by Kathy Stahr | May 17, 2016 | Member News
(left to right – Antonia Wearmouth, Mikayla Martin, Cameron Alexander, Max Kirshenblatt)
Vancouver, BC (May 17, 2016) – The BC Ski Team is moving into the 2016/17 season with some powerhouse veterans! Returning members Antonia Wearmouth (Grouse Tyee Ski Club), Mikayla Martin (WMSC) Cameron Alexander (WMSC) and Max Kirshenblatt (WMSC) will be leading the charge in the upcoming season. These four extremely focused individuals will be challenging for podium positions on the Nor-Am circuit and will undoubtedly be pushing the national development team in every event, looking towards earning a spot at the World Junior Championships in Are, Sweden.
BC Alpine is pleased to introduce the up-and-coming young talent recently named to the summer/fall BC Team Training Group. These racers will battle it out for the summer, with the goal of earning a spot on the BC Ski Team for the 2016/17 race season. They will have their work cut for them as they train and prepare for the rigors of a demanding competition schedule. Congratulations to the following men and women!
Training Group Ladies
Soleil Patterson (Red Mountain Racers)
Kristina Natalenko (Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club/VST)
Katie Fleckenstein (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Training Group Men
Kasper Woolley (Whistler Mountain Ski Club/Kootenay Zone Team)
Asher Jordan (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Kyle Alexander (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Alexander Valentin (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
We're happy to report there will be no changes to the amazing BC Team coaching staff for 15/16!
Nick Cooper – BC Ski Team Head Coach
Ryan Jazic – BC Women's Team Head Coach
PL Dumoulin – BC Men's Team Head Coach
By way of an update, congratulations are also in order for our BC Team’s Dominic Unterberger (Revelstoke Ski Club) who has committed to the University of Alaska on a four-year scholarship! Unterberger will be joining former teammates Charley Field and Alix Wells, and will continue to chase his ski racing dreams on the NCAA circuit while pursuing a post-secondary education.
“NCAA is a becoming a viable alternate route to the World Cup, and we’re very excited for Dom,” said Head Coach Nick Cooper. “I'm confidant he will excel as a student athlete and I look forward to following his NCAA career!”
BC Team’s Max Peiffer (WMSC) has decided to stop ski racing and plans to attend the University of Victoria to pursue a degree in business.
by Kathy Stahr | May 11, 2016 | Member News
Nominate an Athlete, Volunteer, Official, Event or Mountain Resort for a 2015/16 BC Alpine Award.
Don't miss this opportunity to help a racer receive some much needed financial support…or to say thank you to an official or volunteer who has gone the extra mile this season!
Please take a few moments and nominate someone.
The BC Alpine Awards Selection Committee will accept one nomination per gender from each club for each Athlete Award. It is the responsibility of the club to coordinate and select the athletes from their club to be nominated for each award.
All other awards are open to nominations from anyone and everyone. (Please note Coach Award nominations have already closed and winners were announced at the April 27th Coach Meetings and Awards Dinner in Kamloops)
Please submit all nominations via the Electronic Nomination Form found on the BC Alpine website under Awards/Media.
Award winners will be recognized at the 2016 BC Alpine AGM and Awards Banquet in Kelowna on Saturday, October 1st, 2016.
Athlete Awards & Bursaries
Dave Murray Ski Foundation Bursary
Criteria
Awarded to one (or more) individual(s) based on:
- Financial need
- Athletic ability / Sportsmanship / Leadership
- Recommendation to BC Alpine by coach or other club representative
- Priority given to FIS level athletes
Award
$750.00
About the Award
Founded in 1987 by friends of Dave Murray after a fundraiser.
Application
Submit via BC Alpine Website
Bob Parsons’ Memorial Fund Bursary
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 U16 and U18 level athletes
Award
$1,000.00 per athlete.
About the Award
Bob Parsons was the original weasel worker at the Whistler World Cup.
Application
Submit via BC Alpine Website
Ski Canada Magazine Bursary
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 Fund is a pool of funds accumulated through commissions paid on the use of the Bank of Montreal MasterCard. The fund is available for not-for-profit ski organizations and groups across Canada.
Award
$1000 awarded to one athlete OR $500 each to one male and one female athlete
Application
Submit via BC Alpine Website
Cary Mullen Award
Criteria
Athlete displaying the most sportsmanlike conduct
Award
Trophy for one male and one female athlete
Application
Submit via BC Alpine Website
Selection
BC Alpine Board makes selection for this award.
Officials' Awards
Moira Jaatteenmaki Official’s Award
Criteria
A continued dedication to the Officials’ program and the sport of ski racing by serving as a committed BC Alpine Official over several seasons . Due to his or her committed effort, this person has enabled ski racing to continue at the highest level in the province of BC and offer the participating athletes the best opportunities for advancement in their pursuit of excellence in ski racing.
Application
Submit nomination letter directly to the Official’s Chair at offchair@bcalpine.com or on the BC Alpine Website
Selection
BC Alpine Official’s Committee makes selection for this award.
Zone Official’s Award
Criteria
Dedication and commitment of a BC Alpine Official (Level I, II, III, IV) during the previous race season.
Award
Four (4) awards granted – one for each zone: Coast, Kootenay, North & Okanagan
Application
Submit names and letters of nomination directly to the BC Alpine Official’s Chair at offchair@bcalpine.com or on the BC Alpine Website
Selection
BC Alpine Official’s Committee makes selection for this award.
Volunteer Awards – BC Alpine Member Awards
Complete Awards Application Form online via the BC Alpine Website
Awards include:
- Volunteer of the Year
- Mountain Resort of the Year
- Event of the Year
- Club Development of the Year
- Long Term President’s Award
Criteria
Volunteer, Mountain Resort & Event
- Dedication above and beyond the normal expectations of a volunteer, club or resort
- A level of commitment that contributes to the improvement of the club or event
- On and/or off-hill participation
Club Development Award
- Club has illustrated growth and significant improvement or leadership
BC Alpine Long Term President’s Award
- Long term service to ski racing in British Columbia
(first published April 24th)
by Kathy Stahr | May 3, 2016 | Member News
VANCOUVER SKI TEAM (FIS/U18) 2016/17
ATHLETE/PARENT INFORMATION MEETING
WED. MAY 18, 2016
Interested coast zone FIS/U18 athletes and their parents are invited to an information session to introduce the 2016/17 VST program and coaching staff.
Hosted by Gavin Preziosi (VST Head Coach) and the VST Alpine Committee.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Delbrook Community Centre, Oak Room, South Building
Refreshments will be served!
SEE YOU THERE
Gavin and the VST alpine committee
by Kathy Stahr | May 2, 2016 | Member News
May 1, 2016
The Vancouver Ski Team alpine committee is pleased to present the 2016/17 VST program and coaching staff. The new VST program will focus on developing potential for a broad range of athletes recognizing their individual goals at the U18/FIS level, while at the same time providing a pathway for athletes to achieve provincial, national, and international success. The new program will be coast zone based, recognizing ACA's LTAD long term progression path, with a full-time, year-round dryland program based in Vancouver, and an on-snow training/race program primarily based on the BC coast.
PROCESS FOR CHANGE
The VST alpine committee, comprised of Raul Anguita (Committee Chair, Cypress SC Program Director), Johnny Crichton (BC Alpine Athletic Director) and Dan Hadley (Grouse Tyee SC Program Director), with the endorsement of all coast zone club Program Directors/Head Coaches, have confirmed changes to the existing program to recognize the principles set out above.
After a Canada-wide and International search with many excellent resumes received, and after interviews with the shortlist candidates including the current VST coach, and after the endorsement of all coast zone professional Head Coaches/Program Directors, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Gavin Preziosi as the Head Coach of the Vancouver Ski Team, effective immediately.
Gavin comes to VST with 16 years of high performance coaching experience, including FIS coaching experience with major clubs in BC and Alberta where his programs have placed many athletes on the Provincial and National ski teams. More recently, he has been the U16 Head Coach at Cypress SC, and was recently recognized as BC Alpine U16 Coach of the Year. He has achieved high levels of coaching certification from CSCF and NCCP in Canada, and is currently completing a degree in kinesiology from Simon Fraser University. He is a career coach with a great future. Welcome to VST, Gavin!
Assistant VST FIS coach to be appointed soon, as numbers require.
VST PROGRAM 2016/17
All VST prospect athletes (U16 moving up) and current VST athletes are invited to our VST May Blackcomb camps:
May Camp #1, Fri. May 6 – Mon. May 9, Blackcomb, SL gates, Coaching staff, VST Head Coach and Canadian Alpine Ski Team athletes/coaches to inspire.
May Camp #2, Fri. May 20-Mon. May 23, GS gates, Coaching staff, VST Head Coach
Registration: Tyee athletes register online on the Grouse Tyee website, all other club athletes contact Raul Anguita (info@cypressskiclub.com) and/or Dan Hadley (programs@grousetyee.com)
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
VST parent/athlete program information meeting (2016/17 dryland and on-snow program):
Wed. May 18, 6:30-8:00pn, North Vancouver, location TBD. We will advise.
From Raul Anguita, for the VST alpine committee.
by Kathy Stahr | Apr 30, 2016 | Member News
