The men's and women's British Columbia Ski Teams (BCST) for the 2004/2005 season were announced following the BC Alpine Ski Association annual meeting in Kamloops.
Newly named to the men's team for the 2004/05 season is 16 year old Matthew Holler of Vancouver and the Whistler Mountain Ski Club. Holler will join Graham Kraft, 19 (Vernon, Silver Star Ski Club) who is beginning his 4th season on the squad, Dustin Fraser, 19 (Quadra Island, Mt. Washington Ski Club) in his 3rd year, and Ben Chaddock, also 19 (Richmond, Whistler Mountain Ski Club) who has qualified for his 2nd year on the men's team. Also returning to the men's team is 22 year old veteran Scott Hume of Whistler. Throughout the season, Hume will also take advantage of opportunities to train as an invitee with the National Development Team.
The BC Men's Development Team spots will be filled by 19 year old Trevor Conroy (Truro, Nova Scotia and Whistler Mountain Ski Club) who returns for his 2nd season, and Robbie Dixon, also 19 (North Vancouver, Whistler Mountain Ski Club) starting his 4th year on the BCST.
On the women's side Danielle Poleschuk, 18, of the Fernie Alpine Ski Team, is returning for her 3rd season to lead a team of 7 women. The newest and youngest member of the squad, 16 year old Lindsay Kraft of Vernon and the Silver Star Ski Club, is following in the footsteps of older brother Graham, who skis for the men's team. Joining Poleschuk and Kraft, for their 2nd year with the women's team, are 17 year old athletes Alison Leighton, Kendall Benbow and Danielle Robson, all of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club.
The Women's Development Team will be made up of two rookies, namely Charlotte Whitney, 19, of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club and Jenny Graham, 17, from Comox and the Mount Washington Ski Club.
Dale Stephens, returning as Head Coach for the men's BCST, will be joined by Glenn Thomsen to coach the men's group this season. Prior to coaching BC's men's team, Stephens spent four seasons with the US Ski Team as the head downhill coach and seven seasons with the Canadian Alpine Ski Team downhill staff. Thomsen also brings an impressive coaching resume to BC Alpine. Most recently, he was the Head Coach of the Canadian Development Team (2002-2004) and delivered five medals for Canada from the World Junior Championships.
Returning for her third season as Head Coach of the women's team is Fernie, BC's Nancy O'Neill. O'Neill came to BC Alpine with excellent credentials that included experience coaching the men's provincial team in Ontario. Working along side O'Neill in the upcoming season will be assistant coach Andrew Lambert, who originally hails from Scotland, where he raced for the British National Team, and has since coached for five years in Canada, most recently as Head Coach of the Vancouver Ski Team.
The men's and women's team are preparing for their first summer ski camp in Sunshine Village, Alberta in May.
About the BC Ski Team:
The BC Ski Team consists of the top male and female Alpine Ski Racers in the province of British Columbia. The athletes are selected based on their national ranking in the four disciplines of ski racing: downhill, super giant slalom, giant slalom and slalom. These athletes train and compete nationally and internationally all year round, with over 120 days on snow per year. During the summer months they train on snow in BC, Oregon and South America, and follow a daily dryland fitness regimen as outlined by their coaches. Throughout the winter they attend up to 45-50 competitions all over North America and Europe.
Solid supporters of the BC Ski Team include Pontiac GMC, who provides team vans for travel throughout the year, Descente, who outfits the athletes and coaches each season, and Mars Incorporated, who is the official BC Ski Team sponsor.
Congratulations to the following athletes:
MEN'S BCST 2004/2005
Scott Hume (22) WHISTLER, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Graham Kraft (19) VERNON, Silver Star Ski Club
Dustin Fraser (19) QUADRA ISLAND, Mt. Washington Ski Club
Benjamin Chaddock (19) RICHMOND, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Matthew Holler (16) VANCOUVER, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
MEN'S BC DEVELOPMENT TEAM 2004/2005
Trevor Conroy (19) TRURO, NS, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Robbie Dixon (19) NORTH VANCOUVER, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
WOMEN'S BCST 2004/2005
Danielle Poleschuk (18) FERNIE, Fernie Alpine Ski Team
Alison Leighton (17) WHISTLER, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Danielle Robson (17) WHISTLER, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Kendall Benbow (17) WHISTLER, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Lindsay Kraft (16) VERNON, Silver Star Ski Club
WOMEN'S BC DEVELOPMENT TEAM 2004/2005
Charlotte Whitney (19) WHISTLER, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Jenny Graham (17) COMOX, Mount Washington Ski Club