by Kathy Stahr | Jun 29, 2016 | Member News
"I'm not saying I didn't work hard in the gym as a ski racer. But cycling really has taken it to a new level."
By Karin Larsen, CBC News – Posted Jun 25, 2016
Georgia Simmerling is poised to become the first Canadian to compete in three different sports at three different Olympics (photo by Callum Ng/CBC Sports)
"When Georgia Simmerling is officially named to the Canadian Olympic cycling team next week, she can officially lay claim to a singular and remarkable achievement.
Rio will count as the Vancouverite's third Olympic Games, and cycling her third Olympic sport."
"I think I'll be the first Canadian to do that," said the 27-year-old who also raced in alpine skiing at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and in ski cross in Sochi four years later. (read the full CBC article HERE)
You can follow Georgia's exciting journey on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Georgiasimmerling
by Kathy Stahr | Jun 23, 2016 | Member News
I thought it was a far-fetched concept that hurling myself down a mountain at 140 kilometres per hour would be a skill that could transfer into the classroom and, later on, to the corporate world. I was wrong.
Even now, six years after calling time on my professional skiing career I'm amazed at how many transferable skills a professional sports career has given me. The lessons I've learned through almost 30 years of winning and losing, of overcoming obstacles, of setting goals and working to achieve them have become the backbone to who I am, and have been essential in forging a path beyond the piste.
From an early age, skiing was my life — from competitions in my youth, to spending over 13 years on the world stage. During that time I was fortunate to be able to represent Canada at three Olympic Games in Alpine Skiing. However, like the majority of careers in competitive sports, this vocation was short-lived — at least in comparison to jobs in other industries. I did my best to prepare myself for when that day arrived. (READ FULL HUFFINGTON POST ARTICLE HERE)
by Kathy Stahr | Jun 20, 2016 | Member News
Congratulations to parents Justine Parent and Brady Holliday, older brother Felix and proud grandparents Sandy and Bruce Holliday!!
Baby Alec was born 12 days ahead of schedule on Friday, June 17th at 9:30 P.M. weighing 7 lb, 13 oz.
Mom and baby are doing great and big brother Felix is taking his new job very seriously!
by Kathy Stahr | Jun 16, 2016 | Member News
Ski cross stands as one of the newest additions to the winter Olympics, making its debut in 2010. Alpine Canada and the Canada Ski Cross program is creating a Centralized Training and Education Program in Calgary, Alta., which will allow athletes to simultaneously pursue post-secondary education and high performance sport. This program targets ski cross athletes from across Canada with extraordinary potential who are three to six years from Olympic success. Leveraging Calgary training facilities, including CSI Calgary and local ski resorts, the athletes will take advantage of state-of-the-art services while completing a post-secondary education at institutions like the University of Calgary and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). Below are the 2016-17 members of the Canada Ski Cross C and D Team. These athletes are in addition to the A & B members previously named. READ COMPLETE ACA ARTICLE HERE
Men’s Team
Ian Deans, Lake Country, B.C. *
Kristofor Mahler, Markham, Ont. *
Tristan Tafel, Canmore, Alta. *
Zach Belczyk, Banff, Alta. *Centralized Program
Matthew Brady, Burlington, Ont. *Centralized Program
Reece Howden, Cultus Lake, B.C. *Centralized Program
Ned Ireland, Lake Country, B.C. *Centralized Program
Trent McCarthy, Spruce Grove, Alta. *Centralized Program
Kevin MacDonald, Mississauga, Ont *Centralized Program
Ladies Team
Britt Phelan, Mont Tremblant, Que. *
Zoe Chore, Cranbrook, B.C. *Centralized Program
Tiana Gairns, Prince George, B.C. *Centralized Program
Courtney Hoffos, Windermere, B.C. *Centralized Program
India Sherrett, Cranbrook, B.C. *Centralized Program
Alexa Velcic, Calgary, Alta. *Centralized Program
by Kathy Stahr | May 17, 2016 | Member News
(left to right – Sam Mulligan, Stefanie Fleckenstein, Riley Seger)
BC Alpine is excited to announce that three members of the BC Ski Team have been selected to represent Canada on the National Development Team. Please join us in congratulating Stefanie Fleckenstein and Riley Seger of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club, as well as Sam Mulligan from the Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club. These talented and dedicated athletes are set to begin chasing their goals of World Cup wins and Olympic gold medals.
Sam Mulligan, whose best ranking is 6th in the world (for his age and younger) in downhill, comes off a successful season, in spite of having managed a number of minor injuries.
"Being selected to the team is an exciting accomplishment for me, and I'm very happy to be making the step with a few of my BC teammates,” said Mulligan. “I have been reflecting on how I got here, and I am so thankful for all the people who have been involved from the very beginning. The whole team at BC Alpine is incredible, and it is programs like this that make it all possible! There's still a ways to go before world domination, and I'm looking forward to the hard work still to come!"
Riley Seger will be joining older brother Brodie, who made the leap from the BC Team to the National Team two years ago. Seger’s best rank is 4th in the world (for his age and younger) in super-G.
"It feels good to know that the hard work we've been putting in is paying off,” said Seger. “I'm glad I have two of my BC teammates on the team as well, and I’m looking forward to more training and an exciting season ahead."
Stefanie Fleckenstein, whose best rank is 10th in super-G (internationally for her age and younger), wrapped up a stellar season that included numerous FIS gold medals and a trip to the World Junior Championships in Russia.
“I’m honored to be invited to the Alpine Canada Development Team and I’m really excited to get the summer training block underway,” said Fleckenstein. “It’s the next step in my progression towards representing Canada at the World Cup level. My coaches on the BC team (Ryan Jazic, PL Dumoulin, Nick Cooper and Johnny Crichton) have prepared me for what is to come, and Andrew Lambert has done his best to prepare me for the time I am going to be spending in the gym. I feel well prepared for the workload expected by Devo Team coaches, Peter Ryberic and Dani Robson. In addition to a big thanks to the sponsors of the BC Ski Team, I’d like to thank Nenad Lukac and Rossignol Canada, Level Gloves, POC Sports, Whistler Blackcomb and the WMSC for their continued support, allowing me to focus 100% on training and racing. I love ski racing and I’m eager to take this next step and keep driving toward my ultimate goals.”
“We at BC Alpine are extremely proud to be able to move athletes through our system and onto the national team,” said Athletic Director Johnny Crichton. “Our entire organization works tirelessly to provide the foundation and tools these racers will need to succeed on the world cup circuit. The addition of Stefanie, Sam and Riley brings the total to seventeen BC athletes representing Canada in alpine, ski cross and para alpine at the national level.
"I'm very proud and excited for Sam, Riley and Stef as they take this next step in their careers,” said BC Alpine Head Coach Nick Cooper. “I know all three have their sights set on World Cup glory and this is an important next phase for them."
2016-17 National Development Team
Men
Simon Fournier, Quebec, 1997
Sam Mulligan, BC (Grouse Tyee Ski Club) 1997
Huston Philp, Alberta, 1997
Jeffrey Read, Alberta, 1997
Riley Seger, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1997
Women
Stefanie Fleckenstein, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1997
Ali Nullmeyer, Ontario, 1998
Amelia Smart, Alberta, 1998
Marina Vilanova, Quebec, 1999
