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Sam Ireland KC-1 
Birthdate: 30/12/72 kelowna, b.c., canada
Height: 6'1"(185cm) Weight: 194lbs (89kg) Eyes: green Fav food: curry Fav music: i like it all: ranging from metallica, lounge, to johnny cash Current sponsors: North sails international, Starboard, Streamlined accessories 
I was born and raised in the Okanagan Valley, in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. With 4 distinct seasons it was the ultimate place for a kid into sports to grow up. My parents where really into skiing, sailing, and influenced me to try every sport possible. Before I could remember I was in pack on my Dad’s back on the ski slopes and soon after at 3 years old skiing myself. My brother first got the family interested in windsurfing in 1982 and we all started sailing it on the lake off our sailboat. I spent the summers paddling my plastic windsurfer out the creek into the lake to sail. This had one bonus, I could go sailing without having to get my Mum to drive me to the beach all the time! One race led to another and I soon found myself at the Windsurfing Nationals with a chance to win. Back then it was freestyle routines, triangle racing and long-distance racing. I miss it, as it was more a social and family sport then. I ski raced until I was 16 and at the same time competed on the National Sailing team for windsurfing. I had to choose a sport and chose the unfamiliar warmer sport. I tried out for the Olympic team in 1988, missing a berth getting third. By then my focus had turned to short-boarding, and I could feel the pull of Maui and wavesailing. I put this on hold and decided to finish my University Degree and 5 years later received a B.Sc. in Geography at SFU, in Vancouver. During this time I learned the art of short-boarding and shaping off Chris Prior and honed my skills in the Gorge and Oregon coast. I’d be constantly talking to my buddies doing the World Cup that lived in Maui, and could not wait to finish school. As soon, as I finished, I moved to Maui and pursued my dream of travelling and competing against the best in the World. It has been slow climb up the ranks, but if you put your time in, it pays off. I started off in Maui with no money, shaping my own boards, to gradually getting to work with the best shapers. At first you are intimidated by all the big names, and after a while you become friends with them and see that you can beat them. In 2000, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, and I knew what it takes for top 5 results in big events.  2002 and beyond : The last year has seen many change for windsurfing. The World Cup racing tour fell apart in 2001, and Formula racing has taken over. It is a much more realistic avenue for racing, where all production “out of the shop” gear is competitive. If you wanted to race at top levels in the past, you had to have a board shaped by a local Maui Guru, that is next to impossible to get and very, very expensive. Formula has brought back many attributes of long board racing from ten years ago. It is more sailor skill oriented, less an equipment battle, and a more social environment for all competitors. 1 boards, 3 sails, and you are on the race course compeitive with the best. 
My goals for the on coming year is to go out and kick ass on the International Formula circuit and continue to wavesail the best waves and spots I can find. I really like the certainty of the result on the race course and the freedom of spirit looking for ultimate waves. It’s the perfect combination for me. I prefer the down-the-line freesailing, and my latest trip to Australia blew my mind on the possibilities. In between the hectic Formula racing schedule, I will do 2 wavesailing trips, 2 down the line contests, and push my limits at Ho’okipa, Maui. COMPETITVE WINDSURFING RESULTS 2001 results: 1st Canadian Windsurfing Champs 3rd Overall Euro Cup Ranking 3rd Poland Euro Cup Miedzyzdroje 1st Polish Open Slalom, 2nd Overall 11th World Champs Brazil 1st Wired Windsurfing Festival Canada 2000 results : 6th World Cup Turkey 10th World Cup Fuerteventura 12th World Cup Gran Canaria 11th World Cup Overall Race and Wave Past results : 1997 PWA WORLD CUP ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 5th PWA Dominican Republic World Cup Race 4th PWA Greece World Cup 2nd U.S. Nationals 1995 Men's Open ROLEX MALE SAILOR OF THE YEAR 1994 1st North American Champs, Heavyweight 1993 1st Pro Iles de Madeleine 1992 Canadian Youth Champion 1990
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Archive Closer Looks : Birger Wedendahl | Agnieszka Pietrasik | Akinori Goshi | Aleks Grynis | Andrea Cucchi | Ansis Dale | Arnon Dagan | Brian Røgild | Cyril Moussilmani | Dan Ellis | Dennis Littel | Devon Boulon | Fabio Melo | Fernando Martínez del Cerro | Gonzalo Hoevel Costa | Janne Olavi Rauhansuu | Jesper Vesterstrom | Joao Rodriguez | Julien Quentel | Kuba Guzdek | Leszek Rutkowski | Maciek Rutkowski | Markus Bouman | Micah Buzianis | Michael Polanowski | Minos Efstathiadis | Olga Maslivets | Peter Yovtchev | Phil McGain | Ross Williams | Roy van Koolwijk | Sam Ireland | Sarah Hebert | Sean O’Brien | Steve Charles | Steve Allen | Vincent Langer | Wilhelm Schurmann | Wojtek Brzozwski | Wolfgang Verlaeckt |
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