Dave Irwin facts for kids
| Alpine skier | |
Dave Irwin at the 2006 Canada's Walk of Fame ceremony
|
|
| Born | July 12, 1954 Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada |
|---|---|
| World Cup debut | December 22, 1973 |
| Retired | March, 1982 |
| Olympics | |
| Teams | 2 |
| World Cup | |
| Seasons | 8 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Podiums | 2 |
Dave Irwin (born July 12, 1954) is a famous Canadian alpine ski racer. He competed for Canada in two Winter Olympic Games. He also won a World Cup downhill race. Dave was part of a well-known group of Canadian downhill skiers called the "Crazy Canucks". They became very popular in the late 1970s. Today, he lives in Canmore, Alberta, close to the Rocky Mountains.
Contents
Dave Irwin's Skiing Journey
Dave Irwin was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. He started skiing at just three years old. His father owned a ski resort, which is where Dave learned.
Joining the National Team
By the age of 17, Dave was chosen for the Canadian National Ski Team. He was first picked for his skills in slalom skiing. Slalom is a type of ski race with many turns. But his coach, Scotty Henderson, decided to focus the team on downhill racing. Downhill is a faster race with fewer turns. Dave successfully switched to downhill.
World Cup Success
Dave's first World Cup race was a downhill event. It happened in Schladming, Austria, on December 22, 1973. He finished in 14th place. Two years later, in the same place, he won the downhill race! He finished in 2 minutes and 0.84 seconds. He beat the second-place skier by almost two seconds.
In 1982, Dave reached the podium again. He finished third in a World Cup downhill race in Whistler, B.C.. His teammate, Steve Podborski, also did well in that race.
Olympic Games
Dave Irwin represented Canada at two Winter Olympic Games.
- At the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, he finished eighth.
- At the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, USA, he placed eleventh.
Overcoming Challenges
During his racing career, Dave had some serious head injuries. One happened before the 1976 Olympics. Another happened before the 1980 Olympics.
Injuries and Recovery
On January 10, 1976, Dave had a fall during a race in Wengen, Switzerland. This was just two weeks after his big World Cup win. He had to stay in the hospital for five days. But less than two weeks later, he was back training with his team!
There's a part of the Lauberhorn ski course in Switzerland called "Canadian Corner." It's named after Dave Irwin and Ken Read. Both of them fell there in 1976.
In 2001, Dave had another serious injury during a training run. He was in a coma for three days. He slowly recovered, but he had trouble remembering things. Later, Dave and his fiancée, Lynne Harrison, started a group called the Dave Irwin Foundation for Brain Injury. This foundation helped people who had brain injuries. The foundation stopped its work in 2016.
See also
- Crazy Canucks
