The Crazy Canucks was the nickname for a group of World Cup alpine ski racers from Canada who rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s. Jungle Jim Hunter, Dave Irwin, Dave Murray, Steve Podborski, and Ken Read earned themselves a reputation for fast and seemingly reckless skiing in the downhill event.[1]
History
editThese five men earned their title "Crazy Canucks" from ski journalist and World Cup co-founder Serge 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 "Kamikaze Canadians."[3]
These five men were at the top of their game and better known in Europe than in North America. Once they hit the Alps, they consistently challenged the Europeans on the World Cup circuit at a level previously unseen.[1][4]
Canadian Corner is a section of the Lauberhorn downhill course near Wengen, Switzerland. The heavily twisting curve at the left-hand transition to the Alpweg is named after the Crazy Canucks, Dave Irwin and Ken Read, who fell there in 1976.
Four of the five "Crazy Canucks" live on today[when?]; Murray died of skin cancer in 1990 at age 37.[5] The downhill course at Whistler Creekside, utilized for World Cup and Olympic races, was named for him.
In 2006, it was announced that the four original Crazy Canucks would receive stars on Canada's Walk of Fame, inducted as one group. The only other ski racer on the walk is Canadian alpine legend Nancy Greene.
TV film
editCrazy Canucks was a TV movie named 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) and Robert Tinkler (Irwin).
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Ballard, Sarah (January 27, 1988). "Wild and crazy guys". Sports Illustrated. p. 66.
- ^ "[1] Archived July 4, 2013, at archive.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
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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 Canucks IMDb