Charles Gagnier

Charles Gagnier

Charles Gagnier is the inventor of the octograb, a trick that’s about as complicated to explain as it is to execute. To do the octograb, Gagnier grabs the right ski’s tail with his right hand and the tip of the other ski with his left. With a move like that it’s clear why Gagnier has long been considered one of the elite slopestyle skiers in the world.

Beginning his competitive career as a ski racer in Quebec, Gagnier first started skiing at the age of four with his family at Canada’s Mont-Sainte-Anne resort. As part of a family of freeskiers, Gagnier credits his brothers for pushing him to be the skier he is today. His older brother Antoine was the first to introduce him to freeskiing when he was 15 and his younger brother Vincent is one of the names to watch out for in the future.

Known for an innovative approach to rails and grabs, Gagnier was one of the first skiers to perfect spinning in both directions. In 2003 he broke onto the scene in a big way with eighth at the US Freeskiing Open and his first invite to the X Games.

However, it was his performance at the 2005 X Games that has come to define Gagnier’s career. After a win at the US Open, Gagnier entered the X Games on a hot streak and won the gold. The win was even more meaningful because it crushed Tanner Hall’s chance to four-peat in slopestyle.

Bon travail!

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