Hall of Famer

Ken Read

Affiliated Discipline(s): Alpine
Hometown: Ann Arbor, Michigan / Calgary, AB
Active Career Period: 1973 - 1983
Induction CSHF: 1987
Induction Category: Alpine: Downhill, Slalom, Combined. Builder
Ken Read. Alpine Canada Alpin

More than 20-years after his competitive career ended, Ken Read remains one of Canada’s most recognized sports personalities. A member of the national alpine ski team from 1973 to 1983, he was leader of the fabled “Crazy Canucks”, the fearless downhill racers who, from 1975 to 1984, proved themselves the equal of Europe’s most talented downhill skiers. He had 5-World Cup victories including the Hahnenkamm at Kitzbuhel, Austria, a notoriously difficult course and highlight of the World Cup downhill circuit, and the legendary Lauberhorn at Wengen, Switzerland.

His first victory at Val d’Isere, France, in 1975 was also the first time that any member of a North American men’s team had won a downhill event on the World Cup circuit. At the national level, he won 6-Canadian Championship titles before his retirement from active competition in March, 1983.

He was a member of Canada’s team at the 1976 Xll Olympic Winter Games at Innsbruck, Austria, where he placed 5th and was present again at the 1980 Xlll Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid, USA where he suffered the great misfortune of losing his left ski just 15-seconds into the downhill race.

At the Lake Placid Olympic Winter Games, he was appointed flag bearer for the Canadian team at the Opening Ceremonies and carried the Olympic torch at the Opening Ceremonies of the 1988 XV Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, Alberta. In 1992, he was appointed Chef de Mission of the Canadian Olympic Team to Barcelona.

In 1985, Juan Antonia Samaranch, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) invited him to join the IOC Athletes Commission. As a member of the IOC Athletes Commission he was also invited to serve on the Program, IOC Radio and Television Commission, Cultural and Olympic Academy Commissions and joined working groups liaising with Olympic Organizing Committees in Seoul, South Korea, Barcelona, Spain, Lillehammer, and Norway.

In 1988, he became a member of the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) Executive Board for Alpine Skiing and was the downhill course design expert for the Calgary Olympic Winter games. He served in a similar capacity for the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) at Vail, USA, in 1989. In 1991, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, the country’s highest award.

He also earned a number of other awards including:

1978
The Lou Marsh Award as Canada’s outstanding athlete of the year

1979
The Norton Crowe Award as Canada’s outstanding male amateur athlete of the year

1979-1980
Recipient of the John Semmelink Memorial award by the Canadian Ski Association

1983
Received the Sport Excellence Award from the Government of Canada at the Tribute to the Champions

1984
Inducted into the Canadian Amateur Sports Hall of Fame

1986
Inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

In a truly brilliant career on the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) World Cup circuit from January 1975 until his retirement in March, 1983, Ken Read placed in the Top 10 in Downhill competition on no less than 36 occasions and in the Top 3 on 14 occasions. In competition for the FIS World Cup Downhill title, he placed 4th overall in 1978, 4th in 1979 and 2nd in 1980.

Competitive highlights in World Cup and other International competition (top ten finishes)

1975
9th place, Combined event, FIS World Cup, Kitzbuhel, Austria
8th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Megeve, France
1st place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Val d’Isere, France

1976
6th place, Combined event, FIS World Cup, Kitzbuhel, Austria
5th place, Downhill event, XII Olympic Winter Games, Innsbruck, Austria

1977
10th place, Combined event, FIS World Cup, St Anton,Austria
4th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Val d’Isere, France
9th place, Downhill event, Cortina, d’Ampezzo, Italy

1978
8th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Kitzbuhel Austria
1st place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Les Houches, France
6th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Laax, Switzerland
4th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Laax, Swwitzerland
1st place, Downhill event, FIS world Cup, Schladming, Austria
3rd place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Val Gardena, Italy

1979
3rd place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Crans Montana, Switzerland
10th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Kitzbuhel, Austria
9th place, Combined event, FIS World Cup, Kitzbuhel, Austria
7th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Lake Placid, USA
7th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Val Gardena, Italy
1st place, Downhill event, New Zealand National Championships
1st place, Downhill event, Australian National Championships

1980
1st place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Kitzbuhel, Austria
1st place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Wengen, Switzerland
2nd place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Wengen, Switzerland
8th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Lake Louise, Alberta
2nd place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Val d’Isere, France
6th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Val Gardena, Italy
9th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, St Moritz, Switzerland

1981
5th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Val d’Isere, France
3rd place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Crans Montana, Switzerland
2nd place, Downhill event, United States National Championships

1982
3rd place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Kitzbuhel, Austria
3rd place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Kitzbuhel Austria
7th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Whistler Mountain, B.C.
8th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Aspen, USA
6th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Pontresina, Switzerland
5th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Val Gardena, Italy
9th place, Combined event, FIS World Cup, Val d’Isere, France
7th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Val Gardena, Italy
1st place, Downhill event, New Zealand National Championships
2nd place, Downhill event, United States National Championships

1983
4th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Val d’Isere, France
2nd place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Val d’Isere, France
3rd place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Kitzbuhel, Austria
5th place, Downhill event, FIS World Cup, Sarajevo, Jugoslavia

Competitive highlights in National competition (top ten finishes)

1975
1st place, Downhill event, Canadian National Championships

1976
1st place, Downhill event, Canadian National Championships

1978
1st place, Downhill event, Canadian National Championships
1st place, Combined event (Downhill, Slalom, Giant Slalom), Canadian National Championships

1979
1st place, Downhill event, Canadian National Championships
2nd place, Slalom event, Canadian National Championships

1980
1st place, Downhill event, Canadian National Championships

1982
2nd place, Downhill event, Canadian National Championships

1983
3rd place, Downhill event, Canadian National Championships

 

Please Note: The ski information gathered here is compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments.
Copyright © 2021, Canadian Ski Museum. For Personal/Educational use only. All Rights Reserved.

Ken Read skiing his way to winning Downhill FIS race (Hannenkamm) in Kitzbuhel, Austria in 1980. Alpine Canada Alpin.

Ken Read. Alpine Canada Alpin.

Ken Read. Alpine Canada Alpin.

Ken Read (1980). Athlete Information Bureau / C80-11717.

Ken Read in Kitzbuhel, Austria. Alpine Canada Alpin.

Ken Read. Alpine Canada Alpin.

Ken Read. Public Relations Department – Canadian Ski Association.

Ken Read. Photo B. Herdt.

Ken Read receives John Semmelink Award (1979/80) from Canadian Ski Association (CSA) President, Walter McLeish. Canadian Ski Association.

Ken Read. Public Relations Department / Canadian Ski Association.

1978 World Cup Downhill in Chamonix, France – Ken Read places 1st, Dave Murray 2nd. Alpine Canada Alpin.

Ken Read.
Ken Read. Athlete Information Bureau / 82-4923.

1980 Canadian National Championships [L to R]: Steve Podborski (2nd), Ken Read (1st), Dave Murray (3rd). Canadian Ski Association / Information & Resource Center.

1982 Canadian National Championships – Men’s downhill [L to R]: Ken Read (2nd), Raiber (1st), Brooker (3rd). Alpine Canada Alpin.

National Alpine ski team members: Ken Read, Dave Murray, Gerry Sorensen, Laurie Graham, and Steve Podborski, in Europe receiving watches from OMEGA. Alpine Canada Alpin.

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.

      

One pair of Fischer C4 competition downhill ski with Solomon S555 binding used by Canadian Ski Hall of Fame member Ken Read.”C4 Competition” between tips & bindings, “Fischer” near the heels of skis, “C4 Fischer” on the running surface 3 times

[L to R]: John Clifford, Steve Podborski, Arturo Hammersley (Chile Ski Federation), Ken Read, Gerry Reagen? Minister of Sport and Recreation. CSHFM Collection.

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 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, Bédard, 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.

Steve Podborski (left) and Ken Read.
Steve Podborski (left) and Ken Read. Canadian Ski Association.
Ken Read winner of 1978 Shell Cup Canadian Downhill Championship with Canadian Ski Association (CSA) President Dr. George Green.
Ken Read winner of 1978 Shell Cup Canadian Downhill Championship with Canadian Ski Association (CSA) President Dr. George Green. Canadian Ski Association.

Ken Read's racing suit.

Ken Read’s racing equipment, suit and Kitzbühel bib. CSHFM Collection.

Read, Ken. 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.

Rivals" A Look Into Downhill Skiing Back in 1983 | ISOS023 | In Search of Speed

In 1983, our crews follow Peter Mueller(Swiss), Franz Klammer(Austrian), Ken Read(Canadian), and Marc Girardelli(Lichenstien) throughout the 1982-83 world cup season. The Hahnenkamm, Lauberhorn and other great downhills, test the mettle of the worlds’ best.

Crazy Canucks

Their story and interviews

Living History: Wengen Alpine Men

The Audi FIS Alpine World Cup has arrived in Wengen, Switzerland, featuring the longest downhill track in the world ⛷?. Catch the fourth chapter of “Living History” with Helly Hansen, featuring alumnus Ken Read and current athlete Manny Osborne-Paradis.

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