TheCrazy Canuckswas the nickname for a group ofWorld Cupalpine ski racersfromCanadawho rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s. JungleJim Hunter,Dave Irwin,Dave Murray,Steve Podborski,andKen Readearned themselves a reputation for fast and seemingly reckless skiing in thedownhillevent.[1]
History
editThese five men earned their title "Crazy Canucks" from ski journalist and World Cup co-founderSerge Lange,who after watching their different styles came up with the name that caught on with sports journalists throughout the skiing world.[2]Other similar nicknames included "KamikazeCanadians. "[3]
These five men were at the top of their game and better known in Europe than inNorth America.Once they hit theAlps,they consistently challenged the Europeans on the World Cup circuit at a level previously unseen.[1][4]
Canadian Corner is asectionof theLauberhorndownhill course nearWengen,Switzerland.The heavily twisting curve at the left-hand transition to the Alpweg is named after the Crazy Canucks,Dave IrwinandKen Read,who fell there in1976.
Four of the five "Crazy Canucks" live on today[when?];Murray died ofskin cancerin 1990 at age 37.[5]The downhill course atWhistler Creekside,utilized forWorld CupandOlympicraces, was named for him.
In 2006, it was announced that the four original Crazy Canucks would receive stars onCanada's Walk of Fame,inducted as one group. The only other ski racer on the walk is Canadian alpine legendNancy Greene.
TV film
editCrazy Canuckswas aTV movienamed after and based on the history of the team. It was released in 2004 in Canada. The film was directed by Randy Bradshaw and starred Sandy Robson (Hunter),Lucas Bryant(Read),Curtis Harrison(Podborski),Kyle Labine(Murray) andRobert Tinkler(Irwin).
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abBallard, Sarah (January 27, 1988)."Wild and crazy guys".Sports Illustrated.p. 66.
- ^"[1]ArchivedJuly 4, 2013, atarchive.today"- Dave Irwin Foundation" The Crazy Canucks "- Retrieved April 4, 2013
- ^Scammell, Ron (December 9, 1978)."The Kamikaze Canadians".Montreal Gazette.The Canadian(insert magazine). p. 10.
- ^"[2]"- CBC Digital Archives" The Crazy Canucks, more famous in Europe ". Retrieved April 4, 2013
- ^"[3]"- Crazy Cool" Legend of the Crazy Canucks - January 2010. Retrieved April 4, 2013
![[3]](/translate/go.galegroup.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fgo.galegroup.com%2Fps%2Fretrieve.do%3FretrieveFormat%3DPDF_FROM_CALLISTO%26inPS%3Dtrue%26prodId%3DAONE%26userGroupName%3Dutoronto_main%26workId%3DPI-1565-2009-DEC00-IDSI-28.JPG%257CPI-1565-2009-DEC00-IDSI-29.JPG%257CPI-1565-2009-DEC00-IDSI-30.JPG%257CPI-1565-2009-DEC00-IDSI-31.JPG%257CPI-1565-2009-DEC00-IDSI-32.JPG%26docId%3DGALE%257CA227182622%26callistoContentSet%3DPER%26isAcrobatAvailable%3Dfalse&t=hv){kind=link}
External links
edit- The founding of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team
- CBC Digital Archives – The Crazy Canucks: Canada's skiing heroes
- Canada's Sports Hall of Fame– photo of Crazy Canucks at 1976 Winter Olympics – (Read, Hunter, Irwin, Murray)
- Crazy CanucksIMDb