The Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Le Temple de la renommée du ski canadien

Ken Read O.C.

Inducted CSHF: 1987 Hometown: Ann Arbor, Michigan / , AB Date of Birth: November 6, 1955 Affiliated Discipline(s): Alpine: Downhill, Slalom, Combined. Builder Active Career Date(s): 1973 - 1983 FIS Code: -10506 Club: Lake Louise Ski Club

More than 20-years after his competitive career ended, Ken Read remains one of '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, , a notoriously difficult course and highlight of the World Cup downhill circuit, and the legendary at , . His first victory at Val d'Isere, , 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 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.

Please Note: The ski information gathered here is compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments.

The Canadian Ski Museum / Le Musée canadien du ski •1960 rue Scott Street • Ottawa, ON • K1Z 8L8 • Canada Ken Read continued …

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, 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, , 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.

The Canadian Ski Museum / Le Musée canadien du ski •1960 rue Scott Street • Ottawa, ON • K1Z 8L8 • Canada