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Brad Ludden

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Brad Ludden

Brad Ludden filming for a sponsor on the Mekong river in Laos, in 2008
Personal information
Born	(1981-05-08) May 8, 1981 (age 43) Sheridan, Wyoming[1]
Years active	1993–present
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg)
Sport
Sport	kayaking

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.^[2] 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]} 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]}

In 2008 he was named Cosmopolitan Magazine's "Hottest Bachelor in America."^[3] Ludden's has also started a blog known as Athletes Giving [1] where he highlights athletes involved in charitable work. He lives in Kalispell, Montana. he has numerous sponsorship deals, including deals with - Nike, Smith Optics [2].^[4] Dagger Kayaks^{[citation needed]}, Subaru^{[citation needed]}, AT Paddles^{[citation needed]}, Kokatat [3], and Training Day^{[citation needed]}

First Descents^[5] - Founder

• 3rd Place Cadet Division at the JR Nationals 1994 ^{[citation needed]}
• JR National Freestyle Champion 1999 ^{[citation needed]}
• 3rd Place JR World Freestyle Championships 1997^{[citation needed]}
• 1st Place Japan Open 1998 ^{[citation needed]}
• 3rd Place European Open 1998 ^{[citation needed]}
• x Freestyle Athlete of the year, Adventure Quest Kayak Academy 1998, 1999 ^{[citation needed]}
• 2nd Place JR World Freestyle Championships 1999 ^{[citation needed]}
• 1st Place Lofer Rodeo Austria 2000 ^{[citation needed]}
• Teva Mountain Games medals between 2001 and 2008^[6]

• Sports Illustrated Adventure "Show Boaters" [4]
• USA Today First Descents program raises hope for cancer patients [5]
• Cosmopolitan Magazine's Hottest Bachelor in America 2008 [6]
• Cosmopolitan Being a Cosmo Bachelor: The Play-by-Play [7]^{[permanent dead link]}
• Vail Daily [8]
• Vail Magazine "The Many Dimensions of Brad Ludden [9]
• Outdoors Fan House [10]