Alpine Women in Sport is proud to present the third in our Safety in Sport Webinar Series, featuring Phil McNichol!
Monday, March 27th, 2023
5:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time (8:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time)
The architect of Alpine Canada’s current National Ski Team, which made Canadian history at the 2023 Alpine Ski World Championships, Phil is a Hall of Fame alpine coach and sports leader with close to 40 years of experience within every level of the athletic pathway. His knowledge and experience span leadership and coaching small-town ski clubs to large winter sport academies/clubs on route to achieving record-setting performance success while leading and coaching the US and Canadian Ski Teams.
This series is open to all Alpine Coaches, male and female, from any club across Canada and the United States. PLEASE review the “Quality Coaching Framework” material suggested below, in preparation for this important conversation.
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Phil’s presentation will focus on athlete-centered outcomes and contextual fit, which are topics and core concepts he believes are not acknowledged enough in coaching.
“Contextual fit is the critical factor in bridging the gap between performance and participation-based programming. In the end, sport is sport, and I believe it is a critical method and a healthy platform to build great people.”
Phil McNichol
The focal point of this presentation will be based on material in Chapters 3 and 4 of the QCF (Quality Coaching Framework). The “Quality Coaching Framework,” is a publication authored by Dr. Wade Gilbert, internationally renowned coaching scientist and award-winning professor in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University. BC participants may remember Dr. Gilbert, as he spoke at a BC Alpine member summit in 2017 . Although Gilbert published the QFC for the US Olympic Committee, it is a valuable coaching reference that Phil believes “every coach should use as their bible.”
COC and Sport Canada use the 4Cs of coaching (Competence, Confidence, Connection and Character/Caring) and as you will see, Caring and Compassion are interchangeable with character, respect for the sport and others, integrity, self-discipline, and ethical and moral decision-making, as used in the Quality Coaching Framework. You can review all chapters of the QCF at: https://www.teamusa.org/About-the-USOPC/Coaching-Education/Quality-Coaching-Framework
It is with profound sadness that we announce the unexpected death of Peter Krasula, much loved, long time Head Coach and Program Director of the Mt. Seymour Ski Club.
Peter was a beloved husband and father of two young children, and was taken too soon at the age of 42. According to his family, his heart suddenly stopped beating on March 8th, 2023 while he was doing what he loved, skiing.
Peter was known for his kindness, energy, sense of humour and unconditional love for family and the outdoors. The BC Alpine family thanks him for being a great coach, friend and mentor to so many athletes, fellow coaches and families within the ski racing community. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him!
If you would like to help Peter’s family during this devastatingly difficult time, please consider donating through GoFundMe. His family thanks you for your kindness and generosity.
Cypress Ski Club and Cypress Mountain played host to the Coast Zone Teck U14 GS and slalom event March 4th and 5th, 2023. Racers, volunteers and coaches were tested to the limit on Saturday after a weeklong snowfall dumped more than 40 centimeters on the track before race day. Due to safety concerns the Race Organizing Committee wisely decided to cancel the 2nd run in the GS competition.
Spirits and skies brightened on Sunday and the skiers pushed hard and had fun in the sun. Congratulations to all who participated, and huge thanks to the volunteers and coaches for making it happen! The support of our sponsors and Cypress Mountain are paramount to the success of our events, so a big thank you to them as well.
On March 4th, the Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club hosted the Sporting Life U8/U10 Skills Event, which consisted of two courses, a ‘Glalom’ race and a Kombi course. Before the sun was even up, Grouse Mountain welcomed 289 racers from four Lower Mainland ski clubs (Cypress, Grouse Tyee, Seymour and Sasquatch), up its signature Red Tram where athletes were lucky to enjoy clear views of Greater Vancouver. (Above: bib 260 Russell Wong, U10 Grouse Tyee – Photo by Wei Ma)
U10 group with Coach Petra, photo by Patrick Nuestro
The conditions were up to par, including compact snow, good visibility and lightly snowing skies. By 9 am the first U8 racers were ready to take on the Glalom course, while the U10s finished their Glalom inspection and made their way to the Kombi course. We spoke to Russell, a U10 athlete:
“The race was good and in the end, it was all for fun! I wasn’t expecting the Kombi to turn into a tunnel… I really appreciate how hundreds of parents came and put together this race for us. My favourite part of the race was the racing part!”
U10 athlete, Russell
As the day progressed, the U10s and U8s switched roles and each age level took on the other course. As U10 racers made their way through the finish line, there seemed to be no racer without a smile on their face! We caught up to two speedy athletes upon their second run, who both happened to have the same helmet, and asked them what they thought of the race:
“The race was fun, particularly the combination of the race course, jump and speed trap! I felt happy and excited in the start gate [but especially] at the finish; [as I] felt like I had done really well. My favourite part was going down the blue course.”
U10 athlete, Elle
“I thought the race was really fun, pretty fast and [that] I had some good turns. In the start gate, I was pretty confident, really excited and I was thinking about where to pole plant. In the finish, I was thinking that I did a good race, had a good run and that I went really fast on it. My favourite part was getting to ski the red course!”
U10 athlete, Claire
Claire Rempel at the starting gate. Photo by Sonya Tesanovic
At the starting gate. Photo by Sonya Tesanovic
The athletes, coaches, and Grouse Tyee Ski Club would like to acknowledge all the parents, coaches and athletes for their enthusiasm, effort and engaging attitude. Additionally, we’d like to thank the coaches who set up our race courses, and sponsors, alongside Grouse Mountain Resort, for their sponsorship, support and assistance in making this event possible. However, a special appreciation goes to our volunteers who set up safety nets, kept the race environment safe and fun, and ensured its success. Congratulations to all participants for a successful event!
Race report submitted by Sonya Tesanovic, U10 Assistant Head Coach
The Sporting Life NGSL Okanagan Zone Finals took place on March 4th and 5th at Apex Mountain Resort, hosted by the Apex Ski Club. Over 140 athletes from the Apex Ski Club, Big White Ski Club, Vernon Ski Club, Revelstoke Ski Club, and Sun Peaks Alpine Club attended the event. It was a great weekend at Apex with lots of snow and ideal temperatures for racing.
On Saturday the U6 and U8 skiers competed in dual slalom races on the Okanagan Run. The conditions were good and spirits were high as the youngest athletes tackled their course. Sunday’s races, featuring the U10 and U12 skiers, were slightly more challenging due the continuous snowfall. However, thanks to the consistent effort of the volunteers, a successful race was achieved.
The Apex Ski Club would like to extend a sincere thank you to all the volunteers, and to Apex Mountain Resort for their support. Big thanks as well to all the sponsors!
