Water-ski jumper Ryan Dodd is out for revenge.
Dodd is now preparing for several competitions this fall, including the U.S. Open, the Chile Night Jump, and the Rocketman Night Jump, after he just missed winning the London Night Jump.
He was edged out by Freddy Krueger (yes, that's his real name), who beat Dodd by a tenth of a metre. Dodd jumped 217 feet/66.2 metres during the event, held in England Aug. 24.
“The event went solid,” Dodd says. “I was 0.1 metres away from a win.”
Overall, it's been a good year for Dodd so far. He's nailed three wins and four second-place finishes. Earlier this spring, he was ranked first overall in the world.
At 29 years of age, Dodd, who grew up just east of Olds, says he's still going strong and can keep competing at a world level for a long time to come.
“I am strong, powerful, and have a hard work ethic,” Dodd says. “Like wine, I get better with age,” he says. “I try to always learn and grow.”
There's just one challenge.
“I need to win more,” he says jokingly.
Dodd now lives in Florida. He skis professionally and is a member of the Canadian National team.
He says there isn't much of an off-season, but he has plans for when the competitions stop briefly.
“I'll be surfing, and doing some yoga, relaxing and hitting the gym,” he says.
