The BC Ski Team women and coaches will be heading home Thursday after a week-long dryland camp in beautiful Fernie, BC. Thanks to Mike Delich of Fernie Vacation Properties, the pain of all that hard work was eased by the comfort of the Ski Resort accommodation that was generously donated to BC Alpine.
In fact there’s a long-standing tradition of support from the Delich family, who have been hosting racers in their home and at the resort for over 30 years! We’re told that Paul Venner (Whistler Ski Instructor and ex-coach of the CAST) and Rob Lahti (long time Head Coach of Mt. Seymour Ski Club) were among their first house guests as BC Team athletes many years ago.
In addition to their always friendly hospitality, the Delich family has provided financial support to the Snow Valley Racers of Alberta and BC’s Fernie Alpine Ski Team for over 20 consecutive years.
Mike Delich was the Chair of BC Alpine in the mid 90’s. His daughters Jennifer and Julia grew up ski racing and were both members of the BC Ski Team and Canadian Alpine Ski Team.
BC Alpine CEO Bruce Goldsmid is grateful for the support. “To receive an unsolicited call from Mike offering accommodation to our athletes and coaches during their stay in Fernie was both unexpected and much appreciated," he said. "Mike and his family have always been there to help us out. The camp has been a huge success, with the food and accommodation being a definite highlight. Thank you Mike and family!"
Dryland coach Andrew Lambert reports a very productive camp with significant progress made by all the girls. "Certainly they each found a gear or two more than they knew existed", he said. "We received amazing support from the town of Fernie, which really kept our costs down."
A special thanks also to the "Evolution Gym" and to "Rippin’ Richard’s", the Fernie restaurant that provided a complimentary dinner to the girls and their coaches.
Athletes at the camp:
Sarah Freeman (Fernie Alpine Ski Team)
Celine Rytz (Fernie Alpine Ski Team)
Jocelyn Ramsden (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Sarah Elliot (Big White Racers)
Kailee Darlington (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Mackensey Young (Fernie Alpine Ski Team)
Rebecca Bermel (Kimberley North Star Racers)
Alexandria Pankratz (Big White Racers)
Coaches
Aaron Speden – Assistant Coach
Andrew Lambert – Dryland Coach
(Gregor Druzina, Head Coach of the women’s team, is at home recovering from recent shoulder surgery)