As part of the largest-ever Canadian Alpine Ski Team – 44 racers in all – Alpine Canada Alpin announced Tuesday that it was naming nine women to the new 2010 Acceleration Team. These high potential athletes will focus on gaining valuable experience against tough international competition. They were selected in the spring to participate in an intensive summer program that included dryland and on-snow training, but they had to earn the right to stay with the group for the remainder of the season. Former BC Ski Team athletes Georgia Simmerling of West Vancouver (Grouse Tyee Ski Club), Kelsey Serwa of Kelowna (Big White Racers) and Elli Terwiel of Heffley Creek (Sun Peaks Alpine Club) were offered an opportunity to train with the best and they met the challenge head on. They fought hard and proved that’s exactly where they belong – with the best!
We caught up with Serwa shortly after the announcement and asked her how she was feeling. “I am so relieved,” she exclaimed. “Our last camp was stressful because it was our final chance to show the coaches our progress from the last 6 months and I knew at the end I would either be disappointed or elated. When I heard my name, a wave of relief rushed through my body – I have never wanted anything so bad!” Looking forward, Serwa said “I can’t wait to start racing now, to see where I stand after all the work we did this summer. I am grateful to Alpine Canada, the great staff, my ski reps and of course my parents, for this amazing opportunity.”
Simmerling was also brimming with enthusiasm when we spoke with her. “I am very excited to be involved with this team and to continue having opportunities to train with some of the best girls and coaches in the country,” she told us. “It all helps me get closer to my goals in this sport and I know none of it would be possible without all the support from Alpine Canada and its sponsors as well as my family. Race season is just around the corner and I will be entered in races I’ve never skied at before. This is all so new and exciting, but I’m ready and I couldn’t be more thrilled!”
Elli Terwiel was not available for comment.
As Head Coach of the BC Ski Team, where Simmerling, Serwa and Terwiel spent last season, Nancy O’Neill helped prepare these young athletes for big job that lies ahead. “Georgia, Kelsey and Elli are talented, driven and unstoppable. Many of their strengths can be attributed to the excellent work done by the club coaches who guided and influenced them when they were younger, developing athletes. I’m talking about Derek Trussler from Big White, John Crichton from Sun Peaks and Jim Parsons from Grouse Tyee,” explained O’Neill. “I can’t say enough about the incredibly positive experience Alpine Canada has given to everyone on the 2010 Acceleration Team. These athletes are so fortunate – I have personally seen them grow tremendously as athletes and people through the entire process.”
Stay tuned! It promises to be a thrilling season and we will watch with pride as British Columbia shines bright on the national and international stages.
LADIES 2010 ACCELERATION TEAM 
Kelsey Serwa – Kelowna, BC (Big White Racers) 
Georgia Simmerling – West Vancouver, BC (Grouse Tyee Ski Club) 
Elli Terwiel – Heffley Creek, BC (Sun Peaks Alpine Club)
Marie-Pier Préfontaine – St-Sauveur, QC (Club Chantecler)
Marie-Élaine Lépine – St-Colomban,QC (Mont Tremblant)
Kelly McBroom – Canmore, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)
Alexandra Parker – Calgary, AB (Sunshine Ski Club)
Eve Routhier – Sherbrooke, QC (Mont Orford)
Kate Ryley – Toronto, ON (Craigleith Ski Club)