Robert Redford's 'Downhill Racer' Character Still Inspires American Skiers

Long before the free-spirited Bode Miller carved his own path, there was David Chappellet, a driven, do-things-my-way downhill racer representing the U.S. ski team. This fictional character, played by the late actor Robert Redford in the 1969 film "Downhill Racer," continues to resonate deeply with American ski racers decades after its release.

A Hollywood Tale with Real-World Impact

Chappellet's story is a Hollywood creation, depicting a brash prospect from Idaho Springs, Colorado, who steps in for an injured teammate and rises to become an Olympic champion. Yet, the character has become a badge of honor for American downhillers, personifying their ethos and underdog status in a sport traditionally dominated by European athletes.

The film's gritty camerawork and picturesque scenery, featuring iconic World Cup venues like Kitzbühel, Austria, and Wengen, Switzerland, contribute to its enduring appeal. U.S. racer River Radamus, competing in his second Olympics at the Milan Cortina Games, explained, "The movie encapsulates the pursuit of excellence that we're trying to accomplish and it exudes such an aura around what we do. I love that movie. That's part of why I wanted to do what I do today."

Behind the Scenes and Legacy

Directed by Michael Ritchie and based on a book by Oakley Hall, the film starred Redford as the loner champion and Gene Hackman as his dedicated U.S. ski coach. Both actors, who passed away in 2025, delivered celebrated performances that highlighted the complex dynamics of competitive skiing.

Redford's character may have been an amalgamation of several U.S. ski team personalities, such as:

Billy Kidd, who, with teammate Jimmie Heuga, became the first American men to win Olympic medals in Alpine skiing in 1964.
Vladimir 'Spider' Sabich, a charismatic skier tragically killed in 1976.
Wallace 'Buddy' Werner, who died in an avalanche in 1964 at age 28.

This portrayal predated the rise of Bode Miller, known for his similar independent flair. Bill Marolt, a former Team USA skier and later U.S. ski team president, recalled the movie's premiere, noting, "Movies always take some liberties, but the bottom line, the message was pretty accurate and pretty clear."

Authenticity in Filmmaking

Early in the film, a racer named Tommy Erb crashes, paving the way for Redford's character. This role was played by Joe Jay Jalbert, a collegiate and U.S. skier who also served as Redford's stunt double for challenging skiing scenes. Jalbert, who was working in construction after graduating from the University of Washington, received a life-changing call from Redford's attorney, leading him to film locations in Switzerland.

"Literally in less than two months I'm on a plane to Wengen, Switzerland," Jalbert recounted. "That's where I first met Bob." The two became good friends, skiing together long after the film. Jalbert praised Redford as an advanced skier and highlighted his own role in making the racing scenes authentic by carrying heavy cameras down slopes at high velocity, sometimes taking wipeouts as Redford's stand-in.

This experience launched Jalbert's filmmaking career, with over 800 productions to his name and induction into the U.S. ski team Hall of Fame.

Inspiring Generations of Skiers

American success in Olympic downhill includes Bill Johnson in 1984, Tommy Moe in 1994, and Lindsey Vonn in 2010 for women. Ryan Cochran-Siegle, an Olympic silver medalist in super-G, discovered "Downhill Racer" as a teenager, reinforcing his desire to become a ski racer. He said, "Movies that make a lasting impression, they hold so much truth to the real world. As an American speed racer, there's so much of that underdog mentality in going over to Europe and being away from home, trying to still be the best in the world."

Steven Nyman, a retired U.S. downhiller who grew up near Redford's home in Sundance, even did yardwork for the actor as a child. The film inspired him before he joined the team, and he recalled how the squad used it as motivation before races in Wengen, an idea initiated by teammate Daron Rahlves.

Rahlves, who won nine World Cup downhill races, including the Hahnenkamm in Kitzbühel, shared a memorable encounter with Redford on a flight to San Francisco. "I introduced myself and we talked about 'Downhill Racer,'" Rahlves said. "He remembered so many things about that experience. He was like, 'Have you ever raced the Hahnenkamm?' I told him, 'Yeah, I actually won it.' He just gave me a high-five. That was a good moment."