by Keven Dubinsky | Mar 9, 2009 | Member News
Whistler – After a long and successful stint with the B.C. Ski Team, Whistler’s Ali Leighton is tearing it up as a skier in the U.S. college stream.
Leighton, now a member of the Montana State University ski team based in Bozeman, is happily settled in as an Exercise Science student at the NCAA Division 1 school. The idea of college racing appealed to her because after many years of racing with the B.C. team and the Whistler Mountain Ski Club (WMSC), the past winner of the Pontiac Cup women’s series standings wasn’t ready to leave her sport behind.
“I decided on racing college because I wasn’t really done with the sport and thought that I could still enjoy ski racing in a more relaxed setting,” Leighton wrote in an email to The Question. “College racing is a great opportunity to get an education and to continue with skiing in a competitive environment.”
Leighton, who knocked off national team racers to win a silver medal in the 2006 Pontiac GMC Canadian Championships super G event in Whistler, said she loves “the team aspect of college racing,” where individual results are combined to help the team score. The Alpine team tallies are then added to the Nordic team’s score for a total to rank against the other schools.
Happily describing how the college circuit is taking her to interesting places such as New Mexico and Alaska, Leighton said college racing is still highly competitive.
“There are lots of Europeans that come over to race NCAA that have good points and are fast skiers. It compares to races at the NorAm level that I participated in with the B.C. team,” she wrote.
With a 10th-place result at a race in Park City last season and several top-10 second-run times in slalom and giant slalom races this season, Leighton said she came well prepared to the program thanks to the B.C. team and the WMSC.
“Both teams provided a competitive environment with some great coaching that was able to carry over to my college career. I owe a lot to the WMSC program and Jordan Williams that set me up to qualify for the B.C. team, which really progressed my career,” Leighton wrote.
Williams warmly remembers Leighton’s rise with Kendall Benbow and Danielle Robson as the illustrious RC3 group — the Rookie Chicks 3 — who moved solidly from the WMSC to the provincial ski team. Williams said Leighton’s current path is “great to see,” offering a different set of opportunities and educational advantages while demonstrating what hardworking, focused athletes can achieve.
“She’s really a diligent athlete… Ali was one that was always prepared,” Williams said.
While she misses Whistler, Leighton said she’s happy where she is and enjoying the chance to try something new. She chose Montana State because it seemed like the best fit for her, with the school located in an active, outdoors-minded community like Whistler and a great group of athletes on the team, plus a passionate coach.
Leighton said she also misses racing super G — her favourite event with the B.C. team — but she sated her craving in a recent FIS Development Speed Series event at Big Sky Resort, where she finished fifth in a super G race.
After taking some lumps and hikes in the Western Regionals event in Reno, Nev., Leighton is hoping to tackle some more FIS races to close out the year with some solid results.
Written by Megan Grittani-Livingston
This article is courtesy of the Whistler Question newspaper and first appeared on February 26, 2009: http://www.whistlerquestion.com/article/20090226/WHISTLER02/302199743/1007
by Keven Dubinsky | Mar 9, 2009 | Member News
We have just learned that the Miele Cup that was cancelled due to snow conditions in Kimberley has been rescheduled in Panorama – March 17 – 20, 2009. 2 GS and 2 Slaloms will be held.
A race notice is already posted and available on the BC Alpine calendar (HERE). Panorama resort has accommodation available, please call Ryan Stemming (250) 341-3030. All entries should be forwarded to nbrush@intrawest.com – the cut off for entries is at noon Thursday, March 12 2009.
A special thanks to all the volunteers who stepped up and made a commitment to help.
by Keven Dubinsky | Jan 19, 2009 | Member News
BC Alpine uses February first as a benchmark date for membership registration in our database. It is important to us to have this information available, and thus we are reaching out to the clubs to please update all program registrations in our database by this time.
Important to note regarding this is that this is not a cut off or deadline towards registrations, so if you get more members join the club after this date please still add them. Do remember to add your members before they are involved in events, as the date/time they are registered with us is when their liability insurance starts and it cannot be done retroactively.
by Keven Dubinsky | Jan 15, 2009 | Member News
Due to an accidental wiring issue in our building the BC Alpine office has not had access to our telephones since early afternoon on Jan 14th. The expected timeline to resolve to this issue is early next week, so please expect to use alternate methods of communication with us during this time. Email is still fully available, and this is the reccomended method to communicate with us at this time.
We also have one cellular phone in the office which can be called in order to get in touch with anyone here: 604.787.9431
by Keven Dubinsky | Jan 5, 2009 | Member News
ST. JOHANN, AUT (January 5, 2009) – In her first World Cup Ski Cross event ever, Canada’s Kelsey Serwa (Kelowna, BC) rockets to a bronze medal. A rookie to the team, Serwa surprised all as she held on, in difficult conditions, to secure a 3rd place at the St. Johann, AUT World Cup night race.
Looking impressive in her first heat, Serwa had 3rd lane choice and was able to secure the hole shot out of the start and held it to the finish. In the semifinal round Serwa, looking impressive again took the hole shot but lost the lead on a difficult right hand turn but was able to hold on to 2nd place and secure a spot in the final.
Drawing a difficult start, Serwa left the gate and settled into 4th spot behind Marion Josserand (FRA), Katharina Gutensohn (AUT) and World #1 Ophelie David (FRA). Skiing smart and waiting for an opening Serwa watched as David prereleased out of her ski and was forced from the race, leaving Serwa in 3rd spot on the day.
“I had a really difficult lane from the start and knew I had my work cut out for me. Let’s face it I was already pretty excited about being in the final of my first Ski Cross World Cup ever and when I saw Ophelie lose a ski I thought ‘whoa! I’m on the podium!’ at that point I wanted to continue to ski smart to the finish.” Said Serwa
After being released from the Canadian Alpine Ski Team at the end of last season Kelsey Serwa (Kelowna, BC.) had some quick thinking to do about her future. Alpine spring events in Quebec had just finished and there was a tight window for her to hop a flight back to her native BC to compete in the Canadian Ski Cross Championships where she placed 2nd.
When asked about the events of the last year Serwa said, “Third place in today’s race at St. Johann, AUT pretty much validates the decision to make the move to Ski Cross. It’s really exciting to be a part of a new Olympic Sport and get the opportunity to possibly compete in the Olympics in front of a home town crowd!”
On the Men’s side, Chris DelBosco (Sudbury, ONT) had a strong day finishing the in 7th spot. DelBosco battled through the heat after being seeded with world #1, Thomas Kraus (CZE) in each heat. In the semifinal heat DelBosco was sitting in second spot behind Casey Puckett but was unable to fend off Andreas Matt (AUT).
“I was actually pretty psyched to be seeded with Kraus in every heat, he’s the world number one and it’s always great to gage yourself against the best. I feel really good about today, it’s a better start than last season and it feels like I’m picking up where I left off.” Said DelBosco
Another rookie Brady Leman (Calgary, AB) was Canada’s top skier in yesterdays qualifier but was eliminated in the 2nd round after a tangle off a jump with Sylvain Miaillier (FRA). Leman, also competing in his first World Cup race, finished the day in an impressive 11th place.
Veteran Stanley Hayer (Calgary, AB), started the first heat with a hole shot but lost ground on a fall away turn and was unable to recover after being passed by Ted Piccard (FRA) and Robin Lenel (FRA)
RESULTS FROM ST. JOHANN AUSTRIA WORLD CUP
LADIES
1 – JOSSERAND Marion FRA
2 – GUTENSOHN Katharina AUT
3 – SERWA Kelsey CAN
4 – DAVID Ophelie FRA
5 – BERNTSEN Hedda NOR
6 – SCHAEDLER Sarah LIE
7 – OFNER Katrin AUT
8 – LUEDI Sanna
MEN’S
1 – SCHMID Michael SUI
2 – MATT Andreas AUT
3 – ELIASSON Tommy SWE
4 – PUCKETT Casey USA
5 – KRAUS Tomas CZE
6 – PICCARD Ted FRA
7 – DELBOSCO Christopher CAN
8 – STEFFEN Andreas SUI
11 – LEMAN Brady CAN
19 – HAYER Stanley CAN
For Further Information Contact:
Andrew Squires
Canadian Ski Cross Team
Director of Marketing and Supplier Services
Ph. – (403) 397 9943
