Three days of learning, sharing and celebration brought B.C.’s ski racing community together as the countdown to the 2026–27 season begins.
There may not have been any snow on the ground, but there was plenty of ski racing energy in Sun Peaks this weekend. [All presentations can be viewed at the bottom of this article.]
Under bright sunshine and cooling temperatures, the tight-knit BC Alpine community converged on the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel for three days of learning, resource sharing, discussion and celebration, officially kicking off the 2026–27 ski racing season.
Coaching philosophies shared
Coaches got things underway Friday with a full afternoon of discussion and professional development, with a focus on the topic “Good is Built: From Reflection to Action,” bringing coaches together around shared philosophies and, importantly, how those ideas can translate into action within their programs this winter.
The program also included Mike Janyk on Self Determination Theory, an update and discussion with Alpine Canada’s Declan Norris on high performance training methodology, and a look ahead to the 2027 race calendar.
BC Ski Team head coach Morgan Pridy provided a technical update and some of the learnings emerging from the current provincial team. The session provided an opportunity to connect what is happening at the provincial-team level with athlete and coach development throughout the BC Alpine pathway.
The community comes together
By Saturday afternoon, the room had grown as representatives from BC Alpine member clubs joined coaches for a packed Member Summit featuring information, discussion and resources they could take back to their home clubs.
BC Alpine CEO Anders Hestdalen opened the Summit with an update on progress toward the organization’s 2023–2028 Strategic Plan before Tom Berekoff and Sport BC CEO Rob Newman took the floor for a session on philanthropy, fundraising and the range of services available to sport organizations in B.C.
One of the biggest opportunities discussed was the BC Amateur Sport Fund, which raised an impressive $8.1 million in 2025, with funds earmarked for amateur sport initiatives throughout the province. The discussion highlighted the opportunity for sport organizations to think differently about philanthropy and fundraising, and to tap into resources already available within B.C.’s amateur sport system.
The group also learned more about KidSport, Sport BC’s program dedicated to helping remove financial barriers that prevent children and youth from participating in organized sport. Together, the two programs offered a powerful example of the resources available to help strengthen sport from the grassroots up.
The rest of Saturday offered something for virtually every corner of the ski racing community. Declan Norris explored fitness qualities in young athletes, while Julie Morris of MyHR tackled a challenge familiar to many ski clubs, hiring and retaining seasonal staff, and Johnny Crichton continued the Good is Built conversation.
Later in the afternoon, Laurie Ehrman of Alpine Canada led a discussion on diversity, equity and inclusion in alpine ski racing, while Mark Newton shared information on Alpine Canada’s Para-Ready Program and available grant opportunities.
A night to celebrate
Saturday evening shifted from learning to celebration with the annual Goldie Awards, recognizing the athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials, clubs and ski resorts whose contributions helped make the 2025–26 season a success. Named in honour of Bruce “Goldie” Goldsmid, who spent 37 years leading BC Alpine, the Goldies celebrate the people and organizations that make ski racing possible across the province. [full list of recipients is below the photo gallery.]
2026 Goldie Award winners
Charlie Yule, Mt. Washington Ski Club — Dave Murray Bursary
Nevis Liu, Whistler Mountain Ski Club — Dave Murray Bursary
Luke Belsham, Revelstoke Ski Club — Bob Parsons’ Bursary
Hazel Schmidt, Mt. Washington Ski Club — Bob Parsons’ Bursary
Danica Williams, Mt. Washington Ski Club — Ski Canada Bursary
Hannah Jensen, Whistler Mountain Ski Club — Athlete of the Year
Sylvi Nymann, Mt. Washington Ski Club — Development Coach of the Year
Dillon Prophet, BC Ski Team — High Performance FIS Coach of the Year
Drew Hetherington, Whistler Mountain Ski Club — Head Coach of the Year
Zak Bourgon, Windermere Valley Ski Club — Hustler Award
Whistler Mountain Ski Club U14 — Team of the Year
Rob Boyd, Whistler Mountain Ski Club — Coast Zone Official of the Year
Craig “Rooster” Rusnak, Windermere Valley Ski Club — Kootenay Zone Official of the Year
Andrew Czornohalan, Smithers Ski & Snowboard Club — North Zone Official of the Year
Kim Shippam & Murray Smith, Vernon Ski Club — Okanagan Zone Official of the Year
Josh Douglas, Whistler Mountain Ski Club — Moira Jaatteenmaki Provincial Official of the Year
Apex Ski Club — Ski Club of the Year
Teck U14 Provincials, Apex Ski Club — Event of the Year
Mt. Washington Alpine Resort — Ski Resort of the Year
John Trimmer, Mt. Washington Ski Club — BC Alpine Builder Award
Planning for success
Sunday morning brought everyone back together for a few final updates before the Annual General Meeting.
Hestdalen presented From Start Gates to Spend Gates, BC Alpine’s Value of Ski Racing Study, followed by an officials update from Mark Schwenck and Drew Hetherington’s presentation on the Alpine Terrain Awareness Program.
The AGM officially brought the weekend to a close and marked the beginning of a new chapter for the organization, with a new Board of Directors elected under BC Alpine’s newly adopted bylaws. After three days of conversations, new ideas, shared resources, reconnecting with friends and celebrating some of the people who make the sport special, attention now turns to what everyone is thinking about and preparing for: the season ahead.
BC Alpine is excited to introduce BC Boys Camp (BC-BC), a new development initiative – supported by the Vancouver Ski Foundation – is focused on supporting and inspiring the next generation of boys ski racers in British Columbia.
Led by BC Ski Team alumni and former World Cup athletes Sam Mulligan and Broderick Thompson, the program kicks off with its inaugural camp at Sun Peaks next month (April 16–18). Sam and Broderick will be joined by Elias Jonsson, national team coach at the camp.
With a fresh name, new look, and plenty of energy behind it, BC-BC builds on the success of the Girls Fast Forward initiative. The goal is simple: bring together U16 male athletes from across the province to ski fast, learn more, and have fun doing it—all while building a clear pathway toward FIS and beyond.
“In our province, we’re incredibly fortunate to have world-class training environments, long winters, and great role models to learn from,” said Thompson. “For me, collaborating with teammates and learning from mentors like Mike Janyk, Robbie Dixon, Manny Osborne, Ben Thomsen, and the Pridy brothers helped shape my path. Programs like this create space for athletes to discover their own way—because there’s no single formula for success.”
Photo: Broderick Thompson (left), Sam Mulligan.
Mulligan sees BC-BC as a natural next step in athlete development.
“Building off the momentum of Girls Fast Forward, BC-BC is about getting athletes together to push themselves, learn from each other, and enjoy the process,” he said. “It’s also a great chance to get some quality spring skiing in and head into summer feeling motivated and focused.”
Camp Details
Dates: April 16–18 (3-day camp)
Location: Sun Peaks Resort, BC
Format: Three-day, development-focused ski camp
Eligibility: Open to all registered male BC ski racers (born 2010–2012)
BC Alpine is also celebrating a milestone in participation across the province.
“We’re thrilled to now see balanced participation between girls and boys at the U16 and FIS levels,” said BC Alpine Vice President Johnny Crichton. “BC-BC is an important step in continuing that momentum—helping elevate athletes and support their development at every stage.”
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.
BC Ski Team 2019Cameron Alexander (left) and Nick.Celebrating a World Cup podium at Alta Badia, Italy.
Many will remember the magic of last January all too well.
Jack Crawford charged out of the start gate at the legendary Hahnenkamm downhill in Kitzbühel wearing bib 20 and attacked the Streif with full commitment, capturing Canada’s first victory on the iconic course since Todd Brooker in 1984. Longtime teammate Cam Alexander, also a Whistler Mountain Ski Club alum, added to the celebration with a third-place finish, delivering a memorable double podium for Canada.
It was a stunning performance on one of the world’s most demanding racecourses, played out in front of more than 45,000 passionate ski racing fans.
Fast forward to 2026, and Alexander appears to be rounding into top form once again. He posted a strong seventh-place finish last weekend on the Lauberhorn in Wengen, Switzerland—one of the sport’s most storied venues. Fittingly, his first post-race thoughts turned to Kitzbühel.
“Today is a good confidence boost and I’m feeling good heading into the upcoming races, especially Kitzbühel next week,” Alexander said to Alpine Canada. “I tweaked my knee in Val Gardena and wasn’t feeling good enough to race the downhills, and I didn’t feel like myself there or in Livigno. Being able to really push today felt great.”
Crawford finished 26th in the race, while Brodie Seger—also of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club—placed 46th. Seger’s result came one day after a close call in the super-G, where he spun out and narrowly avoided the safety nets, missing them by inches.
Top: Jack Crawford in the start gate at the 2025 Kitzbuhel downhill. Photo: Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool. Above. Cam Alexander charging the Lauberhorn last weekend. Photo by Alpine Canada/GEPA.
For those in the trenches of ski racing in B.C. — or even for the casual observers — the mark and brand of Karbon on the sport is unmistakable. From early-morning warm-ups to Nor-Am podiums and everything in between, the Karbon logo is visible everywhere on ski hills across the country.
The Canadian brand has been outfitting world-class winter athletes for more than two decades and is now entering its sixth season as the exclusive outerwear and racewear supplier for BC Alpine and the provincial ski team.
The partnership is rooted in shared values: innovation, athlete-first thinking and a deep belief that potential has no limits.
Five Years In: A Partnership Hitting Its Stride
BC Alpine CEO Anders Hestdalen is thrilled with the success of the partnership to date.
“In working with Karbon we have a Canadian ally who actually gets ski racing,” said Hestdalen. “They understand the grind, the weather, the long travel days, the early-morning lifts at –20°C — and the difference that high-performance gear can make in an athlete’s confidence.”
“This is more than new jackets and ski pants,” he added. “It’s a shared commitment to elevating ski racing in B.C., giving our athletes every advantage possible and celebrating the passion that keeps this community thriving.”
The provincial ski team now trains and competes in gear backed by decades of research, athlete insight and Canadian design. The partnership also reaches the club level — opening the door for young racers, coaches and families to connect with a grassroots Canadian brand.
Dressing Future Champions
For decades, Karbon’s commitment to winter sport has empowered some of Canada’s best athletes, supporting their high-performance development at every stage of the pathway. The company currently supports 12 organizations worldwide, including four alpine PSO’s in Canada: Alpine Ontario, Ski Quebec, Alberta Alpine and BC Alpine.
From future Olympians still learning to carve the perfect turn, Karbon has built its reputation on blending technical performance with real-world athlete feedback. Their gear is tested on some of the toughest hills in the world and refined by the people pushing hardest against their own boundaries.
The #NoLimits tagline isn’t simply a marketing slogan — it reflects how Karbon designs, and why its product team works hand-in-hand with elite athletes to shape every new collection.
Karbon has been busy since the brand was launched in 1997 … with 450 World Cup medals, 91 World Championship medals and 24 Olympic medals.
The Karbon Story
For Karbon, supporting BC Alpine is more than a sponsorship — it’s a continuation of its commitment to the full athlete pathway. Behind the scenes is Schure Sports, a family-owned Canadian company that has been advancing winter-sport apparel since 1982. Based in Toronto and proud of its Canadian roots, Schure Sports has built Karbon into one of the sport’s most trusted outerwear brands.
“I am very proud that BC Alpine is part of the Karbon family,” said Peter Schure, VP of Teams and Resorts. “This partnership exemplifies our commitment to sport at all levels, and we look forward to continuing this mutually beneficial relationship with BC Alpine and its athletes.”
Looking Ahead to a Bright Future
Five years into this partnership between BC Alpine and KARBON, the momentum keeps climbing. And with new gear on their backs, B.C.’s ski racers are more than ready to take the reins and charge ahead.
