RAPID’S


On pressure to retire and give younger paddlers a spot on the national team:


In the past there may have been some pressure but the Canadian sports model is changing to an emphasis on high performance rather than participation.


There are some really good paddlers in Canada


and it’s really up to them how long I’m on the team. They can make sure I don’t go to another Olympics. At the same time I kind of feel like it’s my responsibility not to retire just yet because there’s no one to fill my shoes and keep the program at the high end.


On what obstacles might keep him from Beijing:


One question for sure is whether I will have the support to continue paddling. Will I continue to get the sponsors I need to stay competitive? It’s hard to compete on the world stage as a Canadian when the British team spends more on video analysis than we do on our whole team budget. We’ll have to see how we can compete with that.


David Ford by the numbers


Height: ................................................5’10” Weight: ............................................172 lbs Years on National Team: ..........................22 World Cup medals:..................................13 Olympic Games:........................................4


1975 Began paddling at age 8 1980 Entered first kayak competition 1980 Joined Alberta provincial team at age 13


1980 Placed 13th out of 14 at national championships


1984 Canadian junior champion 1984 Joined national team at age 16 1991 Won Canada’s first World Cup medal


1999 World champion (first non- European)


2003 World Cup champion 2003 World Championship silver medalist 2003 Named Canada’s Male Athlete of the Year


2004 Placed fourth at the Olympic Games in Athens


2005 First at national team trials in men’s single kayak


2005 Fall // 23


SEPTEMBER –


Whitewater open canoes rule the Gull River for two days as paddlers from across Ontario and the US gather to compete at the th annual slalom race


The race features solo and tandem classes for men and women as well as an adult/ junior tandem class


Come out and cheer on the paddlers as they tackle a series of gates on the challenging water of the Gull River!


Contact beth@rapidmagcom wwwrapidmagcom/gullrace


GULL RIVER Minden


Wild Water Preserve Ontario


Sanctioned by Whitewater Ontario Sponsored by


Photo PAUL GERMAN


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