Kathy Stahr | BC Alpine Ski Association

Join us in welcoming Montana Molyneux to BC Alpine and BC Ski Team Staff

by Kathy Stahr | Sep 1, 2020 | Member News

After an extensive search that saw a number of applicants from across the globe, and much interest from within Canada, especially BC, BC Alpine is pleased to announce the hiring of Montana Molyneux as BC Ski Team Assistant Coach.

Originally from Inglewood, Ontario and the Caledon Ski Club, and now residing in Fernie, BC, Molyneux is no stranger to ski racing in British Columbia. She has been actively involved in coaching in the province for the last ten years, starting at the Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club, before moving to the Sun Peaks Alpine Club where she served as Program Director for four seasons. More recently Montana was U16 Head Coach with the Fernie Alpine Ski Team, and in 19/20 worked for Alpine Canada as an Assistant Coach with the Para-Alpine Team. Montana has also been an important part of BC Alpine’s Girls Fast Forward camps and webinars for the past three seasons.

“I’m very happy we were able to hire Montana”, said Head Coach Nick Cooper. “The energy she will bring, and the wide range of coaching experience she has, make her the ideal candidate for this role. I know I speak for our whole group when I say we are all excited to get to work with Montana, and we look forward to seeing what she will bring to this team”.

Montana will start with the BC Ski Team immediately, and plans to join the team in Whistler next week for their second dryland camp of the summer. When asked about the new job, Montana said “I’ve always wanted to be part of a team that truly embodies hard work and commitment. This crew is one of those teams. I’m excited to contribute in every way I can, while continuing to learn and grow with the BC Ski Team.”

“Montana has been working her tail off in BC since she landed here”, said BC Alpine VP Johnny Crichton. “Her passion and work ethic fit perfectly with the BC Ski Team and we are very lucky to sign her! No question some outstanding BC coaches applied for this job, and with this coaching talent in the pipeline, the future looks bright for BC!”

Seven athletes named to 2021 BC Ski Team ‘Summer Training Group’

by Kathy Stahr | Aug 19, 2020 | Featured Stories, Member News

BC Alpine is very excited to announce the naming of 7 athletes to the BC Summer Training Group. This group is already four weeks into centralized dryland training in Whistler, where they are working six days a week on a range of activities from lifting, yoga, biking, hiking, running and more.

BCST Summer Training Group for Summer 2020

Returning team members:

Marcus Athans (2000) – Kelowna BC, Apex Ski Club/Okanagan Ski Team
Heiko Ihns (2002) – Castlegar BC, Red Mountain Racers/Kootenay Zone Team
Tait Jordan (2002) – North Vancouver, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Nathan Romanin (2001) – Squamish, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Gerrit van Soest (2000) – Vernon Ski Club/OST

New additions:

Heming Sola (2003) – Summerland BC, Apex Ski Club/Okanagan Ski Team
Dylan Timm (2002) – Fernie BC, Fernie Alpine Ski Team/Kootenay Zone Team

Additionally, BC Alpine is thrilled to announce that Asher Jordan has made The Canadian National Ski Team for the upcoming season. After an incredibly successful 2020 season that saw Asher win his first NorAm, claim three other overall NorAm podiums and also start three World Cups, he has fully met “C” team criteria. He will join three other former BC Team athletes, Sam Mulligan, Riley Seger and Kyle Alexander, as part of what ACA is calling a “Select Group”. This group will spend time, and have support from, both BC Alpine and ACA, and in Riley’s case his NCAA college team.

We have three members that are moving on from the BC Ski Team, we are sad to see them go, but very proud of what they have accomplished so far, and as they set out on new endeavors we are excited to see what they have in store for the future.

Frances MacDonald will be attending Plymouth State University, taking the nursing program and racing on their NCAA team. Frances commented on her time spent with the BC ski team, My biggest take away from the BC Ski Team were the training and racing opportunities I was given. I felt like the team was held to a very high standard that most teams should follow. The staff showed support through my injury recovery, and made it feel possible to be able to compete at the same level again.

Ella Renzoni will be attending The University of Vermont, studying Environmental Sciences, and racing on their NCAA team. Being on the BCST the past three years has given me the skills that are required to succeed both academically and athletically. The level of intensity that BCST demonstrates reassures me that I am ready and fully capable of succeeding at UVM.

Myles Kowalczyk will be attending the University of British Columbia where he plans to study Psychology, and after a particularly devastating injury last spring Myles has decided to move away from competitive ski racing. After the past year of recovering from injury, I have made the difficult decision to put away the race skis and start an education at UBC. The life experienced that I’ve gained being on the BC Ski Team the last three years has been incredible. Not only was I able to become a skier that I’m proud to be, but the atmosphere, staff and athletes who surrounded me largely shaped who I am as a person today. This is something I wouldn’t trade for the world. I’d like to thank the entire BC Ski Team for creating some of the most memorable times in my life so far, helping me through the hardest challenge I’ve ever faced, and for preparing me to be able to tackle whatever may come next in life!

We have a great group heading into this season, having mostly returning athletes has made the start of our dryland camp very smooth. I’m proud of the dryland program that Morgan (Pridy) has designed and the work he and Ryan (Jazic) are currently putting in with our athletes. I also want to congratulate Asher on the amazing year he had, and wish all our graduating athletes’ success in the future. ~ Nick Cooper, BC Alpine Head Coach

BC Alpine is also happy to announce that in conjunction with our Girls Fast Forward initiative, we will be unveiling a female high-performance plan with the goal of helping more girls in BC make the BCST Criteria. The details of this plan will be released in the fall.

I am pleased that the BCST TG is well into summer training getting extremely fit. I am also fired up about the traction the GFF speaker series is getting from female athletes and coaches around the province. There will be some exciting opportunities for female racers in BC coming this fall. ~ Johnny Crichton, BC Alpine VP

Top photo: Asher Jordan – 2019 BC Ski Team member at 2020 Kitzbuehel World Cup slalom. GEPA pictures/ Patrick Steiner

Special Edition of Girls Fast Forward Speaker Series coming Tuesday, July 7th!

by Kathy Stahr | Jul 3, 2020 | Member News

After a successful career as a ski racer (WMSC/BCST) and coach, Kayla Benbow went on to earn a Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology. She works as a registered clinical counsellor in private practice in Whistler, and really understands the nerves and mental pressures of sport, both personally and professionally.

We are excited that Kayla has agreed to spend some time with us, share her story and answer your questions about the psychology of performance!

All female ski racers and coaches in BC are invited to join #5 in our GFF Speaker Series on Tuesday, July 7th @ 16:00 (4:00pm) PST/17:00 (5:00pm) MST via Zoom.

Please visit girlsfastforward on Instagram to learn how to participate, and even submit anonymous questions in advance if you want!

Girls Fast Forward Zoom Speaker Series continues Tuesday with guest Alix Wells

by Kathy Stahr | Jun 23, 2020 | Member News

This week’s installment of our super-popular GFF Zoom Speaker Series will feature former BC Ski Team athlete Alix Wells. Alix hails from Prince George, BC (PG Ski Club) and has been racing and studying at the University of Alaska Anchorage since the 2015-16 season. Alix is a talented athlete, awesome human and future UNBC Med School student – we want you to hear her story!

If you are a female ski racer and would like to join us this afternoon (Tuesday, June 23rd) at 4:00 P.M. PST, please contact the Girls Fast Forward crew at girlsfastforward@gmail.com

Join GFF and Alix as she speaks about her journey through ski racing in BC and college! All BC female ski racers are invited
Tues. June 23 @16:00 PST/17:00 MST via Zoom

Alix’s Ski Journey:

Prince George Ski Club (’03-’10) à Windermere Valley Ski Club (’10-’11) à BCST (’11-’15) à NCAA University of Alaska Anchorage (’15-’19)
Coaching: Grouse Tyee Ski Club (’17-’19) & Prince George Ski Club (’19-’20)

Best Ski Racing Memory:
Fall training camps in Portillo, Chile: amazing training, great food, phenomenal views.
The first time I skied without pain in my leg after injury.

Fav thing to do on skis:
Snow blading at Apex or Kimberley.

Next best activity:
Mountain biking, trail running, water skiing & rollerblading

Best Quote/Advice:
“Wherever you are, be there”. My advice would be to enjoy all the amazing places ski racing takes you over the years, and all the friends you make. In short, enjoy the process and try to reflect on what other skills beyond skiing you’re learning along the way.

Random Fun Fact:
I recently became an Auntie.
I’ve rollerbladed the seawall with Antonia Wearmouth, who was the #1 GFF speaker and is a fellow rollerblade enthusiast.

Big Shout outs:
Ian and Karen
Prince George Ski Club/BCST/ UAA Alpine Ski Team

GFF is stoked to have Alix for our 4th Speaker of the series! To get the ZOOM LINK – Email girlsfastforward@gmail.com or message us on Instagram @girlsfastforward

North American Fluorocarbon Free Policy Working Group in Canada & USA

by Kathy Stahr | Jun 19, 2020 | Member News

U.S., CANADIAN NGB/NSOs FORM NORTH AMERICAN FLUOROCARBON FREE POLICY WORKING GROUP

PARK CITY, Utah (June 15, 2020) – National Governing Body’s and National Sport Organizations (NGB/NSOs), and snow sport organizations from the United States and Canada today are announcing the formation of a Fluorocarbon Free Policy Working Group.

With representation from U.S. Ski & Snowboard, USA Nordic, U.S. Biathlon, U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing, U.S. Paralympics Alpine Skiing, Alpine Canada, Canada Snowboard, Freestyle Canada, Nordiq Canada, Biathlon Canada, Nordic Combined Canada and Ski Jumping Canada in addition to industry wax representatives, the working group is tasked with setting policy to eliminate the use of fluorinated ski wax from all sanctioned levels of snow sports competition in North America beginning with the 2020-21 season.

In 2019, the International Ski Federation (FIS) and International Biathlon Union (IBU) decided that the use of fluorinated ski wax will be banned for all FIS and IBU disciplines beginning with the upcoming 2020-21 season. In addition, U.S. Ski & Snowboard voted to eliminate the use of fluorinated ski wax from all levels of competition at it’s May 2020 meeting. The Canadian Ski Association (CSA) has adopted the FIS Council Ruling and is extending it to all programs that fall under its authority.

Fluorinated wax, and the raw perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) compounds that make up these wax products, have been scientifically studied for their negative environmental and health impacts. In the United States, many of the compounds found in fluorinated wax products contain ingredients listed in the Toxic Substances Control Act. In July 2020 the European Chemicals Agency will ban the sale, manufacture, and import of all products containing PFOAs.

The Fluorocarbon Free Policy Working Group began meeting on a regular basis to facilitate the many facets of developing policy and rules that will harmonize all levels of domestic competition and training with FIS and IBU rules and regulations, and will lead to a complete ban of fluorinated wax products at all levels of sanctioned competition. The Working Group is committed to:

Asking manufacturers to work toward providing a list of waxes where the manufacturer represents that the wax is free of fluorinated products
Working with FIS and the IBU to coordinate the testing process and thresholds below the World Championships/World Cup level
Establishing rules, deterrents, and appeals process
Establishing clear and concise stakeholder communications

While key questions remain, including testing, enforcement, and ultimately sanctions for using fluorinated products, all participating NGBs in the United States and NSOs in Canada are fully committed to banning the use of fluorinated wax from all levels of sanctioned snow sports competition starting with the 2020-21 ski and snowboard season.