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Geoff Kirbyson

What racquet sports have you competed in?

Tennis and to a far lesser extent, squash and to an even lesser extent, badminton.

What is your age?

31 (2000).

Tell us about your early years playing raquet sports.

My early years were spent playing at Victoria Beach during the summers only, until I was about 12 or 13, when I began playing indoors during the winter. If playing on a carpet court at the old School of the Deaf gymnasium counts.

Why did you start playing?

Friends of mine at the beach were playing. Also, two older guys were the court attendants and they'd crack jokes all day. I would go down just to listen to them and laugh and tennis was almost secondary. things.

Who inspired you?

All the older guys at the beach because I'd see them playing every day, and I loved how competitive they were with each other and how I'd love to be that competitive. Now I kick all their asses.

Who are your favorite players and why?

My favourite players are Yannick Noah, cool rastafarian, emotional on court, Pat Cash, fiery temper on court, uses his leg power like nobody else, John McEnroe, for his great doubles ability.

What are your career highlights?

Being a better doubles player than singles, most of my highlights, and I use that term loosely, are team oriented. First, I'd say playing number one for the U of M in both singles and doubles and winning the 1995 Canada West University championship is tops. Later that year, in a different school year, I played for the University of Western Ontario and playing number 3 and 4 singles, and 2 and 3 doubles, we won the OUAA title. Playing at the Canada Games in 1989 is also up there, where we knocked off one of the top seeded teams to make it to the medal round, only to lose to Ontario and B.C. Also, simply being part of one of the top ranked doubles teams in the province over the past 14 years, with two different partners, and cracking the top 50 in the country. As a coach, winning the 2000 Canada West University championships for both the men and women. (Hopefully, I'll be able to add national championships to one or both events next month.)

Anything else you want to share?

I'm not wearing any pants.

Where do you play?

The Winter Club

What is your work?

Business journalist

Peter Otto (owner)
312 Springfield Rd
Winnipeg, Manitoba
204-229-6025
peter@courtathlete.com