A BC Alpine coach is currently in Bormio, Italy, on one of sport’s biggest stages.
Nick Cooper – “Coop,” as many know him (a nickname he shares, and competes for, with his dad Mike and uncle Nigel) – is preparing for the Olympic Winter Games. He’s there coaching a star athlete, Norwegian-born Brazilian skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, as Lucas readies himself for the men’s Olympic giant slalom and slalom events.
Nick is very much at the top of the coaching mountain. His resume now includes World Cup medals and an Olympic coaching pedigree—an ascent that began right here in B.C. His coaching journey started with the Whistler Mountain Ski Club, where he worked as a U16 and FIS coach. He then move quickly into coaching the men’s BC Ski Team, later becoming head coach of the BCST program. Along the way, he earned the 2020 FIS Coach of the Year award and became the longest-tenured BC Ski Team coach ever (move over, Dusan!).
Nick moved on to Alpine Canada, coaching the World Cup and Europa Cup combined teams and then last year was handpicked by 22-time World Cup medallist Lucas to be his coach. Since then, the results have spoken loudly: five World Cup medals this season – three in GS and two in slalom.
When I caught up with Nick at the end of a long day in Bormio, he was buzzing with anticipation for what lies ahead.
How has your Olympic experience in Cortina been so far?
To be honest, I just arrived, and we’re in Bormio—not Cortina—so there isn’t an Olympic Village, or much of an Olympic vibe yet. But Bormio is a very cool setting. It’s a classic setting and beautiful. That said, we’re completely focused on the task at hand, which is preparing Lucas to perform his best.
How is Lucas looking heading into the slalom?
The preparation has been incredible. We’ve been testing equipment, skis, and really dialing in slope preparation. This hill is flatter than many others, so we trained specifically with that in mind. Overall, we’ve done everything we can, and the team feels confident.
What are your expectations for the upcoming races?
It’s tough to say—there are at least 10 guys who can legitimately win the slalom. It’s going to be a dogfight. In the GS, I think we have a realistic chance at a medal. It all depends on how race day plays out, but yes, I believe he can do it.
Lucas has generated buzz around the world for years. What’s it like coaching the Norwegian-born Brazilian star?
It’s been great. I’ve worked with many incredible athletes, and everyone is unique, but his ski racing IQ is insane. He’s a very special athlete. Building this relationship and being part of his journey has been exciting. My role is to support his vision of success and help instill confidence. It’s been a lot of fun.
Tell us about your coaching journey through BC Alpine and how it all began.
At first, it was mostly for fun—enjoying Whistler and making more money than banging nails. But I remember a conversation with Mike Janyk where he challenged me about whether I really wanted to be a proper ski coach. That stuck with me. Eventually, I approached Dusan and committed to the path.
You’ve been known as a culture-building coach. How did you approach that?
First, I had great mentors who showed me the way—Dusan [Grasic], Jazz [Ryan Jazic] and Johnny [Crichton] especially. Beyond that, it comes down to how hard you’re willing to work. Prepare good slopes. Make training productive. Put in the effort. Wake up every day ready to work.
Several of your former BC Ski Team athletes—Brodie, Riley, and Cam—are in Bormio. Have you seen them?
I stay close with almost all my former athletes. I’ve talked to all three of them and will be seeing them soon. It’s incredible to see what they’ve been up to.
Any advice for young coaches in BC looking to pursue high-performance coaching?
Be the hardest-working person on the hill. Do right by your athletes. Relate to them, speak their language, stay flexible, and adapt. Your job is to bring out the best in them—and to do that, you need to understand who they are.
