Chris McCormick

Profile and significance

Chris McCormick is a British freeski slopestyle and big air rider from Glasgow, Scotland, known for a clean, methodical approach shaped by years of dryslope mileage at the Bearsden Ski & Board Club. Born in 1998, he progressed through national programs into consistent FIS World Cup appearances, highlighted by a career-best seventh place at the 2021 season opener on Austria’s Stubai Glacier and a 12th place at Switzerland’s Corvatsch in Silvaplana. A double British champion in 2018 (slopestyle and big air), he embodies the pathway many emerging athletes take: club roots, national titles, then repeatable runs on the sport’s biggest public courses. For viewers and progressing skiers, McCormick’s value is clarity—lines you can study and emulate, with speed control, symmetry and grab security front and center.

Competitive arc and key venues

McCormick’s competitive arc runs through the World Cup calendar and major European venues that define modern park skiing. Early traction came on glacier setups, notably the Stubai opener—an arena that rewards precision on firm, early-season takeoffs. He translated that form to end-of-season Silvaplana, laying down finals-caliber laps on the slopestyle course beneath Corvatsch. In France, he added depth at Tignes, where variable March weather tests speed management between rails and kickers. World Championships mileage in the Engadin around St. Moritz/Corvatsch further cemented his status as a dependable start who converts qualifying pressure into composed runs. Alongside slopestyle, he has pursued big air starts—including strong showings on iconic city stadium jumps—which sharpen axis discipline and grab consistency that feed back into his slopestyle.

How they ski: what to watch for

McCormick skis with a “quiet approach, decisive exit” philosophy. Approaches stay flat and composed with light ankle work, keeping bases neutral until a firm pop from a clean platform. On jumps, look for centered takeoffs, early grab connection and rotations that stay axis-honest—180s and 360s that read clean in both directions before scaling to 540s and beyond. Rail work emphasizes square entry, early edge set to control slide direction, and tidy, repeatable exits. Landings drive to the fall line with a quick re-center, preserving speed into the next feature without skidding away hard-earned momentum. The overall effect is a line you can slow down and learn from: timing, symmetry, and a grab-first mindset that stabilizes spin.

Resilience, filming, and influence

The resilience story is incremental progress rather than a single viral moment. McCormick stacked national titles, learned to travel his fundamentals across different snowpacks, and kept appearing deep in heats against deeper fields. Media-wise he has contributed training diaries and federation vlogs that explain decisions most highlight reels skip—why speed gets set on feature one, how wind affects trick choice, and when to dial back spin count to protect a run. That transparency, paired with reliable competition habits, is why coaches and friends often share his clips with intermediates preparing for first contests or aiming for cleaner public-park lines.

Geography that built the toolkit

Glasgow’s Bearsden dryslope culture is central to McCormick’s technique. Hundreds of low-consequence reps on plastic build balance, pop timing and rail accuracy that transfer directly to snow. Early-season training on the glaciers of Tyrol at Stubai introduces firmer in-runs and cold chalk, while spring laps in the Engadin beneath Corvatsch favor longer grabs and slightly slower spins on forgiving corn. Stops in Tignes add wind and weather management to the mix. The throughline is adaptability: the same quiet approach and centered pop, tuned to whatever the day’s surface and speed allow.

Equipment and partners: practical takeaways

As a LINE Skis athlete, McCormick rides park-focused shapes with predictable flex and a mount close to center, making switch approaches and takeoffs feel natural. For skiers looking to copy the feel rather than the sticker pack, the takeaways are straightforward. Choose a twin with enough length to land centered without wheelie, detune tips and tails lightly for rail forgiveness while keeping edges honest underfoot for icy in-runs, and keep wax fresh—especially for sticky spring laps. Boots should be snug enough to transmit ankle movements without forcing you to steer with shoulders; bindings should offer consistent retention with correct forward pressure. The small, boring habits—edge touch-ups after rail days, stance checks, and a repeatable warm-up trick ladder—unlock more performance than chasing a graphic.

Why fans and progressing skiers care

Fans value McCormick because his skiing is readable and transferable. He shows how to turn careful speed choice, early grab connection and clean exits into full runs that judges and everyday viewers can follow. For progressing skiers, he is a case study in building durable fundamentals: set a speed floor, keep approaches quiet, let the feature choose the trick, and land to the fall line so momentum carries to the next hit. From the dryslope of Bearsden to World Cup venues like Stubai, Corvatsch and Tignes, Chris McCormick’s path shows that patient, precise skiing scales—from local park laps to the sport’s main stage.