DUSAN GRASIC WINS PRESTIGIOUS “COACH OF THE YEAR” AWARD
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VANCOUVER, BC (March 3, 2005) – He's been called everything under the sun: stubborn, critical, competitive, stern, demanding. But this former BC Ski Team coach also has a heart of gold and possesses a recipe for success when it comes to coaching elite level ski racers.
Dusan Grasic, the head coach of the Canadian men's technical team, won Coach of the Year honours at Sport BC's 39th annual awards celebration in Vancouver Wednesday night.
Grasic coached the men's BC Ski Team for seven seasons (1996-2002) prior to moving up to the national system with Alpine Canada and the Canadian Alpine Ski Team. Under his tenure, the men's national technical (slalom and giant slalom) team is turning heads on the World Cup circuit, highlighted by Thomas Grandi winning Canada's first ever GS gold medal in Alta Badia, Italy in late December. Grandi followed that performance the following week in Flachau, Austria with another historic win and currently sits in second place in the overall World Cup GS standings, with only the World Cup Finals remaining.
According to Grandi, coach Grasic has been instrumental in his succes this season.
“The tears are coming to our eyes,” said Grasic, following the Alta Badia race earlier this season with Grandi and teammate Jean-Philippe Roy both in the top 5. “It's just unbelievable. It's a great feeling that Thomas won, but for me it's a really big success that J.P. being fifth. We have a team now. You don't say much. You just laugh and walk around when something like that happens.”
Dusan and his family moved to Whistler, BC in 1996 to take on “a new challenge” when he was hired by BC Alpine as the provincial team head coach. With a marginal grasp of the English language at the time, Dusan learned quickly Canadian culture and before too long he became a respected and dedicated coach in BC. Most young coaches in the province looked up to Dusan as a model of excellence and the coaching fraternity in BC still celebrates his success with the national team.
“I was looking for the best coach with international experience,” said Bruce Goldsmid BC Alpine General Manger. “I have to admit it was a risky move, but I can tell you it paid off in spades.”
BC Alpine congratulates Dusan on winning the Sport BC award and wish him continued success with the Canadian Alpine Ski Team.
EUROPA CUP DOWNHILL – TARVISIO, ITALY
