Sam Balcom was born in Port Dufferin, Nova Scotia, in 1888. He was an outstanding member of the Red Cap Snow Shoe Club from 1910 to 1939 and was captain of the club eight times. Balcom had only ever worn snowshoes three times in his entire life before he began his snowshoe racing career in 1920, where he impressively won the 100 and 200-yard events.

In 1921 and 1922, he dominated the short course races and was a top contender in every long course race he had ever participated in. Balcom retired from the sport in 1939 after winning over twenty races. In 1978, he was the third ever recipient of the Dalhousie Award for his “Great Contribution to Nova Scotia Sport.”