Mackenzie Investments Whistler Cup celebrates 25 years international competition

by Kathy Stahr | Mar 31, 2017 | Member News

WHISTLER, B.C. (March 30, 2017) – Whistler Blackcomb is proud to welcome athletes, coaches and families to the 2017 Mackenzie Investments Whistler Cup, the largest and most prestigious international ski racing event in North America. 

The 25^th Whistler Cup will take place April 13 to 16, 2017, and will bring together over 400 of the world’s best 12 to 15-year-old ski racers from more than 20 countries to compete for super-G, slalom and giant slalom glory. Organizers are thrilled to announce the return of the US Team after a six-year hiatus!

“It is my honour to welcome all the athletes, coaches, families, friends, volunteers and sponsors to the 25^th anniversary of the only FIS-sanctioned event of its kind in North America,” said Whistler Cup organizing committee chairman Jim McGovern. “We are very excited this year to be welcoming back a few of the skiing nations like USA, NOR and SUI, who have not attended in a few years.  As well, we greet young athletes from many nations, as we watch their passion in their chosen sport and their eagerness to forge lasting friendships that span the globe.  This year also sees Whistler Cup adding the new Olympic Team Event, which will be sure to add another level of excitement for both the fans and athletes, with each country competing in head to head racing.”

Whistler Cup has a history of showcasing future stars, including Americans Lindsey Vonn, Julia Mancuso and Mikaela Shiffrin, as well as Slovenia’s Tina Maze, Italy’s Christof Innerhofer and Austria’s Nicole Hosp, Anna Fenninger and Mathias Meier. Many of Canada’s biggest stars have also competed on this stage, including Marielle Thompson, Kelsey Serwa, Jan Hudec, Erik Guay, Robbie Dixon, Britt and Michael Janyk and Manuel Osborne-Paradis.

“The Whistler Cup is an excellent opportunity to race in your own backyard against your peers at the international level,” explained World Cup star Manny Osborne-Paradis. “This race gives kids a chance to see the diverse competition that exists in Europe and other countries. Many have used this experience to help them move to the next level and have gone on to compete on the World Cup.”

The inaugural Whistler Cup was held in 1993 and is the brainchild of Max Meier, parent of a young racer at the time. Meier and co-founders Joze Sparovec and Jim Yeates were inspired by the famed Italian international juvenile race “Trofeo Topolino”. Whistler Cup has grown in stature and influence over its 25 years, and its successes are celebrated by Whistler Blackcomb and the Whistler Mountain Ski Club. 

“Mackenzie Investments is proud to once again support Whistler Cup and to be a part of nurturing young ski athletes as they compete on the world stage,” said Barry McInerney, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mackenzie Investments. “We wish all the athletes from around the world success and thank our partners at Whistler Cup for putting on this superb event. From the starting gates to the podium, Whistler Cup is about developing quality athletes and giving them the confidence needed to rise to the top.”

WHISTLER CUP – EVENT SCHEDULE

LIVE TIMING: http://wmsc.info/timing/

EVENT DETAILS: For more information about the Whistler Cup and Canada’s team, which is due to be announced on Monday, April 10, 2017 please visit: whistlercup.com

MEDIA ACCREDITATION: Media planning to attend the Whistler Cup should visit: https://whistlercup.com/forms-2/

SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow Canada’s Alpine Ski Teams on Facebook, Instagram (@alpinecanada) and Twitter (@Alpine_Canada)

Head to SILVER STAR for one of the best VOLUNTEER gigs around!

by Kathy Stahr | Mar 30, 2017 | Member News

We are looking for 15 more volunteers per day at the Teck U14/U16 Westerns, Silver Star Resort

IMPORTANT: Volunteer appreciation & parent/coach social at the Red Antler in the Village, Saturday, 7-9pm!

Here's what we need from you…

Friday, April 7:

• – gatekeepers and posting board on all courses
• – U16 course workers

Saturday, April 8:

• – gatekeepers and posting board on all courses 
• – U16 GS course crossing control (2 people)
• – U16 course workers

Sunday, April 9:

• – gatekeepers and posting board on all courses
• – U16 GS course crossing control (1 person)
• – U16 course workers

*The posting board positions for SL course – no skiing needed
*The traffic control for GS course – no skiing needed

Sign up on BC Alpine's website or email Sandy at westernsvolunteer@gmail.com. 

Every one day helps!
Sandy Kersey

http://www.skisilverstar.com/my-mountain-info/mountain-conditions/snow-report

Seriously amazing race (and other) photos from Derek’s on-hill perspective so far!

by Kathy Stahr | Mar 28, 2017 | Member News

If your name is Alexander,  Antonia,  Asher,  Brodie,  Cameron,  Bruce,  Frances,  Gavin,  Gillian,  Grace,  Isaac,  Kasper,  Katrina,  Kelly,  Kristina,  Kyle,  Lucas,  Marcus,  Max,  Meg,  Mikayla,  Morgan,  Myka,  Nicole,  Pat,  Reece,  Sam,  Soleil,  Tyler,  Tyrah, or none of the above…

…and if you can get enough beautiful ski racing photos, you will definitely want to check out Derek Trussler's "Season Best" pics-to-date!!

Look who took this year’s ACA Builder of the Year Award, obviously!!

by Kathy Stahr | Mar 22, 2017 | Member News

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR VERY OWN BRUCE GOLDSMID!

Calgary, Alta. (March 21, 2017) – Alpine Canada is pleased to announce and congratulate the winners of the 2017 Canadian Ski Racing Awards, presented by Helly Hansen, recognizing outstanding performance and contributions in the sport of Canadian ski racing. The Selection Committee (available here), has chosen the following athletes, individuals and organizations as this year’s recipients: 

• Alpine Athletes of the Year: Erik Guay & Valérie Grenier
• Para-Alpine Athletes of the Year: Mac Marcoux (Guide: Jack Leitch), Alana Ramsay
• Ski Cross Athletes of the Year: Brady Leman & Marielle Thompson 
• Coach of the Year (senior) – Stanley Hayer (Canada Ski Cross)
• Coach of the Year (grassroots) – Jenn Warren (Craigleith Ski Club)
• Volunteer of the Year – Andy Wolff (Vorlage Ski Club)
• Club of the Year – Club de Ski Bromont (Quebec)
• Resort of the Year – Nakiska Resort (Alberta)
• Builder of the Year – Bruce Goldsmid (BC Alpine)
• Minogue Award of Excellence – Ned Ireland (Canada Ski Cross Team)

Winners will be honoured at the 2017 Sports Experts National Championships in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec on Saturday, March 25, 2017.

(And a big BC Alpine congratulations to Ski Cross mega star Marielle Thompson – she gets it for the second year in a row!) 

Tough track, challenging weather for Cypress Teck Coast Zone U14 event

by Kathy Stahr | Mar 21, 2017 | Member News

Young athletes from clubs across the region came out to race. The Cypress Ski Club, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club, Mt Seymour Ski Club, Hemlock Valley Ski Club and Manning Park Ski Club were all well represented!

Ladies' GS podium         Photo credit: Hans Forssander

Men's Slalom podium        photo credit: Hans Forssander

Ladies' Slalom podium          photo credit: Hans Forssander

We acknowledge and thank Teck for their continued and valuable sponsorship of the BC Alpine events held throughout the province. Teck is a key sponsor of BC Alpine and we appreciate their commitment to ski racing and enthusiasm for promoting youth sport in British Columbia.
 

Jaden Dawson (WMSC)

Adam Usher (WMSC)