JOB POSTING – BC Alpine seeking world-class coaches for BC Ski Team

by Kathy Stahr | Mar 13, 2013 | Member News

JOB POSTING: BC Ski Team Coach (TWO POSITIONS AVAILABLE)

STATUS: Full time, year-round employee position

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 18, 2013

STARTING DATE: May 15, 2013

 
Job Overview:

The BC Ski Team (BCST) Coaches will work within a team of coaches and staff to assist the planning and delivery of a world-class program of male and female ski racers. BC Alpine is looking for highly energetic, dynamic and knowledgeable professional ski coaches to fill these exciting positions. 
 

Reporting Structure:

The two BCST Coaches will report directly to the Head Coach of the BC Ski Team. There is also a close working relationship with the BC Alpine Athletic Director and the BC Alpine Sports Science Director.
 

Job Duties: 

• Preparation Program: Under the guidance of the Strength & Conditioning coach, deliver   dryland training program, including: conduct fitness testing/evaluation, book dryland training facilities, run training sessions, maintain dryland training records. 
• On Snow Training and Preparation Program: Under the guidance of the BCST Head Coach, assist in the delivery of the on-snow program, including: maintain mountain/ski area relations, coordinate training groups, organize training camps, run on hill coaching and training sessions, organize and conduct hill and course preparation, conduct athlete video analysis, ensure on hill safety measures. 
• Competition Program: Be knowledgeable about appropriate local, national or international rules and regulations that govern alpine ski racing. Under the guidance of the BCST Head Coach, assist in race entry procedures, drive to race & training venues, attend team captain meetings when required, conduct team race meetings when required, manage/book training-warm-up space, manage athlete goal setting/evaluation procedures. 
• Equipment: Maintain inventory records of all related program equipment (drills, gates, spare parts, bits, radios, tool kits, wax, etc.), repair existing equipment where possible, manage and acquire necessary soft goods for team when required. 
• Administration: Maintain regular communication with key individuals and groups, under the guidance of the BCST Head Coach. Assist with budgeting, file regular expenses, and attend BC Alpine Spring and Fall Coach Meetings.
   

 Essential Skills and Qualifications:

• Experience coaching at various levels – Provincial/National Team level preferred.
• Advanced Alpine Ski Coaching Certification (Level 3 or International Equivalent).
• Good understanding of alpine ski racing Long Term Skier Development Model.
• Comprehensive understanding of the Canadian sport and ski racing system.
• University Degree in the field of Kinesiology, Physical Education or related field is an asset.
• BC Driver’s License with an enviable driving record.

About BC Alpine

The B.C. Alpine Ski Association is the provincial governing body for alpine ski racing, overseeing its 31 member ski clubs. A member of Alpine Canada Alpin, BC Alpine’s mandate is to promote and lead competitive and non-competitive alpine skiing programs, govern and conduct alpine ski competitions, select and train members of high performance programs – including the BC Ski Team – and encourage and assist the formation of alpine ski clubs within British Columbia. Please visit us at www.bcalpine.com

Qualified applicants are invited to submit their resume and salary expectations by Monday, March 18, 2013 to:

Gordie Bowles
Athletic Director – British Columbia Alpine Ski Association
Email: gordieb@bcalpine.com
Telephone: 604.678.3072

Thanks for your interest. Only those being interviewed will be contacted further.

Morgan Pridy wins super-G, Werry second at Nakiska Nor-Am Cup Finals

by Kathy Stahr | Mar 12, 2013 | Member News

FLASH QUOTE:

Tyler Werry (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) – "The race was awesome today, the organizers did a great job of prepping the run for us. I was a little worried with my run at first because I wasn't sure where I was going to stack up with the rest of the field. The tactics i brought in really paid off and I'm happy that it's finally showing in my results".

March 12, Nakiska, AB – Nor-Am Cup Finals, Men's Super-G COMPLETE RESULTS

Swette, Werry, Pridy, Zaitsoff among talent competing at Nor-Am Men’s Finals

by Kathy Stahr | Mar 11, 2013 | Member News

Audi Coupe Nor-Am Cup finals set for Nakiska, Calgary

LIVE TIMING 

CALGARY, ALTA. (March 11, 2013) — Some of North America’s most talented young alpine skiers will do battle with a host of World Cup stars this week as the Audi Coupe Nor-Am Cup finals are held at the Nakiska Ski Resort and at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park.

Nor-Am Cup titles are on the line, as are the World Cup spots handed out to the top two-ranked North American racers in the standings in men’s giant slalom, super-G, super combined and slalom. Established top-level racers eager to qualify for next year’s races or those needing points to secure a spot on their national team will also be pushing for the podium after the World Cup ‘regular season’ wrapped up last weekend. The Nor-Am Cup is the level immediately below the FIS (International Ski Federation) World Cup and the finals are expected to attract a world-class field.

Training gets underway in Nakiska on Monday before the race schedule begins on Tuesday. A week of intense competition reaches its conclusion in Calgary this weekend as Canada Olympic Park in Calgary hosts its first Nor-Am Cup slalom races following a $4 million hill expansion.

“The World Cup spot is something that’s on my mind. It would be amazing to get that for next year but it’s more important to focus on skiing well and skiing fast,” said Phil Brown, of Toronto, Ont., a Canadian Alpine Ski team athlete who is second in the Nor-Am slalom standings, third in super combined and fifth in giant slalom.

“It’s a totally different ball game being back home,” added Brown, who represented Canada at the world championships in Schladming, Austria, last month and has spent the past few weeks training and racing in Europe. “When you are in Canada you feel more comfortable.”

At 21, Brown is exactly the kind of racer the Nor-Am Cup circuit is designed to serve. One of Canada’s brightest young talents, he’s made a handful of World Cup starts but is looking to earn the chance to compete at the highest level by proving himself in Nor-Am Cup racing. With four Nor-Am Cup podiums to his name this season, including three in slalom, he sits second in the overall standings.

“Obviously the goal is to secure a World Cup spot for next year. More importantly, I would just like to do well technically,” Brown said. “Halfway through the year I decided to focus on the technical side. I’ve picked up my slalom this year and it’s progressing really well. I haven’t really done much speed.”

Veteran Paul Stutz, of Banff, Alta. – who raced in a World Cup in Slovenia on the weekend – leads the slalom standings, while another young gun, Calgary’s Trevor Philp, is third. In giant slalom, B.C. Alpine Ski Team racer Ford Swette sits second in the rankings and is the best-placed Canadian to secure a World Cup spot, while Morgan Pridy, of Whistler, B.C., is second in super-G and the super combined is wide open because only one race has taken place to date. Jeffrey Frisch, of Mont-Tremblant, Que., already secured second place in the standings – and a World Cup spot for next season – in downhill.

“It’s a bit of an advantage when you have a guaranteed spot in World Cup. You don’t have to worry about qualification,” explained Canadian Alpine Ski Team coach Dusan Grasic, who looks after Canada’s men’s Continental Cup team. “We started the season a little bit slowly in Copper (USA), where the Americans have a bit of an advantage. Now we are coming home and hopefully we can cash in.”

The field for the weekend’s back-to-back slalom races is expected to be extremely competitive, with racers who did not qualify for the World Cup finals – including Canadian veteran Mike Janyk, of Whistler – expected to compete for a spot on the podium. Canadian Cowboy Ben Thomsen, of Invermere, B.C. – the up-and-coming speed skier who won silver in downhill at the Olympic test event in Sochi, Russia – is expected to be among those competing for top honours in super-G.

“Conrad and Morgan Pridy have a chance in super-G and then Phil Brown in GS and maybe slalom,” Grasic said. “Slalom will be tougher because all the World Cup guys are coming back.”

One challenge Canada’s best young racers have had to deal with this season involves equipment changes. The new dimension skis are already being used on the World Cup circuit but the old-specification skis are still permitted in Nor-Am Cup races. That means many young racers who move between the Nor-Am Cup, Europa Cup and World Cup circuits have spent much of the year switching between new and old skis.

“It’s a bit of an adjustment. It’s a totally different style of skiing with the new skis.” Brown said. “When you use the same style it works but it’s not as fast.”

The ladies’ Nor-Am Cup finals are being held south of the border, at Sugar Bowl and Squaw Valley, from March 14-18. Seventeen-year-old Mikaela Tommy, of Wakefield, Que., currently leads the giant slalom standings, while veteran Anna Goodman, of Pointe-Claire, Que. – who was 15^th at the World Cup slalom in Ofterschwang, Germany, on Sunday – has a huge lead in slalom, and super combined remains wide open.

“Mikaela is leading in GS. It’s for sure important and Canada could get both spots because (USA phenom Mikaela) Shiffrin is not going to be racing,” said Hugues Ansermoz, head coach of Canada’s ladies’ team “In slalom we could also have both spots. Ève Routhier is there. Elli (Terwiel) will need some FIS points and (World Cup racer) Marie-Pier Préfontaine will go there.”

As well as sending talented young racers to the World Cup, this weekend’s Nor-Am races in Calgary could also act as a precursor to the city’s first ever World Cup ski races. Alpine Canada and WinSport are working on plans to bring a ladies’ World Cup slalom race to Canada Olympic Park in the next few years.

“I’ve seen some photos and it looks really good,” Brown said of the hill expansion, which has transformed COP into a world-class training facility. “I hope it’s a really fun event. It will be really cool being in the city and racing.”

AUDI COUPE NOR-AM CUP MEN’S FINALS: SCHEDULE

AUDI COUPE NOR-AM CUP STANDINGS

Giant slalom:

To find out more about the Audi Coupe Nor-Am Cup finals, please check out our event page at http://www.alpinecanada.org/events/2013/audi-coupe-nor-am-cup-nakiskacop.

Live timing is available at http://www.alpinecanadalive.org/.

For complete standings, visit: http://www.fis-ski.com.

Follow our ski teams on Facebook and Twitter.

NOTICE OF CHANGE to official location of 2013 ACA/CSCF Coaches’ Summit

by Kathy Stahr | Mar 11, 2013 | Member News

Please take note of the following change regarading the official location of the 2013 ACA/CSCF Coaches' Summit:

The indoor portion of the Coaches' Summit will take place at the Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre.

Recently renovated in 2010, the centre is situated in an ideal location near Sunshine Ski Resort, where the on-snow portion will take place. and offers spacious meeting rooms with spectacular mountain views.

The early registration contest is being extended until Friday March 15^th.

For more information and registration please visit: http://www.alpinecanada.org/events/2013/2013-coaches-summit

2013 Kal Tire U14 Western Can-Am Championships wrap up at Nakiska

by Kathy Stahr | Mar 10, 2013 | Member News

Click HERE for complete results