Downhill Racer is a 1969 American sports drama film starring Robert Redford, Gene Hackman, and Camilla Sparv; it was the directorial debut of Michael Ritchie. Written by James Salter, based on Oakley Hall's 1963 novel The Downhill Racers, the film is about talented American downhill racer David Chappellet, who joins the U.S. Ski Team in Europe to compete in international skiing competitions.

Plot

American downhill skier David Chappellet arrives in Switzerland to join the U.S. ski team in Wengen, along with fellow newcomer D.K. Bryan. Both men were summoned by team coach Eugene Claire to replace Tommy Herb, one of his top skiers, who was recently injured during an FIS competition. Raised in the small town of Idaho Springs, Colorado, Chappellet is a loner focused only on becoming a skiing champion, and shows little interest in being a team player. After refusing to race at the Lauberhorn because of a late starting position, he makes his European skiing debut at the Arlberg-Kandahar in Austria, where he finishes in an impressive fourth position. In the final race of the season at the Hahnenkamm-Rennen in Kitzbühel, Austria, he crashes.