With the spectacular backdrop of the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel & Conference Centre and the legendary ski coach rock band “The Batterheads” belting out some great tunes – such as Reno and I Fought the Law – BC Alpine presented 26 awards to deserving recipients (see full listing below) in the categories athlete bursaries and awards for coaches, volunteers, officials, resorts, events and clubs.
The BC Alpine Summit Meetings – the first in-person provincial meetings in three years – were a smashing success, with representation from all zones, clubs and all levels of ski racing in B.C. The four-day meetings included presentations from BC Alpine staff and coaches, Allison Forsyth on the topic of Safe Sport, a Risk Management presentation by Steve Harris of Alpine Canada, a new Fitness Combine (physical testing & benchmarking) program presented by Jenni Stilow, also of Alpine Canada, and many others. All presentations can be found here.
The meetings concluded with the AGM, which saw the appointment of three-time Olympian Emily Brydon, of Fernie, BC, who was elected to the VP Athletics role on the Board of Directors. Murray Smith, also a former World Cup skier, was appointed to the role of Okanagan Zone Chair, while Graham Cope was elected to BC Alpine Board Chair position, replacing Hugh MacNaught, who was the Board Chair since 2013.
“We send Hugh off with a heartfelt thank you for all that he has done, not just for BC Alpine, but in representing the provinces on the PTSO Board for so many years. Job well done Hugh!”
Anders Hestdalen, BC Alpine CEO
See below for a complete listing of awards and bursaries.
Hugh MacNaught, Long Term President’s Award 
Rod Timm, Hustler Award 
Leslie Firstbrook, Train to Train Coach of the Year 
Diana Veitch, Okanagan Zone Volunteer of the Year 
Catherine Grant, Coast Zone Volunteer of the Year 
Ben Cohen, Head Coach of the Year
ATHLETE BURSARIES AND AWARDS
Dave Murray Ski Foundation Bursary – $750
Heming Sola, BC Ski Team/Okanagan Ski Team/Apex Ski Club
Dave Murray Ski Foundation Bursary – $750
Jasmine Coubrough, Okanagan Ski Team /Vernon Ski Club
Bob Parsons Memorial Fund Bursary – $1,000
Molly Raymond, Okanagan Ski Team /Apex Ski Club
Bob Parsons Memorial Fund Bursary – $1,000
Finley Cashin, Okanagan Ski Team /Big White Ski Club
Ski Canada Bursary – $500
Roxy Coatesworth, Black Dogs Ski Club/Golden Kicking Horse Alpine Team
Ski Canada Bursary – $500
Tylee Carr, Vernon Ski Club
Cary Mullen Sportsmanship Award
Takoda Ito, Okanagan Ski Team/Big White Ski Club
Cary Mullen Sportsmanship Award
Brooke Irish, Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club
COACH AWARDS
Learn/Train to Train Coach of the Year
Leslie Firstbrook, Smithers Ski and Snowboard Club
U16 Coach of the Year
Andrew Lambert, Vernon Ski Club
FIS Coach of the Year
Samantha Fournier, Okanagan Ski Team
Head Coach of the Year
Ben Cohen, Kimberley Alpine Team
Team of the Year
Kimberley Alpine Team
Hustler of the Year
Rod Timm, Fernie Alpine Ski Team
VOLUNTEER/OFFICIALS AWARDS
Coast Zone Volunteer/Official of the Year
Catherine Grant, Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club
Kootenay Zone Volunteer/Official of the Year
Steven Koles, Fernie Alpine Ski Team
North Zone Volunteer/Official of the Year
Ben Weinstein, Smithers Ski and Snowboard Club
Okanagan Zone Volunteer/Official of the Year
Dave and Diana Veitch, Big White Ski Club
Moira Jaatteenmaki Officials’ Award
Rob Tupper, Vernon Ski Club
Volunteer of the Year
Gerry Whittaker, Big White Ski Club
EVENT/RESORT/CLUB/PRESIDENT AWARDS
Event of the Year
Whistler BC Cup Speed Series, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Mountain Resort of the Year
Apex Mountain Resort
Mountain Resort of the Year
Kimberley Alpine Resort
Club Development of the Year
Smithers Ski & Snowboard Club
Long Term President’s Award
Doug Jevning, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Long Term President’s Award
Hugh MacNaught, BC Alpine Ski Association