Brad Ludden

{{Infobox sportsperson | name = Brad Ludden | image = Brad Ludden.jpg | caption = Brad Ludden filming for a sponsor on the Mekong river in Laos, in 2008 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|05|08|mf=yes}} | birth_place = [[Sheridan, Wyoming]]<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brad-ludden "Brad Ludden"] "Huffington Post", February 2, 2009 | 04:39 PM (EST)</ref> | yearsactive = 1993–present | sport = [[kayaking]] | height = {{height|precision=2|ft=5|in=11}} | weight = {{convert|190|lb|kg}} }}

'''Brad Ludden''' is a professional [[kayaker]] born in [[Sheridan, Wyoming]], on May 8, 1981. He started kayaking internationally at the age of twelve. His career has taken him to more than forty countries.

Ludden is the founder of a charity called [[First Descents]], an organization that benefits cancer patients.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/sports/2009-03-17-first-descents_N.htm "USA Today"]</ref> At age 12, Brad learned his aunt was diagnosed with cancer, and shortly after his mother began volunteer work at a local [[pediatric]] [[oncology]] camp.{{Citation needed|date=November 2017}} He volunteered one day each summer, instructing campers on kayaking. This is when he realized he could serve his community while kayaking. In 1999 he began construction of First Descents and in 2001, construction was finished, with aid from The State of Colorado. {{Citation needed|date=November 2017}}

In 2008 he was named [[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|''Cosmopolitan'']] Magazine's "Hottest Bachelor in America."<ref>[http://www.cosmopolitan.com/community/profile/COLORADO08 "Cosmo Mag"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102213300/http://www.cosmopolitan.com/community/profile/COLORADO08 |date=January 2, 2009 }}</ref> Ludden's has also started a blog known as Athletes Giving [https://web.archive.org/web/20090423035925/http://www.athletesgiving.org/] where he highlights athletes involved in charitable work. He lives in [[Kalispell, Montana]]. he has numerous sponsorship deals, including deals with [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]], Smith Optics [http://www.smithoptics.com].<ref>[http://www.smithoptics.com/team.html?id=55 "Smith Athlete List"]</ref> [[Dagger Kayaks]]{{Citation needed|date=November 2017}}, [[Subaru]]{{Citation needed|date=November 2017}}, [[AT Paddles]]{{Citation needed|date=November 2017}}, Kokatat [http://www.kokatat.com], and Training Day.{{Citation needed|date=November 2017}}

==Philanthropy== [[First Descents]]<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/sports/othersports/19outdoors.html "NY Times"]</ref> - Founder

==Kayaking Career Competition Results== * 3rd Place Cadet Division at the JR Nationals 1994 {{Citation needed|date=November 2017}} * JR National Freestyle Champion 1999 {{Citation needed|date=November 2017}} * 3rd Place JR World Freestyle Championships 1997{{Citation needed|date=November 2017}} * 1st Place Japan Open 1998 {{Citation needed|date=November 2017}} * 3rd Place European Open 1998 {{Citation needed|date=November 2017}} * x Freestyle Athlete of the year, Adventure Quest Kayak Academy 1998, 1999 {{Citation needed|date=November 2017}} * 2nd Place JR World Freestyle Championships 1999 {{Citation needed|date=November 2017}} * 1st Place Lofer Rodeo Austria 2000 {{Citation needed|date=November 2017}} * Teva Mountain Games medals between 2001 and 2008<ref>[http://www.tevamountaingames.com/results.htm "Teva Mountain Games Results"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218130446/http://www.tevamountaingames.com/results.htm |date=February 18, 2009 }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [[Sports Illustrated]] Adventure "Show Boaters" [https://web.archive.org/web/20030415222706/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/siadventure/25/kayak/] * [[USA Today]] First Descents program raises hope for cancer patients [https://www.usatoday.com/sports/2009-03-17-first-descents_N.htm] * [[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]] Magazine's Hottest Bachelor in America 2008 [https://web.archive.org/web/20090102213300/http://www.cosmopolitan.com/community/profile/COLORADO08] * Cosmopolitan Being a Cosmo Bachelor: The Play-by-Play [http://www.cosmopolitan.com/hot-guys/bachelors/bachelor-microblog?click=main_sr]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * Vail Daily [http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20081015/AE/810159986/1036&parentprofile=1069] * Vail Magazine "The Many Dimensions of Brad Ludden [https://web.archive.org/web/20110717184058/http://www.vailbeavercreekmag.com/Vail-Beaver-Creek-Magazine/Summer-Fall-2008/The-Many-Dimensions-of-Brad-Ludden/] * Outdoors Fan House [http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/10/24/pro-kayaker-named-cosmos-bachelor-of-the-year/]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ludden, Brad}} [[Category:Kayakers]] [[Category:1981 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Kalispell, Montana]]