Coaches Cup wraps up in Sun Peaks; Mittertreiner; Natalenko win…snacks?!

by Kathy Stahr | Nov 22, 2017 | Member News

Sun Peaks Coaches Cup Men's SL Podium – Devin Mittertreiner (1st place wins sausage), Max Kirshenblatt (2nd place wins chocolate), Myles Kowalczyk (3rd place wins cheese)
click HERE for more pics

Foggy Sun Peaks delivered a good Slalom day! BC Ski Team's Kristina Natalenko (Grouse Tyee) pictured below holds on to win her first race of the season! 

photo courtesy of Chris Naas – click HERE for more pics

Devin Mittertreiner (Windermere Valley Ski Club) pictured below wins his first FIS race in Sun Peaks, and is joined on the podium by BC Ski Team's Max Kirshenblatt (WMSC) in 2nd, and BCST rookie Myles Kowalczyk (WMSC) in 3rd! 

photo courtesy of Chris Naas – click HERE for more pics

Sun Peaks hosts first FIS races of 2017/18; BC Team’s Kirsh & Mah take GS gold

by Kathy Stahr | Nov 21, 2017 | Member News

(left to right) Kristina Natalenko (Grouse), Nicole Mah (Grouse), Ella Renzoni (WMSC), Ryan Jazic (Coach), Frances MacDonald (Grouse)

LIVE TIMING LINK to view Tuesday's men's and women's slalom races!

Twelve athletes fit & ready to represent our Province on the 2017-18 BC Ski Team

by Kathy Stahr | Nov 16, 2017 | Member News

BC Alpine is proud to introduce the six men and six women recently named to the 2017/18 BC Ski Team. Antonia Wearmouth (Grouse), Soleil Patterson (Red Mountain) and Kristina Natalenko (Grouse) are returning to the ladies' squad and are joined this year by Frances MacDonald (Grouse), Nicole Mah (Grouse) and Ella Renzoni (WMSC). The men's team is made up of 5 returning athletes and one rookie. Cameron Alexander (WMSC), Max Kirshenblatt (WMSC), Alexander Valentin (WMSC), Kyle Alexander (WMSC) and Asher Jordan (WMSC) welcome newcommer Myles Kowalczyk (WMSC). 

The preparation period for this year's BC Ski Team has been close to perfect. It began in April with a speed camp hosted by Alpine Canada at Panorama, followed by a four-day on-snow camp at Sun Peaks. In June there were 16 stellar days of GS and slalom on the Whistler t-bars – huge thanks to the Whistler Moutain Ski Club for making that happen! July and August were all about dryland training, also in Whistler, including lifting, running, hiking, mountain biking and yoga. Luck continued when the team travelled to El Colorado, Chile in October to train GS, super-G and a little slalom, all in flawless conditions! Then it was off to Hintertux and Stelvio in Europe for more unbelievable snow conditions and unmatched training opportunities. Antonia Wearmouth and Soleil Patterson will be starting their season late as they are recovering from injuries. Wearmouth had both shoulders surgically repaired this summer, and Patterson broke her leg training in June, but is expected back on snow later this month. 

"This is always an exciting time of year for us," said BC Ski Team Head Coach, Nick Cooper. "This group has worked hard and really come together over the past 6 months. Our veterans were able to take advantage of the great training we've had all summer and have continued to improve, while the entire rookie crew has pushed to new levels in both their physical preparation and their skiing. We are now in Sun Peaks making our final push for the season with two 'warm up' races before heading to the Rockies for some Nor-Am competition. I know I speak for everyone when I say we are excited to get this season started!"

“I am very happy about how the team is coming together this year,” said BC Alpine Vice President, Johnny Crichton. “We have a group of fast athletes who have taken full advantage of an excellent prep period. I am particularly excited about Nicole Mah (Grouse/VST) and Frances MacDonald (Grouse/VST) who came to an invitee camp last year, and although they didn’t make the team at the time, they went back to their zone, got to work, tried out again this year and made the team. This shows dedication, perseverance and grit, exactly what we are looking for. We have an exciting team, hardworking coaches and a system that demands 100% effort. I am really hoping that our injured athletes (Soleil Patterson and Antonio Wearmouth) heal up quickly and are able get back to where they were and even better! Remember, get your platform early, stand on the ski at the top of the turn and bring shape to the gate…everything else will take care of itself.”

None of this would be possible without our top-notch coaching staff led again this year by Head Coach Nick Cooper. Ryan Jazic is back as head coach for the women's team and we are thrilled to welcome Morgan Pridy as men's head coach. 

Please join us in congratulating the following athletes named to the 2017/18 BC Ski Team (stay tuned for updated bios and team photos coming soon):

Women’s BC Ski Team

Antonia Wearmouth – 1997 (Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club) 

Soleil Patterson – 1998 (Red Mountain Racers)

Kristina Natalenko – 1999 (Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club)

Frances MacDonald – 1999 (Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club)

Nicole Mah – 1999 (Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club)

Ella Renzoni – 2000 (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)

Men’s BC Ski Team

Cameron Alexander – 1997 (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)

Max Kirshenblatt – 1998 (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)

Alexander Valentin – 1999 (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)

Kyle Alexander – 1999 (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)

Asher Jordan – 1999 (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)

Myles Kowalczyk – 2000 (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)

BC Ski Team Coaching Staff for 2017/18

Nick Cooper – BC Ski Team Head Coach

Ryan Jazic – Women's Team Head Coach

Morgan Pridy – Men's Team Head Coach

12th Annual Peak to Peak Dinner and Auction a huge success in Vancouver

by Kathy Stahr | Nov 3, 2017 | Member News

Canadian Ski Teams Celebrate 100 Days to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games (left to right) Sam Mulligan, Riley Seger, Brodie Seger, Broderick Thompson, Georgia Simmerling, Manny Osborne-Paradis, Kelly VanderBeek (more photos available here https://www.flickr.com/photos/bcalpine/albums/72157686921055622

BC Alpine hosted its 12th annual Peak to Peak fundraising dinner and auction on Wednesday, November 1st at Vancouver's Blue Water Cafe. The sold out affair was attended by 160 supporters of ski racing who enjoyed meeting and mingling with some of Canada's top Alpine and Ski Cross athletes and Olympians. The audience was treated to a number of heart-felt speaches by athletes sharing stories about their journeys to the top of their sports and the importance of mentorship and financial support from their communities along the way.

Olympian, retired alpine skier and sports broadcaster Kelly VanderBeek was the perfect emcee for the evening, and was joined at the podium by retired slalom star Mike Janyk who introduced Canadian Team members Manny Osborne-Paradis, Georgia Simmerling, Broderick Thompson, Brodie Seger, Riley Seger and Sam Mulligan. For VanderBeek this opportunity to give back to the sport and the Country she grew up in was a warmup for her upcoming big assignment…commentating for Team Canada at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang! Some members of the BC's provincial Alpine Ski Team were also on hand to meet the P2P guests. 

BC Alpine was pleased to welcome some of its key sponsors to the event, including Teck, Haywood and Anthem Properties! A highlight of the evening was the live auction featuring generous donations from One Ocean Expeditions, Altus Mountain Guides, Selkirk Snowcat Skiing, Air Canada Simulator and Sonora Resort. Thank you to all the organizers, volunteers and everyone who donated or bid on one of our live or silent auction items. You helped us raise much needed funds for BC Alpine and Alpine Canada. 

Special thanks to our table and in-kind sponsors:

Delbrook Capital, Fidelity Investments, Ideal Welders, Novex, Teck, Vertex One, Wheaton Precious Metals, Blue Water Cafe, C2 Imaging, One Ocean Expeditions, See Ya Later Ranch, Selkirk Snowcat Skiing, Sonora Resort, Whistler Brewing Co., and Whistler Blackcomb 

Top BC Skiers to Host Annual Fundraising Gala in Vancouver; Peak to Peak 2017

by Kathy Stahr | Oct 27, 2017 | Member News

Vancouver, BC (Friday, October 27, 2017) – Canada’s top alpine and ski cross athletes will gather at Vancouver’s Blue Water Café on Wednesday, November 1^st for the 12th annual Peak to Peak Gala. The evening is organized by BC Alpine to raise funds for training facilities, coaching and safety equipment for provincial and national ski programs. The popular event is attended by a variety of corporations and ski enthusiasts, and has raised more than $1.4 million for ski racing since it began in 2005.

The evening will recognize the achievements of national alpine and ski cross team members including Manuel Osborne-Paradis (North Vancouver) who earned a bronze medal at the 2017 World Alpine Ski Championships, Georgia Simmerling (West Vancouver), three-time Olympian and 2016 Rio Olympic cycling bronze medalist, and Whistler’s Marielle Thompson, 2014 Sochi Olympic ski cross gold medalist and three-time Crystal Globe winner.

Manuel Osborne-Paradis, Simmerling and Thompson will be joined by national team racers Broderick Thompson (Whistler), Brodie Seger (North Vancouver), Riley Seger (North Vancouver) and Sam Mulligan (Vancouver). Also attending will be retired national team skier and 15-time Canadian champion Britt Janyk (Whistler), one of the finest male technical skiers that Canada has produced, Mike Janyk (Whistler) and Kathy Kreiner (North Vancouver), a gold medalist in the1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria.

The highlight of the evening will be the live auction featuring a generous donation from One Ocean Expeditions, Squamish-based Polar Cruise operator. The lucky winner will experience an action-packed sensational expedition cruise to Antarctica!

"Travelling with One Ocean Expeditions changed me forever,” said Olympian Kelly Vanderbeek who joined an Arctic expedition this summer. “Seeing polar bears in their natural environment, visiting remote communities like Pond Inlet and experiencing daylight throughout the night are memories I both cherish and share.”

"We are honoured to host such influential guests such as Kelly Vanderbeek on our voyages,” said Andrew Prossin, Managing Director of One Ocean Expeditions. “Kelly brought her unique story of home-life, extensive training, difficulties and dreams into the Arctic, in an environment where such goals seem impossibly distant at times. Our support and involvement with the communities in which we visit is a core part of our philosophy, and Kelly was instrumental in our visit to Pond Inlet to share with local children her story of overcoming fear and obstacles to pursue her dreams. Offering insight at this exceptional level of achievement inspired not only the local youth, but also our guests, as she shared awareness of what you can accomplish with such dedication and commitment”.

“The alpine ski community in BC is thrilled and grateful to have wonderful supporters like One Ocean Expeditions,” said  Bruce Goldsmid, event organizer and retired BC Alpine CEO. They help make athletes’ dreams come true!”

About BC Alpine:
The BC Alpine Ski Association is the provincial governing body for alpine ski racing, overseeing its 31 member ski clubs. As 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