Whistler K's Kick Start Season – Report from Cheryl Green, WMSC | BC Alpine Ski Association

Whistler K1 and K2 Athletes pose during early-season training camp at Sun Peaks, November 2005
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Forty kinder athletes helped unofficially start the WMSC pre-competitive season this past weekend at Sun Peaks Resort. We were hosted by Al Raine and Nancy Greene Raine at the Cahilty lodge and transported safely to and from the resort in our own luxurious coach liner by Perimeter Transportation. Food was served by the MacDonnell Brothers at the famous Mackers restaurant. Eight coaches and the Program and Athletic Director provided the leadership near Kamloops and Mother Nature took care of the snow. The Kick Start camp by all accounts was a success from the get go! The kids put on a show of hard work and courtesy all weekend. We shared laughs on the bus and tears on the ski hill.

The bus pulled in after 11pm on Thursday and everyone was in bed by midnight. It was an short sleep till 7 am morning warm-up led by our new K1 coaches Alex and Julie and then onto breakfast before lacing them up for the first day of skiing. We shared the dining room with the Austrian Ski team girls and the likes of Dorfmeister, Hosp and Goetschl. On many occasions we were complimented on the behaviour of 40 kids.

Once on snow is when the work got done. A full day of cruising and orientation on Friday followed by a prime powder day in the glades on Morrisey with 10 new cm Saturday and then the grand finale of skiing Coquihalla in the footsteps of the Power Team from Innsbruck Sunday. Huge gains and changes made with miles of uninterrupted turns . No line-ups, no roads to cross and no people to deke left us with nothing but skiing ahead of us. Jeff and Willy led the show with Christine, Halby, Casey and Craig supporting them. The kids got plenty of time to learn what kind of effort is required to make a change in technique, tactics, physical preparation and mental training. Their 5 page journal/handbook helped them stay on task.

Evenings of socializing, eating, homework, team meetings and journals kept kids busy until 9:30 when the rest for next day began. Program Director Nigel Cooper remarked, “I have renewed respect for the athletes and coaching staff that travel all season long from Nancy Green Racers to World Cup. Their ability to travel, train and compete after long bus rides, new hotels, no home cooked meals and a full daily schedule of physical, technical and mental workouts is remarkable. Our kids 11-14 did a great job on this trip”

All in all it was so nice to see many new faces and keen racers coming to WMSC. Many coaches (old and new) remarked that it was their best ever away camp. Next year will be even better but this was a great start and a confirmation of meeting our objectives of team building and working on group dynamics. Al Raine and Nancy Greene Raine sent congratulations to the coaches, parents and the club organizers for the leadership that is being shown. “You are raising and creating true champions”