Dave Irwin facts for kids
| Alpine skier | |
Dave Irwin at the 2006 Canada's Walk of Fame ceremony
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| 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 on July 12, 1954, is a famous Canadian alpine ski racer. He competed in two Winter Olympic Games and even 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, Dave lives in Canmore, Alberta, close to the beautiful Rocky Mountains.
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Dave Irwin's Early Life and Ski Career
Dave Irwin was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. He started skiing at just three years old at his father's ski resort. By the time he was 17, Dave was chosen to join the Canadian National Ski Team.
Switching to Downhill Skiing
Dave was first picked for his skills in slalom, a type of ski racing with many turns. However, the national team coach, Scotty Henderson, decided to focus the team more on downhill racing. Downhill is a speed event where skiers go very fast down a long course. Dave successfully switched to downhill and became very good at it.
World Cup Success
Dave's first World Cup race was a downhill event in Schladming, Austria, on December 22, 1973. He finished in 14th place. Two years later, in 1976, he won the downhill event in Schladming! He finished with a time of 2 minutes and 0.84 seconds, beating the second-place skier by almost two seconds. Dave also earned another podium finish in 1982. He placed third in a World Cup downhill race in Whistler, B.C., right behind his teammate Steve Podborski.
Olympic Appearances
Dave Irwin proudly represented Canada at two Winter Olympic Games.
- At the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, Dave finished eighth in the downhill race.
- At the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, USA, he placed eleventh.
Overcoming Challenges
Dave Irwin faced some tough challenges during his racing career. He had two serious concussions. One happened before the 1976 Olympics, and another before the 1980 Olympics.
Injuries and Recovery
His first concussion happened on January 10, 1976, during a downhill race in Wengen, Switzerland. This was just two weeks after his big World Cup win in Schladming. He had to stay in the hospital for five days. But less than two weeks later, Dave was back training with his ski team! There's even a section of the Lauberhorn race course near Wengen called "Canadian Corner." It's named after the "Crazy Canucks," Ken Read and Dave Irwin, because they both fell there in 1976.
In 2001, Dave had another serious injury during a training run. This caused a traumatic brain injury and he was in a coma for three days. He slowly recovered, but he had severe memory loss.
Helping Others: The Dave Irwin Foundation
After his recovery, Dave and his fiancée, Lynne Harrison, started the Dave Irwin Foundation for Brain Injury. This foundation aimed to help others who had suffered similar injuries. The foundation helped people until it closed in 2016.
