Kathy Stahr | BC Alpine Ski Association

Cathy Priestner Allinger, viaSport CEO, to speak at BC Alpine AGM October 5th

by Kathy Stahr | Sep 19, 2013 | Member News

“Own the Podium – Canada vs USA vs Russia”

Have you ever wondered about Own the Podium "Top Secrets"? Come and listen to Cathy Priestner's first-hand account of her experiences leading Own the Podium for three different countries; Canada, USA and Russia!

BC Alpine Annual General Meeting – Saturday, October 5th, 2013 – 8:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

At the Holiday Inn, 711 West Broadway in Vancouver

Cathy Priestner is the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal in speed skating, first woman appointed to lead sport in Olympic Games history, and the lead author and founder of Own the Podium 2010. She is a long-time champion for the transformative power of sport and a role model for all athletes and leaders in sport.

BIO: As an Olympian, former coach, administrator, volunteer and broadcaster who has successfully been involved in every aspect of sport, leadership and management, Cathy credits the many different hats she’s worn over the years for the unique perspective she brings to her work. A dynamic leader and long-time champion for the transformative power of sport, Cathy has always dedicated her time to improve sport from grassroots in the community to high performance.

Currently, as the CEO of viaSport, Cathy focuses her energy and expertise to propel the BC sport sector and partners towards the vision of a unified effort which creates an active, healthy British Columbia where sport inspires a field of possibilities for all. She also generously volunteers her time to improve sport in BC as Chair of the BC Games Society and as Chair of the Special Olympics Canada 2014 Summer Games, which will be the largest Special Olympics games in Canadian history.

Her previous role leading a team of 500+ as Executive Vice President of Sport and Games Operations for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, marked the eighth time Cathy has participated in the Olympic Games in some capacity. Cathy was also the lead author and founder of Own the Podium, the $110-million initiative that saw all of Canada unite to win a record-setting 14 gold medals at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

As a television broadcaster, Cathy provided colour commentary for short and long track speed skating events for CBC at the Albertville 1992 Winter Games and Nagano 1998 Winter Games. Previously, she ran the Calgary Olympic Oval.

Cathy started skating at the age of 11. Within a year, she had won her first Canadian national competition and was on her way to competing in her first World Championship as a member of the Canadian national team. In addition to top rankings at the Canada Winter Games, World Sprint and World All-Round Championships, she went on to compete in two Olympic Games: the 1972 Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan and the 1976 Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria, where she won the silver medal in the 500m race, placed 6th in the 1000m race and became the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal in speed skating. It was a record she held until 1994.

Following her historic medal win, Cathy was selected to carry the Canadian flag at the Closing Ceremony of the 1976 Olympic Winter Games. She and fellow Olympian Ken Read also had the honour of carrying the Olympic torch into the stadium for the Opening Ceremony of the Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games. Cathy is a two-time Olympic Order recipient, and inductee of both the Canadian Hall of Fame and the Olympic Hall of Fame.

Proud as she is of her accomplishments in the sport arena, Cathy considers being a mom and raising three children and having a balance of work, family and play as her greatest achievement.

Book Your Room Now! BC Alpine AGM on Saturday, October 5th in Vancouver

by Kathy Stahr | Sep 13, 2013 | Member News

Please mark your calendars…and CLICK HERE to let us know you're coming.

BC Alpine's 2013 Annual General Meeting – Everyone is welcome and it's free to attend!!

AGM – Saturday, October 5th, 2013 – 8:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
Coaches Meeting – Friday, October 4th (contact Gordie at gordieb@bcalpine.com)

At the Holiday Inn, 711 West Broadway in Vancouver.

STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER DETAILS REGARDING AGENDA, WORKSHOPS AND GUEST SPEAKERS AT THIS YEAR'S AGM…

If you're coming from out of town, please call the Reservations Direct Line at 604-707-1939 to book your room (mention reservation code "ALP" or "BC Alpine" for special group rate – availability not guaranteed less than two weeks prior to the event).

You can also reserve via e-mail: info@hivancouver.com

Hotel Switchboard # is 604-879-0511

Town of Fernie goes above and beyond to host annual BC Alpine dryland camp

by Kathy Stahr | Sep 4, 2013 | Member News

As in previous years, the town of Fernie, BC laid out the welcome mat for the BC Ski Team and High Performance athletes between August 25th and September 4th.

A BIG thank you to the following, for making this hugely successful annual training opportunity possible:

– The Fernie Lodging Company
– Fernie Alpine Resort
– Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR)
– The Fernie Free Press
– Fernie Evolution Health and Fitness Club
– Mike Delich of Fernie Vacation Properties

Thanks also to the hardworking coaches and fitness experts who pushed the athletes to reach their fitness potential:
– Andrew Lambert
– JP Daigneault
– Danielle Robson

Check out our Fernie Photo Album (more photos will be added shortly)

The team enjoyed (or suffered through) nine days of physical conditioning specifically meant to boost their capacity to last through our upcoming two-week on-snow camp at 3,000 meters in Portillo, Chile.

"Fernie being our last dry land camp in the summer, I always look forward to hitting the bike trails facing personal fears…" – Charley Field, member of World Junior Championships Team Canada 2013

Brodie Seger and Pat Carry partner up for core exercises to finish up a speed/power sprint session on track in spectacular Fernie, BC.

Emma King and Alix Wells (background) work through the TRX core routine at Evolution Fitness & Health gym in downtown Fernie, BC.

Hallie MacLachlan, Fernie resident, focuses on yet another core strength exercise as Charley Field looks on.

The BC Team athletes really "brought it" to this off-snow training program, and as a result, they have all been rewarded with added strength, power, and muscle mass. June, July, and August is when you prepare for the winter!

BC Alpine men's and women's ski team send sincere thanks to all its sponsors and supporters for giving us the opportunity to become the best skiers in Canada!

Vernon Ski Club and entire ski racing family loses coach, mentor and friend

by Kathy Stahr | Aug 26, 2013 | Member News

Tim Harder passed away after succumbing to head injuries from a head-on vehicle accident. He was on his way home to Calgary in Rogers Pass. Tim had driven this road hundreds of times in all four seasons and knew it better than most.

Tim worked with the Vernon Ski Club for many years and embodied a strong work ethic and unbridled enthusiasm for the sport of ski racing. There will seldom be a coach who can command the start area for his athletes the way Tim could.

Tim was in his 2nd year of a helicopter engineering and maintenance course at Okanagan College, Vernon Airport Campus, and excelling at his work. He was an indomitable spirit that will be sorely and forever be missed by many!

Below is a link to the Springfield Funeral condolences web page where you will find many heartfelt passages that Tim's friends, peers, and athletes have written about him.

http://www.springfieldfuneralhome.com/obituary/harder-timothy-james/

Field, Werry, Thompson Headline BC Ski Team 2013 Summer Training Group

by Kathy Stahr | May 15, 2013 | Member News

BC Alpine Announces Summer Training Groups

BC Alpine announced at the recent provincial annual meeting in Kelowna, B.C., a group of 20 skiers selected to participate in a BC Ski Team Training Group for the summer and fall months.

After a successful season by BC athletes at all levels of ski racing, BC Alpine is looking to broaden the talent base within a resurgent provincial club system while supporting a group of elite skiers over the summer.

The BCST Training Group will be at an on snow camp next week in Whistler, B.C., from May 17-21, and then continue a six-month prep phase with ski camps at Mt. Hood, Oregon, as well as Portillo, Chile, and Sun Peaks. The team will also conduct centralized fitness camps in Fernie and Whistler in the summer months. The BC Ski Team will be officially announced in late October at the conclusion of the preparation period.

The High Performance (HPP) program, a cooperative initiative with the BC Alpine and BC Alpine clubs, will provide opportunities for skiers tracking in the provincial high performance stream, to interact and train with each other over select opportunities over the summer and fall. The identified HPP skiers will be invited to a three-week training camp in La Parva, Chile, in September, a fall camp in Sun Peaks in November, as well as select athletes will be integrated with the BC Ski Team for on snow and fitness camp opportunities.

Some skiers from last season’s BCST will be moving on or moving up.

Long-time BC Ski Team racer Sarah Elliot, from Oyama, has decided to retire from ski racing, while Sarah Freeman, from Pincher Creek and the Fernie Alpine Ski Team, has received a scholarship opportunity from two NCAA-affiliated schools in the United States, where she would continue her racing career at the Nor-Am level. Roger Carry, from Calgary and Fernie Alpine Ski Team, also received an opportunity to ski with a top level school, University of Boulder, Colorado. Both Carry and Freeman will be supported fully by the BCST in their prep phase and at competitions next season.

Nor-Am winner Ford Swette, from North Vancouver and the Whistler Mountain Ski Club, as well as Fernie, B.C.’s Stephanie Gartner and Tyler Werry, have been invited to training opportunities with the Canadian Alpine Ski Team. Alpine Canada will be announcing the national training program shortly.

Congratulations to the following BCST Training Group and HPP skiers.

Women:

Charley Field, Whistler Mountain Ski Club

Stephanie Gartner, Fernie Alpine Ski Team

Emma King, Whistler Mountain Ski Club

Alix Wells, Prince George Ski Team

Sarah Freeman, Fernie Alpine Ski Team (summer)

Invitee: Hallie McLachlan, Fernie Alpine Ski Team

Men:

Tyler Werry, Fernie Alpine Ski Team

Broderick Thompson, Whistler Mountain Ski Club

Brodie Seger, Whistler Mountain Ski Club