Dawna Patterson Brice Enters Hall of Fame
Posted on | March 13, 2010 | 5 Comments
On January 30th, 2010, Dawna Patterson Brice was inducted into the Riverside Sports Hall of Fame (Riverside California). She was recognized for her contributions to the city of Riverside as well as her athletic achievements.
She was honored, with other pro baseball & football athlete’s to the wall of distinction which include the likes of basketball superstars Reggie & Cheryl Miller, car racing legend, Dan Gurney as well as future inductee, and motorcycle racing legend Malcolm Smith.
Photo below taken at the ceremony,of 1984 Olympic and USA NSWSA team trainer at the 1984 Australian worlds, Kathy Coakley, Dawna Brice and Dr. Jerome Wall , founder of the Riverside Sports Hall of fame.
L-R: Kathy Coakley, Dawna Brice, Dr. Jerome Wall
Dawna was recognized for her outstanding achievements in water skiing as the current World Record Holder at a speed of 111.11 MPH recognized by the Guinness Book of records for over the past 33 years!
Among her other sports milestones, was being awarded the first and only medal earned at the first world water ski racing championships in 1979 in England, by a skier from the United States. As well as another second bronze medal at the 1981 Worlds in Italy, past Catalina overall champion and two times Women’s open Champion in 1982 & 1983. Dawna was also 1983 Marathon overall Champion skiing behind Gary Steel and finishing the last race of the season with a broken leg! Dawna attributes her success due to having key drivers like Don Brice, Gary Steele & Vic Edelbrock.
Click to enlarge and read
To date, Dawna also holds the Clearlake 50 mile marathon elapse time record averaging over 88 MPH ( in 50 miles) and beating the top men’s time by over two minutes behind Vic Edelbrock and the “Fun team” !
She also earned the coveted “Champion of Champions” award by the late water ski maker Dick Murdock as he has awarded this award to skiers such as Chuck Stearns and Danny Churchill, also past World record holders. This same year she won the inaugural US Open exhibition race in San Diego.
.
Comments
5 Responses to “Dawna Patterson Brice Enters Hall of Fame”
Leave a Reply - you must be logged in
Join The Mailing List
Australian Updates
Belgian Updates
IWWF Racing Updates
Contribute to get a banner here
March 15th, 2010 @ 6:36 pm
Congrats to you Dawna !! but Kieth you need to get your records straight, the fastest time at any of the races held on Clear Lake California is still held by myself and Kurt Schoen. Kurt holds the fastest time in the fifty miler around the lake at 30.24 that was done the last year they had that style of race on the lake in 1983 and the 75 was also set on the last year that they had that long course 1983 and that was broke and held my me at 42.18. The race course was changed from then on.Donna was an incredable racer that deserves all the praise comming to her but please dont make up stuff. Donna never beat any of the mens time and that is no disrespect to her great life in racing but it is just the facts……..Congrats again Dawna !
March 18th, 2010 @ 1:37 am
Dawna, Congrats on your hall of fame award. I know how hard you worked back then and you deserve it. Best of luck on the Waterski hall picking up on this. SP
March 18th, 2010 @ 7:22 pm
Hey Mike,
My mistake guy. I wrote this in a proud and excited hurry. I should have clarified that Dawna had the fastest 50 mile marathon time for Men & Women, for that weekend only.
You can refer to the July 20 1983 Lake County Record Bee newspaper article that Robbie just posted & I have attached.
Mike, my intent was never to take away any men’s titles or records. Believe me, Dawna gave me some heat on this!
Take care and hope all else is well….Keith
March 18th, 2010 @ 9:00 pm
Hi Mike,
What can I say? I married my observer and on May 21 of this year it will be 33 years! I have raised two daughters that Keith and I adopted. Shiloh, 25 this year. She was a Nationally ranked USA Swimmer earning a 5 year college scholarship. Kura, 17 is a Jr. at Clear Lake High School playing volleyball, basketball, softball,swimming, and wakeboarding after having 4 major heart surgeries and being poster child for Seattle Children’s Hospital. This is what I am most proud of Mike, not having a faster time than a man.
But…..respectfully, Keith really had no intentions of demeaning you, Kurt or any men skiers accomplishments. Nothing was made up as you stated.
Listen…I was a “tom boy” growing up with two brothers. It was much better hanging out with the guys doing sports than the girls. It was more challenging for me and alot more fun. I knew if I trained with the men I would actually have a better chance at beating the women. Also, with no disrespect to any of my women competitors and there are many who gave me a great race….Jayne Welch, Joanie Martini and her siters, Bronwyn Wright, Lori Dunsmore, Liz Hobbs, Debbie Nordblad and her sister Donna, Marsha Meyer, Rose Johnson, Laurie Pelton, and more I have probably not mentioned. Training with the men was just the avenue I choose. Just like this years downhill winter olympian, Lindsay Vonn. She attributed her success to training with the men. She even uses mens skis in some of her events. But…the ski I set my world record on was not a mans, it was Pam McKenzie’s ski. I was so fortunate to have it when she retired.
I have been fortunate enough to grow up training with some of the best men. Denny Bartlett, teaching me how to run the hills in Lake Arrowhead. He also taught me how to shoot the slopes at Snow Valley. Both Keith and I earned Gold Medals Nastar Snow Ski racing at Mammoth Mtn. Craig Wendt taught me how to trick ski doing side slides, step overs, and 360′s. Danny Churchill worked with me on training ideas before my world record run. Mike Murphy taught me how to do a complete 360 around a boat. I spent 2 weeks in Australia with Robbie Woods and his wonderful family training. Let’s just say…..”I am not one of the guys, I just like skiing and training with them when I can.” Honestly Mike, I would never put myself in your category or any mans.
As always, I wish you and your family the best.
With regards, Dawna
March 22nd, 2010 @ 8:29 pm
Dawna,
you are and always have been a wonderful and classy lady !!!! I have nothing but respect for you. I was just trying to state a fact for Keith as sometimes he gets a bit excited………:)…….anyway I am happy for you and I hope you always get all the praise you deserve !! you are a true Champion !!