David Lean
Born in Peterborough and raised in Apsley, David attended public school in Apsley, high school in Lakefield and earned a degree in Chemical Engineering and PhD in Biology at the University of Toronto. He started water skiing at the age of 15 on Jack’s Lake. In 1954 he finished first in a Novice Water Ski event at the CNE. At 19 he was chosen to represent Canada as a member of the National Team to compete at the World Championships in 1957 at Cyprus Gardens, Florida. The team finished 7th and 19-year-old David placed 22nd in the overall competition, 18th in tricks, 19th in jumping and 31st in slalom. David got his first major championship win at the 1958 Ontario Water Ski Championships, in Bobcaygeon, in the overall and tricks and finished in 2nd in the jump. He was first in jumping at the 1959 Bay State Open Championship. He competed at the World Championships in 1959 Milan, Italy, and 1961 in Long Beach, California where the team finished 8th. He won the Men’s Overall at the North American Water Ski Championship in 1966 and was a three-time Canadian Champion 1959, 1961 and 1962. Among his many accomplishments, David was Canadian Water Ski Champion – closed and open events; 1957 Eastern Canada Water Ski Tricks Champion and 1961 Overall and Tricks Champion and took 3rd in men’s jump, 1962 overall and tricks champion; 1960 Ontario Water Ski Champion – closed and open. He won the 1964 Ontario Open in tricks, finishing 3rd in slalom. David won the 1965 Ontario Open and finished with a 3rd in tricks and 3rd in jump in the 1965 Canadian Championship. In the 1966 Canadian Invitational he was overall and tricks champion and finished 2nd in overall and 3rd in jumping at the Ontario Open. He was the first Canadian to complete the “wake toe hold” trick in competition at Ste. Agathe, Quebec. David organized and participated in water ski shows and demonstrations throughout Ontario and Quebec in the late 1950s and 1960s. He starred in the annual water ski show at the CNE showcasing his waterskiing skills demonstrating barefoot, shoe skiing, trick, jumping, flying saucer/disc and kite flying clown tricks and skiing doubles with a female partner. David was acknowledged as the world champion of the art of kite flying and one of the finest show skiers in North America. A member of the Canadian Water Ski Association, David was still skiing into his 80s. David Lean was inducted into the Canadian Waterskiing/Wakeboard Hall of Fame in 2024.
Year Inducted:
2025
Status:
Active
Born in Peterborough and raised in Apsley, David attended public school in Apsley, high school in Lakefield and earned a degree in Chemical Engineering and PhD in Biology at the University of Toronto. He started water skiing at the age of 15 on Jack’s Lake. In 1954 he finished first in a Novice Water Ski event at the CNE. At 19 he was chosen to represent Canada as a member of the National Team to compete at the World Championships in 1957 at Cyprus Gardens, Florida. The team finished 7th and 19-year-old David placed 22nd in the overall competition, 18th in tricks, 19th in jumping and 31st in slalom. David got his first major championship win at the 1958 Ontario Water Ski Championships, in Bobcaygeon, in the overall and tricks and finished in 2nd in the jump. He was first in jumping at the 1959 Bay State Open Championship. He competed at the World Championships in 1959 Milan, Italy, and 1961 in Long Beach, California where the team finished 8th. He won the Men’s Overall at the North American Water Ski Championship in 1966 and was a three-time Canadian Champion 1959, 1961 and 1962. Among his many accomplishments, David was Canadian Water Ski Champion – closed and open events; 1957 Eastern Canada Water Ski Tricks Champion and 1961 Overall and Tricks Champion and took 3rd in men’s jump, 1962 overall and tricks champion; 1960 Ontario Water Ski Champion – closed and open. He won the 1964 Ontario Open in tricks, finishing 3rd in slalom. David won the 1965 Ontario Open and finished with a 3rd in tricks and 3rd in jump in the 1965 Canadian Championship. In the 1966 Canadian Invitational he was overall and tricks champion and finished 2nd in overall and 3rd in jumping at the Ontario Open. He was the first Canadian to complete the “wake toe hold” trick in competition at Ste. Agathe, Quebec. David organized and participated in water ski shows and demonstrations throughout Ontario and Quebec in the late 1950s and 1960s. He starred in the annual water ski show at the CNE showcasing his waterskiing skills demonstrating barefoot, shoe skiing, trick, jumping, flying saucer/disc and kite flying clown tricks and skiing doubles with a female partner. David was acknowledged as the world champion of the art of kite flying and one of the finest show skiers in North America. A member of the Canadian Water Ski Association, David was still skiing into his 80s. David Lean was inducted into the Canadian Waterskiing/Wakeboard Hall of Fame in 2024.