Clint Ward
|
Hometown: Toronto, ON Clint Ward has an extensive involvement in the sport of water skiing. His knowledge and talent has extended far beyond the status of being a competitive athlete and coach. Much of his post-athlete experience involves assuming executive positions for championships, committees, associations, and essentially anywhere he can find some way to make a contribution. While growing up in Saskatoon, most of Clint’s athletic interest was geared towards football. Unbeknownst to him, he would dominate the sport of water skiing while pursuing titles on the water followed by service as a Coach, President of several organizations, and Chairman of various committees along with many other accreditations. As a competitive water skiing athlete, Clint won Canadian Championship titles in the slalom and tricking events in the Men’s and Senior Men’s division. In 1968, he held the Canadian slalom and trick records in his division. He would later go on to compete and win slalom and tricks in the Veteran’s division at the 1974 Can Am Championships. From 1960 to the present, Clint has dedicated his life to amateur sport. In developing strong leadership skills, he assumed the role of National Team Coach from 1965 – 1968 and then as Team Leader for the Munich Olympic Games in 1972 when water ski was presented as a demonstration sport. Being identified as a dedicated and determined visionary, Clint made his way to being President of such organizations as the Ontario Water Ski Association, Canadian Water Ski Association, Vice-President of Group 1 of the World Water Ski Union, and Vice-President of the Sport Federation of Canada. He chaired the organizing committees of the 1966 and 1969 Nationals as well as the 1967 and 1979 World Championships. He was a staff member of the 1976 Canadian Olympic Winter Games team and is a graduate of the Olympic Academy of Canada. In recognition of all his efforts in the sport, Clint was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1979. Since 1968, Clint has also been involved in many media related activities. Until 1993, he was a water ski commentator on CBC and TSN television, and also did some CBC radio reports until 1990. In addition to having many magazine and column articles to his credit, he has co-authored a best-selling instructional book on water skiing with 2004 WSWC Hall of Fame Inductee and World Champion, George Athans. Because of his extraordinary and valuable efforts, Clint’s contribution has helped raise the success of Canadian water skiing on an International level. He has a recognized reputation of determination and strength of character throughout the water skiing and sport community. |
