Hall of Famer
Dave Irwin
Dave Irwin learned to ski at age three on the slopes of his father Bill’s Loch Lomond ski resort in Thunder Bay, Ont. Skiing was in his blood — the Irwin name is synonymous with Canadian skiing, with at least seven family members having competed on national teams.
Named to the Canadian national ski team in 1971 at age 17, Dave remained on the squad until his retirement in March 1982. He won the Can-Am Slalom title in 1972, earning the NOVA Cup as Canada’s most improved skier. A year later, he competed in his first World Cup downhill race at Schladming, Austria, finishing 14th — an auspicious debut.
Throughout his career, Dave endured a succession of injuries that sidelined him for long stretches on the World Cup circuit, yet he never considered retiring. In 1981, he told Sportwest Magazine: “The reason I keep coming back is because I love racing — it’s as simple as that.”
As one of the legendary “Crazy Canucks” — alongside Ken Read, Dave Murray and Steve Podborski — Dave helped transform the image and success of Canadian ski racing. Known as the “Kamikaze Canuck” or, in Europe, the “Big Red Frog” (a nod to his massive thighs), he became the second Canadian male ever to win a World Cup downhill event, taking the victory at Schladming in 1975.
In his retirement year, Dave received a Sport Excellence Award from the Government of Canada at the 1982 Tribute to Champions and was presented with the prestigious John Semmelink Memorial Award, given annually by the Canadian Ski and Snowboard Association to the athlete who best represents Canada internationally through sportsmanship, conduct and ability.
Over his career, Dave competed in 35 World Cup downhill events, placing in the top 15 on 17 occasions — a remarkable record given the era and competition.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- 1973 — 14th, World Cup downhill, Schladming, Austria
- 1974 — 3rd, Canadian national championships, slalom
- 1976 — 4th, World Cup downhill, Madonna di Campiglio, Italy; 1st, World Cup downhill, Schladming, Austria; 4th, World Championships downhill, Val d’Isère, France; 14th, World Cup downhill, Val Gardena, Italy; 8th, Olympic Winter Games downhill, Innsbruck, Austria
- 1977 — 4th, World Cup downhill, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
- 1978 — 7th, World Cup downhill, Schladming, Austria
- 1979 — 1st, Europa Cup downhill, Verbier, Switzerland; 3rd, Canadian national championships, downhill; 14th, World Cup downhill, Val d’Isère, France
- 1980 — 5th, World Cup downhill, Kitzbühel, Austria; 11th, Olympic Winter Games downhill, Lake Placid, U.S.; 12th, World Cup downhill, Lake Louise; 7th, Canadian national championships, downhill; 1st, U.S. national championships, downhill; 4th, North American championships, Squaw Valley, U.S.; 5th, World Cup downhill, Val d’Isère, France; 11th, World Cup downhill, St. Moritz, Switzerland; 12th, World Cup downhill, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
- 1981 — 11th, Canadian national championships, giant slalom; 4th, Canadian national championships, downhill; 3rd, FIS downhill; 13th, World Cup downhill, Aspen, U.S.
- 1982 — 3rd, World Cup downhill, Whistler, B.C.; 13th, World Cup downhill, Aspen, U.S.; 7th, World Cup downhill, Aspen, U.S.
- Overall — Competed in 35 World Cup downhill events with 17 top-15 finishes; member of the “Crazy Canucks”; recipient of the 1982 John Semmelink Memorial Award and Government of Canada Sport Excellence Award
Note: Information compiled from several sources; may not include all accomplishments. © Canadian Ski Museum & Hall of Fame. For personal/educational use only. All rights reserved.
![[L to R]: Dave Murray, Gault Kerr Gillespie, Dave Irwin.](https://skimuseum.ca/app/uploads/2020/09/sm_91-30-1-165_Murray_Gillespie_Irwin-203x300.jpg)
Dave Irwin – January 1969. Alpine Canada Alpin.
Dave Irwin (January, 1971). Alpine Canada Alpin.
Canadian Olympic Alpine Ski team at 1976 Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria [L to R]: Jim Hunter, Jane Helder (physiotherapist), Kathy Kreiner, Andrzej Kozbial (alpine program director), Laurie Kreiner, Ken Read, Betsy Clifford, Dave Murray, Scott Henderson (head coach-men), Wayne Gruden (coach), Luc Dubois (manager), Robert Safrata, Lynden McIntosh (coach), Dr. Bernie Lalonde (head coach-women). Alpine Canada Alpin.
This is a photo of Dave Irwin being named Canada’s most promising ski racer, and receiving the Nova Cup from the Canadian Ski Association President Gavin Young (left) on May 25th, 1972. Alpine Canada Alpin.
Dave Irwin. Alpine Canada Alpin.
Dave Irwin. Alpine Canada Alpin.
Dave Irwin at 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, NY. Photo A. Thill.
Dave Irwin skiing in Val d’Isère, FRA. Alpine Canada Alpin.
Dave Irwin named Canada’s most promising ski racer on May 25, 1972. Irwin accepts Nova Cup and a Rollei 35 camera from Canadian Ski Association President Gavin Young (left), and National Alpine Ski Team coach Lyn McIntosh (middle). Alpine Canada Alpin.
Dave Irwin wins World Cup downhill event in Schladming, Austria on December 20, 1975. Alpine Canada Alpin.
![National Alpine Ski Team c.1970 [L to R]: Brodie Lut (coach), Jim Hunter, Steve Podborski, Dave Murray, Gary Aiken, Dave Irwin, Ken Read, Scott Henderson (coach).](https://skimuseum.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sm_75-15-1-5_National_Men_Ski_Team-e1620155761822.jpg)
National Alpine Ski Team c.1970 [L to R]: Brodie Lut (coach), Jim Hunter, Steve Podborski, Dave Murray, Gary Aiken, Dave Irwin, Ken Read, Scott Henderson (coach). Canadian Ski Association – Alpine Office / Lolly Moss.
National Alpine Ski Team 1976 at Montreal Ski Show [back row]: Jean Beaulieu, Ken Read, Dave Irwin, Jim Hunter, Karen Cloutier, Jeanette Zanier, Dave Murray, Bernie Lalonde (coach) [front row]: Germain Barrette, Yvon Blackburn, Kathy Kreiner, Susan Clifford, Steve Podborski, Scott Henderson (Coach). Alpine Canada Alpin.
Men’s National Alpine Ski Team 1978-79 [L to R]: Heinz Kappeler (coach), Terry Spence (coach), Ken Read, John Ritchie (coach), Dave Murray, Steve Podborski, Dave Irwin, Robin McLeish, Mike Irwin, Germain Barrette, Joey Lavigne. Alpine Canada Alpin.
Men’s National Alpine Ski Team c. 1980 [top row]: Chris Kent, Steve Podborski, Dave Irwin [bottom row]: Ken Read, Dave Murray, Robin McLeish. Alpine Canada Alpin.
1982 National Alpine Ski Team [back row]: Athans, Brooker, Stylan, McLeish, O’Rourke, Kerr, Belczyk, Kent, Irwin, Read [front row]: Lehodey, Robbins, Gougeon, Savijarvi, Knight, Bdard, Lacasse. Alpine Canada Alpin.
National Alpine Ski Team c. 1979 [top row]: Ken Read, Steve Podborski, Dave Irwin, Dave Murray [bottom row]: Kathy Kreiner, Laurie Graham, Loni Klettl. Studio Impact.
Crazy Canucks: Postcard Front. CSHFM Collection.
Crazy Canucks. CSHFM Collection.
The Legend of the Crazy Canucks Olympic Alpine Skiing Team | On the Line | Olympics
The story of how a group of Canadian daredevils Olympic skiers broke the European stranglehold on downhill skiing and became the talk of the alpine circuit at and around the Innsbruck 1976 Winter Olympic Games. The fascinating inside track on the Games talking points, pieced together with exclusive archive footage and insightful telephone interviews
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