Doug Ritchie


Age: 53
Current Residence: Seattle, Washington
Occupation: Financial Advisor
Current school/Alma matter: Blair
Family: 3 kids, 2 X wives... not planning on more of either.
Personal Website/Blog: none

Wildwater Information:
How I started paddling whitewater: My parents took me camping to the Kern river, home of the 2003 WW world Cup series, when I was 9. We camped in the Kernvill area many times and saw the kayak races and at age 13 I bought a kayak. I received a lot of help from Tom Johnson who was well known in the area and had been the 1972 Olympic team manager.
The class(es) you race: I primarily race K-1M but also a little C-2M
National Results (team trials and nationals):

  • 1984, 85, 86, 87, 88, 90, U.S. National Team Member.
  • Top finish was 4th in K-1M team at Bourg St. Maurice France in 1986 with Jon Fishburn and Andy Corra.
  • Nationals; 3rd 1985, 3rd 1988, 1st 2011, 1st, 2012, 2nd 2014.
Years on the U.S. Wildwater National Team: many

Other Paddling/Sports/Hobbies: I've done a lot of mountain biking, camping, skiing. I'm a board member of the Kenmore Canoe Kayak and Crew club. I also race sprint kayaks and train with member of the Jr. National team at Green Lake in Seattle.

Personal Information:

  • Marital Status: Single
  • Kids: 3
  • Height: 6'
  • Weight: 175
  • Music: A wide variety but I tend to like more head banging stuff; The 1812 overture for example
  • Food Favorites: Whatever I can get someone to cook for me.
  • What you do to get ready for a race: Train really hard.
  • What you do after a race: Train harder because I never do as well as I think I should or could have.

Equipment:

  • Boat: Zastera Dynamic, changing to ZB Sport Cayenne this year.
  • Paddle: Zastera large Burton shape wing. I find the Burton shape to be more stable in whitewater than other shapes, and, I use the same shape for sprint racing.
  • Helmet: I have an NRS 'one size fits all' helmet so I look like a goof, I need a cooler helmet.
  • Spraydeck: Zastera one piece skirt and jacket combo.
  • Life Jacket: Zastera
  • Paddling Clothes: Whatever doesn't stink really bad or isn't wet and lying in the back of my car... junk I get at Good Will because it's cheap.
  • Shoe: Ferragamo' Italian top grain leather loafers with custom stiching and embossed.... wait, you mean paddling shoes? ... uhm, no idea what they are.
  • Car: Chevrolet Trailblazer with 209,000 miles on it.
  • Favorite energy bar/food: Warrior bars.
 

Photos:
(click on each for a larger image)


2014 Nationals - Calamity