by Kathy Stahr | Jul 3, 2018 | Member News
1. Club Development of the Year
Criteria
- This BC Alpine ski club has illustrated growth and significant improvement or leadership during the current season
Award
- Trophy presented to one club per year
Application/Nomination
Submit via BC Alpine Website http://bcalpine.com/awards/
Criteria
- open to all levels, no restrictions
- well organized and fun for racers and volunteers
- exceptional and compelling event for the community
Award
- Trophy presented to one club per year for hosing the winning race event
Application/Nomination
Submit via BC Alpine Website http://bcalpine.com/awards/
Criteria
- This resort showed extrordinary support for the local ski club (its events and members) throughout the current season
Award
- Trophy presented to one Mountain Resort per year
Application/Nomination
Submit via BC Alpine Website http://bcalpine.com/awards/
Criteria
- Dedication and commitment to volunteering at the club or zone level
Award
- Four (4) trophies awarded – one for each zone: Coast, Kootenay, North & Okanagan
Application/Nomination
Selection
- BC Alpine Awards Committee makes the final selection for this award
Criteria
- A continued dedication to the Officials' program and the sport of ski racing by serving as a committed BC Alpine Official over a period of several seasons
- As a result of his or her contributions, this Official has helped ski racing continue at the highest level in the province, offering participating athletes the best opportunities for advancement in their pursuit of excellence in the sport.
Application/Nomination
Award
- Trophy awarded to one Official per season
Selection
- BC Alpine Officials Committee makes the final selection for this award.
Criteria
- This individual's volunteer efforts are exceptional
- His or her level of commitment contributes to the betterment of the club, zone and province
- The contributions can be on or off the hill
Award
- One trophy awarded per season
Application/Nomination
Selection
- BC Alpine awards committee makes the final selection for this award.
1. Dave Murray Bursary
Criteria
Awarded to two BC athletes based on the following:
- Financial need
- Athletic ability / Sportsmanship / Leadership
- Recommendation to BC Alpine by coach or other club representative
- Priority given to U19 level athletes
Award
About the Award
- Founded in 1987 by friends of Dave Murray after a fundraiser
Application/Nomination
Selection
- BC Alpine awards committee makes final selection for this award
Criteria
Awarded to two individuals based on:
- Leadership and dedication to the sport of ski racing
- Financial need
- Recommendation to BC Alpine by coach or other club representative
- Priority is given to U19 level athletes
Award
About the Award
- Bob Parsons was the original weasel worker at the Whistler World Cup.
Application/Nomination
Criteria
- U16 level athletes only
- Financial need
- Potential to rise to the top of ski racing in Canada
- Recommendation to BC Alpine by coach or other club representative
About the Award
- The Ski Canada Bursary is available for not-for-profit ski organizations and groups across Canada.
Award
- $1,000 awarded to one athlete OR $500 each to one male and one female athlete
Application/Nomination
Selection
- BC Alpine awards committee makes final selection for this award
Criteria
- This athlete has displayed the most sportsmanlike conduct
Award
- Trophy for one male and one female athlete
Application/Nomination
Selection
- BC Alpine awards committee makes final selection for this award
by Kathy Stahr | Jun 28, 2018 | Member News
BC Alpine is pleased to announce the 2018 BC Ski Team Summer Training Group. The 6-person squad consists of 5 returning BCST members and new invitee Marcus Athans from the Apex Ski Club. After recently completing 18 successful days skiing on the Whistler T-Bars, the group now moves into a 5-week centralized dryland training block in Whistler, followed by another 10-day dryland block at the end of August and then three weeks on snow in Chile in September.
“It was great to get another opportunity to ski in Whistler this spring," said Head Coach Nick Cooper. "We took full advantage, rain or shine, and got some excellent work done building back the fundamentals. With a group of mostly returning athletes I think we will be able to push to new limits this summer, with the goal of creating even more well-rounded athletes. I know I speak for our entire staff when I say we are excited for this prep period.”
Returning BCST Members
- Kyle Alexander, Whistler Mountain Ski Club – 1999
- Myles Kowalczyk, Whistler Mountain Ski Club – 2000
- Francis MacDonald, Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club – 1999
- Nicole Mah, Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club – 1999
- Ella Renzoni, Whistler Mountain Ski Club – 2000
Invitee
- Marcus Athans, Apex Ski Club/Okanagan Ski Team – 2000
After a successful 2017-18 Campaign we are excited to congratulate two former BC Ski Team athletes who are moving onto the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, and four who will be joining NCAA programs:
- Cameron Alexander (WMSC) – Canadian Alpine Ski Team
- Asher Jordan (WMSC) – National Development Team
- Max Kirshenblatt (WMSC) – Montana State University
- Antonia Wearmouth (Grouse Mountain Tyee) – University of New Mexico
- Kristina Natalenko (Grouse Mountain Tyee) – University of Alaska
- Soleil Patterson (Red Mountain) – University of Alaska
- Alexander Valentin (WMSC) – University
“I am really excited about this small group of athletes and a new coaching structure that allows the three coaches to work together, eliminating the need for gender leads," said BC Alpine Vice President Johnny Crichton. "I believe this smaller group of mostly returning athletes gives us the opportunity to really focus on the individuals' needs and group's overall development."
Coaching Staff
- Nick Cooper – Head Coach
- Ryan Jazic – Assistant Coach
- Morgan Pridy – Assistant Coach
"We are proud to continue supporting the best alpine ski racers in BC by providing a high quality program designed to develop and prepare athletes for the national and university ski teams," said Anders Hestdalen, BC Alpine General Manager. "Since 2001 BC Alpine has been represented by a total of 89 BC Ski Team athletes (44 women and 45 men) from across the province. 32% of the athletes currently on the national alpine and ski cross teams got their start in BC Alpine programs. This is a number we are proud of and the BC Ski Team staff work hard to keep fulfilling their mission to develop ski racers that can perform on the world stage."
The BC Ski Team program benefits from a professional Integrated Support Team (IST) that includes a team physician, physiotherapy, sport vision testing, nutrition/chef training and high performance fitness coaching. The 2018/19 BC Ski Team will be named officially in mid-November.
by Kathy Stahr | Jun 21, 2018 | Member News
RESPONSIBLE COACHING MOVEMENT
Creating a Safer Sport Environment with the Rule of Two
Author: Michel Hachey, Coaching Association of Canada
Wednesday, June 13, 2018 – 09:00
Creating a healthy and safe sport environment, both on and off the field of play, will benefit all participants. Whether you’re a coach, administrator or parent, we all have a role to play in making sport a fun and rewarding experience.
This three-part blog series will provide tools and resources to strengthen safety and ethical values in sport by introducing the Responsible Coaching Movement (RCM). While the majority of coaches are dedicated to the overall wellbeing of their athletes, the RCM is a call to action that has the potential to positively affect all sport organizations and coaches across Canada by ensuring that athletes, especially minors, are protected from abuse, harassment, and other safety risks.
The Responsible Coaching Movement is coordinated by the Coaching Association of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. Sport stakeholder consultations identified a number of shortcomings that contributed to instances of unethical behaviour, including a lack of uniform policies, volunteer turn-over at the club level, limited club capacity, poor communication, a gap in tracking mechanisms for coaches, and the lack of a coordinated approach to promote and support responsible coaching practices.
As a result, the RCM was developed and focuses on three key areas to support the positive development of safe sport:
-
Rule of Two;
-
Background Screening; and
-
Respect & Ethics Training.
This first blog will focus on the importance of the Rule of Two. Be on the lookout for subsequent blogs on Background Screening (July 2018) and Respect and Ethics (August 2018).
What is the Rule of Two?
The Rule of Two serves to protect minor athletes in potentially vulnerable situations, as well as the quality coaches working in our communities, by ensuring that more than one adult is present.
The goal of the Rule of Two is for organizations to always have two screened and National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) trained or certified coaches with an athlete, especially a minor athlete, when in a potentially vulnerable situation. Vulnerable situations can include closed doors meetings, travel, and remote training environments.
Implementing the Rule of Two means that any one-on-one interaction between a coach and an athlete, both on and off of the field of play, must take place within earshot and view of the second coach, with the exception of medical emergencies. One of the coaches must also be of the same gender as the athlete. Organizations are encouraged to ensure that those individuals in supervisory roles are appropriate for, and acceptable to, the individual athlete. Further information on creating a safe and inclusive environment for gender diverse athletes can be found HERE. Should there be a circumstance where a second screened and NCCP trained or certified coach is not available, a screened volunteer, parent, or adult can be recruited.
Tips to support the Rule of Two
Let’s take a closer look at how the Rule of Two can be implemented within your sport environment. Whatever the role you play, here’s what you can do to limit the instances that put athletes at risk of being in vulnerable situations:
-
Avoid private or one-on-one situations unless in an emergency. Leave the office door open or have the conversation in a part of the facility that’s within eye site.
-
As a coach, self-identify situations that may put you or your athletes in a vulnerable situation and consider ways to avoid or alter the environment. Make this a regular practice.
-
As an organization, if you see the Rule of Two as an obstacle, invite team members, including your athletes to brainstorm solutions.
-
As an administrator, when selecting your coaching team, consider the demographics of your athletes to ensure appropriate composition of staff.
-
When travel is necessary, avoid situations where there is only one coach/volunteer with a single athlete. Prior to traveling to the event, make arrangements with other organizations to find a “buddy” coach/volunteer to associate with during the event and when away from the venue. Ensure the coach/volunteer has been appropriately screened, the athlete is comfortable with the individual, and parental consent is given.
-
As a parent, you’re encouraged to play a proactive role by asking your child’s coach if their organization has taken the RCM pledge and adopted the responsible coaching policies.
-
If you have concerns about a coach’s interaction with your child or another participant, contact the coach’s supervisor or someone from the organization’s management team to address your concerns. If a child’s safety is a concern, contact your local authorities.
Recommended Resources
For more information on the Responsible Coaching Movement or to learn more about the different resources available (for organizations, coaches, and parents) to adhere to ethical coaching practices, please visit www.coach.ca/ResponsibleCoaching.
Discover which organizations have pledged their commitment to the Responsible Coaching Movement by CLICKING HERE. Ready to take the pledge? Commit to the Responsible Coaching Movement HERE.
For more information, please email RCM@coach.ca.
About the Author – Michel Hachey is the Communications Manager at the Coaching Association of Canada. A proud father, he is devoted to making sport as fun and safe for his daughter as it was for him growing up. He is a strong advocate of quality coaching and a firm believer that it can positively impact athletes and participants in communities from coast to coast to coast.
by Kathy Stahr | Jun 15, 2018 | Member News
Powering Podiums is an educational series led by Canadian Sport Institute focused on topics related to high performance programming.
On Monday June 25th Anders Hestdalen, BC Alpine GM, will present The International Perspective on Athlete Development.
by Kathy Stahr | Jun 5, 2018 | Member News
STATEMENT FROM ALPINE CANADA
June 4, 2018 – All the victims of Bertrand Charest showed tremendous courage when they came forward to bring him to justice. Now, four of them have decided to do something more, and we commend their determination and commitment in breaking the public silence in order to speak out.
On behalf of Alpine Canada, but also personally, as former female athletes ourselves, we thank all of them for their courage and for re living the pain to help ensure this never happens again.
When the incidents came to light in 1998, the organization could have offered more support to the victims in this difficult time. We have learned from this horrible situation by re-writing our policies, requiring mandatory training and improving governance.
Alpine Canada is ready to collaborate with any organization that is committed to improving safety, respect and prevention of harassment in sport. We welcome all initiatives proposed or developed by any relevant and experienced organization across the country that will help achieve this goal.
We want to ensure no one ever suffers like these women have suffered.
Some of the safety improvements made at Alpine Canada in recent years are:
- Mandatory background checks for all Alpine Canada (ACA) staff and coaches
- Mandatory background checks for all active ACA-Canadian Ski Coaches (CSC) member coaches
- Code of conduct for all ACA-CSC coaches
- Policy in place to recognize, respond to and report instances where the code of conduct has been breached, including whistleblower policy
- Zero tolerance of athlete-coach sexual relationships
- All ACA staff coaches required to complete the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) module “Make Ethical Decisions”
- Mandatory harassment training through the Respect Group for all ACA staff, coaches, athletes and contractors
- Creation of a U18 Safe in Sport policy
- Rule of Two criteria included in ACA U18 Safe in Sport Policy
- Annual reviews of all safety policies
- Annual ACA-CSC coaching database updates to provide all Provincial and club partners a centralized location to review an active ACA-CSC member coach status to ensure they have met the requirements to be licensed, including the completion of a background screen, signature of the coaching code of conduct and the identification of coaches who have breached the coaching code of conduct.
Martha Hall Findlay, Chair of the Board, Alpine Canada
Vania Grandi, President and CEO, Alpine Canada
