Hall of Famer
Dave Irwin
Affiliated Discipline(s):
Alpine
Hometown:
Thunder Bay, ON / Banff, AB
Active Career Period:
1971 - 1997
Induction CSHF:
1992
Induction Category:
Alpine: Downhill
Dave Irwin learned to ski at the age of three on the slopes of his father, Bill’s, Loch Lomond ski resort in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He came by his later fame naturally. The name Irwin is synonymous with Canadian skiing with no fewer than seven family members involved on National teams at various times. Named to the Canadian National Ski Team in 1971 at the age of 17, he remained on the team until his retirement in March, 1982. He won the Can-Am Slalom title in 1972, earning him the NOVA Cup as Canada’s most improved skier in that year. A year later he competed in his first World Cup Downhill race at Schladming, Austria, placing 14th, an auspicious beginning.
Throughout his career he was plagued by a succession of injuries sidelining him on the World Cup circuit for prolonged periods, but it is a measure of his courage and determination that he never considered retiring. In the year before he retired he explained his philosophy to Sportwest Magazine, “The reason I keep coming back is because I love racing – It’s as simple as that.” As a member of the legendary “Crazy Canucks” team of Dave Irwin, Ken Read, Dave Murray and Steve Podborski, he left an enduring legacy which changed the status of ski racing history in Canada. Known as the “Kamikaze Canuck”, or in Europe as the “Big Red Frog” (because of the size of his thighs) he became the second Canadian male to ever win a World Cup Downhill event, doing so at Schladming, Austria in 1975.
In the year he retired, he received a Sport Excellence Award from the Government of Canada at the 1982 Tribute of Champions and was the recipient of the prestigious John Semmelink Memorial Award given annually by the Canadian Ski and Snowboard Association in recognition of the athlete who through sportsmanship, conduct and ability best represents Canada in international competition. The award is given in memory of H. John Semmelink who lost his life in a skiing accident while representing the Association in the Arlberg-Kandahar races at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany on February 7th, 1959.
Competitive highlights
1973
14th place, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Schladming, Austria
1974
3rd place finish, Canadian National Championships, Slalom event
1976
4th place finish, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Madonna di Campiglio, Italy
1st place finish, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Schladming, Austria
4th place finish, Downhill event, World Cup Championships, Val D’Isere, France
14th place, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Val Gardena, Italy
8th place finish, Downhill event, Winter Olympic games, Innsbruck, Austria
1977
4th place finish, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
1978
7th place, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Schladming, Austria
1979
1st place finish, Downhill event, Europa Cup competition, Verbier, Switzerland
3rd place finish, Downhill event, Canadian National Championships
14th place, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Val d’Isere, France
1980
5th place finish, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Kitzbuhel, Austria
11th place finish, Downhill event, Olympic Winter Games, Lake Placid, USA
12th place, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
7th place finish, Downhill event, Canadian National Championships
1st place finish, Downhill event, United States National Championships
4th place finish, Downhill event, North American Championships, Squaw Valley, California, USA
5th place finish, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Val d’Isere, France
11th place, Downhill event, World Cup competition, St Moritz, Switzerland
12th place finish, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
1981
11th place finish, Giant Slalom event, Canadian National Championships
4th place finish, Downhill event, Canadian National Championships
3rd place finish, Downhill event, Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) event
13th place finish, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Aspen, Colorado, USA
1982
3rd place finish, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
13th place finish, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Aspen, Colorado, USA
7th place, Downhill event, World Cup competition, Aspen, Colorado, USA
On the World Cup circuit, he competed in 35-Downhill events, placing in the top 15 on 17- occasions, a remarkable record.
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.
![[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). 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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