the Far East.
Their sister Deidre was an excellent skier, too. And Mr. Harrold Leinweber was a ski pro up at North Star Mountain, and a very gifted skier, in his own right.
By the way, Judi Leinweber was the Canadian Ladies Alpine Champion in 1969, which basically means she was the best woman skier in Canada that year. Both Lonnie and Judi Leinweber continue to ski “lights out.” I saw Judi skiing in Fernie about seven years ago and she still had it.
Lonnie’s son Antoine, who sadly passed away rock climbing a few years ago, was a real skiing talent too, with a beautiful skiing style which is the trademark of the Leinweber Family.