by Kathy Stahr | May 31, 2018 | Member News
It is with mixed emotions that we, the BC Alpine family, bid farewell to our beloved Sports Science expert Andrew Lambert. We are excited about his new opportunities, but we will sure miss the expertise and guidance he has provided for so many years.
"I remember when Andrew first moved to BC and took over the Vancouver Ski Team," said Johnny Crichton, BC Alpine Vice President. "I thought 'oh oh, a ginger' and then I found out he was a Scottish ginger and thought 'we’re screwed'. But man, did he prove me wrong! From time spent working with the powerhouse '89 girls, to helping Canada develop its top-notch dryland program, Andrew “Lambo” Lambert has been instrumental in moving the alpine needle in this country. He has focused continually on his education, growing his knowledge base to better serve our BC and Canadian athletes. I have worked closely with Lambo for over 5 years and have learned so much from him. The guy is a true professional. Andrew has raised the bar for BC Alpine and has had a direct hand in putting many of our skiers on the national team. We can't thank him enough for the huge positive impact he has had on our sport and our athletes during his tour. I wish him all the best and offer a personal thank you for all he's done for us."
In Andrew's own words…
It’s been a really hard decision for me to leave BC Alpine. Family has to come first and my priority is having time to spend with my wife Ally and 3 year old boy, Nate. I have so many great memories with BC Alpine over the years. What I loved about this job was the daily grind with athletes and coaches on the gym floor and the process of planning and problem solving. Through this process everyone learned and got better, myself included. I am proud to see so many of our former BC Ski Team athletes performing on the world stage and I will continue to be a fan as they move forward with their careers.
I’d like to thank the practitioners who have supported our athletes over the years and who formed our IST (Integrated Support Team). Physios, doctors, physiologists, dieticians and various other specialists helped us to form a world-class support team on a modest budget. It is rare for provincial level athletes to get this level of support and I think it showed in the results. BC Alpine has consistently exemplified ‘best practise’ and I have no doubt will continue to do so.
On a personal level, I plan to continue coaching and consulting in the Okanagan and am developing a career in real estate. My sincere thanks and gratitude go out to all of the staff, coaches and athletes at BC Alpine.
Sincerely, Andrew Lambert
by Kathy Stahr | May 15, 2018 | Member News
Calgary, Alta. (May 15, 2018) – Following up on success over the past quadrennial, Alpine Canada is pleased to announce its nominations for the Canadian Ski Teams for the 2018-19 season. Alpine Canada will continue its pursuit of international podium success at World Cups, World Championships and Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Athletes have been nominated to the team having met selection criteria and/or coaches’ discretion and/or invited to participate in selected camps and competitions.
2018-19 CANADIAN PARA-ALPINE SKI TEAM NOMINATION
World Cup Women – Senior
Alana Ramsay (CADS)
Mollie Jepsen (Whistler Mountain Ski Club, BC)
World Cup Men – Senior
Alexis Guimond (Mont-Tremblant, Que)
Braydon Luscombe (B.C. Para-Alpine, B.C)
Kirk Schornstein (Snow Valley Racing, Alta)
Kurt Oatway (Regina Alpine Race Team, Sask)
Mac Marcoux (Searchmont Ski Runners, Ont)
Development Team
Mel Pemble (BC Adaptive Snowsports, B.C)
Frederique Turgeon (Mont-Tremblant, Que)
Alex Cairns (BC Adaptive Snowsports, B.C)
Head Coaching Staff
Athletic Director: Matt Hallat
Head Coach: J.S. Labrie
Next Gen Head Coach: Lasse Ericsson
The Alpine Canada Canadian Para Alpine Ski Team nomination guidelines can be viewed here.
2018-19 CANADIAN ALPINE SKI TEAM NOMINATION
World Cup Women – Senior
Ali Nullmeyer (Georgian Peaks, Ont)
Amelia Smart (Panorama Ski Club, B.C)
Candace Crawford (Georgian Peaks Ski Club, Ont)
Erin Mielzynski (Georgian Peaks Ski Club, Ont)
Laurence St-Germain (St. Férrol-les-Neiges, Que)
Marie-Michèle Gagnon (Mont-Orignal, Que)
Mikaela Tommy (Edelweiss, Que)
Roni Remme (Alpine Ski Club, Ont)
Stefanie Fleckenstein (Whistler Mountain Ski Club, B.C)
Valérie Grenier (Mont-Tremblant, Que)
World Cup Men – Senior
Benjamin Thomsen (Invermere, B.C)
Broderick Thompson (Whistler Mountain Ski Club, B.C)
Brodie Seger (Whistler Mountain Ski Club, B.C)
Cameron Alexander (Whistler Mountain Ski Club, B.C)
Dustin Cook (Mont Ste-Marie, Que)
Erik Guay (Mont-Tremblant, Que)
Erik Read (Banff Alpine Racers, Alta)
Jack (James) Crawford (Whistler Mountain Ski Club, B.C./ Georgian Peaks Ski Club, Ont)
Jeffrey Read (Banff Alpine Racers, Alta)
Manuel Osborne-Paradis (Whistler Mountain Ski Club, B.C)
Morgan Megarry (Craigleith Ski Club, Ont)
Philip Brown (Craigleith Ski Club, Ont)
Riley Seger (Whistler Mountain Ski Club, B.C)
Sam Mulligan (Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club, B.C)
Simon Fournier (Mont-Tremblant, Que)
Trevor Philp (Banff Alpine Racers, Alt)
Development Team Women
Marina Vilanova (Mont-Tremblant, Que)
Sierra Smith (Mont St-Marie, Que)
Cassidy Grey (Team Panorama, Alta)
Alyssa Hill (Team Panorama, Alta)
Development Team Men
Asher Jordan (Whistler Mountain Ski Club, B.C)
Declan McCormack (Osler Bluff Ski Club, Ont)
Jamie Casselman (Team Panorama, Alta)
Liam Wallace (Sunshine Alpine Racers, Alta)
Max Kirshenblatt (Whistler Mountain Ski Club, B.C)
Pierre-Elliot Poitras (Quebec)
Raphael Lessard (Quebec)
Head Coaching Staff
Athletic Director: Martin Rufener
Team Operations: Amber Sinclair
Men’s Speed Head Coach: Burkhard Schaffer
Men’s Tech Head Coach: Dusan Grasic
Men’s Europa Cup Head Coach: John Kucera
Men’s Development Head Coach: Peter Rybarik
Women’s Development: Marie Eve Boulianne
Women’s Combi Head Coach: Manuel Gamper
The Alpine Canada Canadian Alpine Ski Team nomination guidelines can be viewed here.
2018-19 CANADA SKI CROSS TEAM NOMINATION
A & B Team Women
Brittany Phelan (Mont-Tremblant, Que)
India Sherret (Kimberly Alpine Team, B.C)
Kelsey Serwa (Big White Ski Club, B.C)
Marielle Thompson (Whistler Mountain Ski Club, B.C)
Tiana Gairns (Prince George Ski Club, B.C)
A & B Team Men
Brady Leman (Calgary Alpine Racing Club, Alta)
Chris Del Bosco (Ski & Snowboard Club, Vail/ Montreal, Que)
Dave Duncan (National Ski Academy, Ont)
Kevin Drury (Georgian Peaks, Ont)
Mathieu Leduc (Mount Washington Ski Club, B.C)
C Team Women
Abby McEwen (Sunridge Ski Club, Alta., Alberta Ski Cross, Alta)
Courtney Hoffos (Windermere Valley Ski Club, B.C)
Mikayla Martin (Whistler Mountain Ski Club, B.C)
Zoe Chore (Kimberley Alpine Team, B.C)
C Team Men
Kevin MacDonald (Milton Heights Racing Club, Ont., Alberta Ski Cross, Alta)
Kris Mahler (Craigleith Ski Club, Ont)
Reece Howden (Okanagan Ski Club, B.C)
Zach Belczyk (Sunshine Alpine Racers, Alta., Alberta Ski Cross, Alta)
Canada Ski Cross Professional Staff
Interim Athletic Director: David Ellis
World Cup Head Coach: Stanley Hayer
Next Gen Head Coach: Victor Dockal
The D Team will be named following D Team Selection Camp.
The Alpine Canada Ski Cross Team nomination guidelines can be viewed here.
ALPINE CANADA NEWS
by Kathy Stahr | May 7, 2018 | Member News
Calgary, Alta. (May 7, 2018) – She’s gritty, passionate, talented and has made Canadian Olympic history. Georgia Simmerling (West Vancouver, B.C.) is one of the most iconic names in Canadian amateur sport, in both summer and winter events. At 29-years-old, Simmerling is the only Canadian athlete to compete in three different Olympics in three different sports.
After 11 years with Alpine Canada, four as an alpine athlete and seven years as a ski cross athlete, Simmerling is officially hanging up her race skis to pursue full-time training for her second summer Olympic Games.
Simmerling made the Canadian Alpine Ski Team for the 2007-2008 season and spent the first part of her career as a speed skier. She achieved a personal-best 27th-place at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games in super-G and top Canadian in super-G at the Lake Louise World Cup. These moments highlighted Simmerling’s alpine career.
“Being top Canadian at Lake Louise was an exciting experience for me,” said Simmerling. “Walking up on the podium in front of Canadian fans was an incredible feeling. And representing Canada at my home Olympics in Vancouver was something I’ll never forgot. Walking through B.C. Place in front of 60,000 fans cheering for Canada was incredible.”
“Georgia and I became friends instantly,” said Marie-Michèle Gagnon, current member of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team and former teammates with Simmerling. “Our paths eventually went different ways but whenever we see each other it’s like no time has passed. She’s one of the most talented athletes I know. She’s so strong, so powerful and so athletic. She’s a very dedicated athlete that works really hard and it’s fun to be around her because I strive to have those same values as an athlete.”
Following the 2010 season, Simmerling transitioned to ski cross as the sport started to gain traction globally. Simmerling made her first ski cross World Cup start in 2011 and hit the podium by 2012. Her storied ski cross career is filled with success, injury, friendships and unmatched determination to continue her pursuit to the podium. Simmerling closes out her ski cross career with nine World Cup podium finishes and 25 top-eight finishes.
During her first season with the Canada Ski Cross Team, Simmerling fell during a race and broke three vertebrae. She returned to competition less than one year later, when she landed her career-first podium. She continued her pursuit to qualify for her first Olympic Games as a ski cross athlete, competing in Sochi in 2014. The following season, Simmerling crashed at World Championships in January of 2015. This is where Simmerling’s multi-season Olympic journey starts.
With plates and screws in her wrists, Simmerling’s recovery started on a bike. She aggressively pursued track cycling with Cycling Canada and made her UCI World Cup debut as a track cyclist in Hong Kong in January 2016, winning team pursuit gold. She went on to win team pursuit silver at the 2016 UCI World Championships. This led Simmerling to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympic team pursuit track cycling team. Simmerling headed to the Games as the first Canadian triple-sport Olympian, having competed in alpine, ski cross and now, track cycling. Simmerling came away from the Games with a bronze medal in team pursuit and a hunger for more Olympic success.
Simmerling transitioned back to snow after the 2016 Rio Olympics, getting ready for the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. She met the 2016-17 season with two podium finishes and eight top-ten results. Continuing with that momentum, Simmerling headed into the 2017-18 season and hit the podium twice, was in the big final four times and had six top-eight results. She was on the right trajectory for Olympic success. Unfortunately, in the last race before the Olympics, Simmerling crashed breaking both legs and tearing multiple knee ligaments. Simmerling’s goal of attending her fourth Olympic Games would be put on hold. Following surgery, she has been diligently rehabbing with the ultimate goal of joining Cycling Canada for her second Summer Olympic Games and fourth Olympic Games in 2020
“This injury has been the hardest mentally and physically to overcome so I’ve had to work the hardest I have ever to maintain a positive outlook and keep focused,” said Simmerling. “I believe a positive mind feeds the body and my body is responding to that. It’s amazing to see the progression every day.”
Alpine Canada and Canada Ski Cross are excited to follow Simmerling on her next journey as she chases another Olympic Games and proudly represents Canada. Simmerling has been an outstanding contributor to Alpine Canada and we appreciate all she has contributed to the sport and her teammates. Congratulations on an amazing career on skis and we wish you the best on your next one on a bike!
“Georgia is the most positive, passionate and dedicated person I know,” said Kelsey Serwa, teammate and member of the Canada Ski Cross team. “She has redefined what is possible as the only Canadian athlete in history to complete and be successful in three different sports at three Olympic Games. Above all that, she is an incredible human being who is compassionate and supportive. As a friend and teammate, I feel very fortunate to have shared countless adventures with this incredible woman and can say that my life is that much brighter with her in it. This girl is unstoppable, and I am greatly looking forward to following her journey as she powers her way to the 2020 Olympics and beyond.”
“I want to thank each of my teammates,” said Simmerling. “They’ve pushed me and helped me grow as an athlete, on and off the hill. Kelsey [Serwa] has been a huge part of my success and I want to thank her for everything she’s given me as a teammate. My coaches have had a huge impact on my career. I have had many coaches in my career and I think that’s been part of what has made me successful. They have all brought something unique to the table and given me a big repertoire of skills to be successful.”
Simmerling’s Alpine Canada retirement is also her announcement that she be focusing fulltime on track cycling in pursuit of another summer medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She closes out her ski career with nine World Cup ski cross podiums and two Winter Olympic Games.
“I didn’t expect to be starting from scratch in my pursuit to the 2020 Games,” said Simmerling. “It’s a bit daunting but I’m really excited to get back to a sport that I have more information about than I did the last time I started in it. With my personal successes in cycling and with my teammates, I’m really excited about the prospect of being on a team again. It’s crazy to think of where I’ll be in the next few months. I’m excited to see where this journey takes me and knowing that I have the support from my winter and summer teammates is huge. I’m excited for the Road to 2020!”
FROM ALPINE CANADA NEWS
by Kathy Stahr | May 2, 2018 | Member News
Dear B.C. Alpine Member and Volunteer – thank you for a great, snowy season!
On behalf of B.C. Alpine and I, thank you for welcoming me into the ski racing family in B.C. and Canada. It has been great for me to work for B.C. Alpine this winter and I am proud when I see all the energy and effort you put down every day to make sure this is the best sport to be a part of. Alpine ski racers in B.C. are in good hands.
This year I managed to visit 14 clubs, and my goal is to have visited the rest of our member clubs by this time next year. That will help me to continue to better understand how alpine ski racing works provincially and across Canada, as well as be able to connect with each of you.
The season has been an all-time high on the membership side. We have 5954 registered members with stable or growing numbers in all of our programs. That is great news. We now have to try to understand what we have done right and also try to identify where we can improve, to continue to grow our membership and help our athletes to become even better skiers. We also need to figure out how we can keep girls in the sport longer as they have lower retention than on the boy’s side.
To make sure we are doing what we are here for and serving you as we should, I would appreciate if club leaders and coaches could take the time to fill out the end of season Club Track as well the coaches survey that we will be sending out shortly. Your feedback enables us to see if we are on the right track in providing the services needed as well as insights on where we need to improve. It also provides an opportunity to identify any new or different needs that we should accommodate and gives us valuable information for our strategic work and historical data tracking.
Based on our survey results, we will identify core takeaways that will be worked on through the summer and presented in September at this year’s membership summit and AGM in Kelowna.
B.C. Alpine is here for all of you – our members. We exist because of you and our job is to give you the tools and support to run your clubs while teaching kids life and ski skills through alpine ski racing.
Again, thank you for a strong first season. I am looking forward to working together with all of you to keep developing Alpine ski racing, making it the best sport to be a part of.
Please, don’t hesitate to contact us if you need anything, have questions or just want to come by for a coffee at our offices.
That’s a wrap!
Anders Hestdalen
General Manager · BC Alpine Ski Association
andersh@bcalpine.com · www.bcalpine.com · 604.612.0633
