by Sue-Lynda Bate | May 28, 2002 | Member News
Rossland's Nancy Greene Raine, ski legend turned entrepreneur, received an
honorary degree from Royal Roads University in Victoria on Friday.
“Nancy Greene Raine remains a cherished national hero, whose commitment to
excellence, to entrepreneurial vision and to her sport continues to inspire
new generations of Canadian athletes,” said university president Gerry
Kelly.
Greene Raine, who learned to ski on the slopes of Red Mountain, B.C., is one
of Canada's most decorated ski racers. She won two World Cup titles in 1967
and 1968 and gold and silver medals at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble,
France.
Following her retirement from competitive skiing, Greene and her husband Al
Raine founded the Nancy Greene Ski League, which has served as an
entry-level race program for young children for more than 30 years.
Greene and Raine were also instrumental in the early promotion of Whistler,
where they built their first hotel in the 1970s. In 1994, they brought their
experience to Sun Peaks, a world-class ski resort near Kamloops, where
Greene is director of skiing.
by Sue-Lynda Bate | May 27, 2002 | Member News
The 8th annual Alpine Classic Invitational Golf Tournament wrapped up Sunday in Oliver at the Fairview Mountain Golf Course. Thanks to the generosity of the sponsors and the participants the Alpine Classic was a great success. Thankfully the weather cooperated and sheltered the 84 participants from the rain for most of the tournament. Twenty-one teams competed and helped raise funds for the BC Ski Team.
Team Keven Wert took top honours, Team Michael Janyk took second spot and Team Ryan Oughtred was third. Fantastic play, delicious food, stellar prizes and giveaways made for a great weekend in the somewhat sunny okanagan.
A big thank-you to Amanda Shaw who organizes, arranges, changes, fixes and just generally makes sure that everyone who attends is well taken care of! Thanks to everyone who particpated and see you next year!
by Sue-Lynda Bate | May 23, 2002 | Member News
Alpine Canada Alpin today named Ken Read the organization's new president and equipped the former alpine skiing great with a strong mandate to again lead Canada to international greatness.
“Ken Read is a winner, an established leader, and a Canadian ski racing legend with proven business acumen,” said board chairman Renaud Beauchesne. “Our action today demonstrates firm intent to win World Cups, to deliver Olympic success, and to rekindle the passionate enthusiasm for ski racing Canadians have enjoyed in the past.”
Read, a member of the legendary, highly successful Crazy Canuck men's team in the 1970s, was selected to the country's top skiing position after an extensive national and international search.
“Canadians deserve international and Olympic success, and our athletes deserve the financial, coaching, and support resources necessary to become the best in the world,” said Mr. Read, a bilingual, 46-year-old Calgarian who at age 20 became the youngest ever athlete to win a World Cup.
“The foundation for greatness exists within our national team athletes, the passionate dedication shown every winter weekend by thousands of young racers competing from coast to coast, and the financial commitment of corporate sponsors,” added Mr. Read. “Alpine Canada Alpin must build on the existing foundation and excel in all that we do, so our athletes have the resources to focus on winning.”
Mr. Read, winner of five downhills, 14 World Cup medals, and a two-time Olympian, earned a university economics degree and built a successful national event management company since retiring from ski racing. His charity work has raised more than $2.8 million.
He has been a member of the Canadian Olympic Association since 1981 and has served in several capacities, including as Chef de Mission for the 1992 Olympic Summer Games in Barcelona, Spain.
A two-time winner as Canada's male athlete of the year, a member of the Order of Canada and an inductee to the Canada Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Ski Museum, this past April he was honoured with the Bruce Kidd Award for his lifetime commitment to athlete leadership. Read is also a member of the International Ski Federation (FIS) Alpine Executive Board, the governing committee for the sport of alpine ski racing.
“We wanted a president with a passion for ski racing, a commitment to athletic excellence and we've got that in Ken Read,” said Beauchesne. “Today, the resurgence of Canadian ski racing was propelled forward.”
Read has lived in Calgary since 1968, where he resides with his wife Lynda, also an alumnus of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, and their three sons Erik, Kevyn and Jeffrey, who also have become keen skiers. “It's been almost 20 years since I retired from this team and I'm excited to be back working with such a young and talented group of racers,” said Read.
Alpine Canada Alpin is the governing body for ski racing in Canada. ACA manages the Canadian Alpine Ski Team and helps fuel a number of race programs, including the Pontiac GMC Cup Series, the Nor-Am Cup series, FIS races in Canada and the FIS World Cup which features the best alpine racers in the world.
Ken Read
Biography
Canadian Alpine Ski Team
10-year member of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team (1973 to 1983)
by Sue-Lynda Bate | May 17, 2002 | Member News
Six athletes were named to the BC Alpine Ski Team Friday in Vancouver as the 2002/2003 Men's BC Alpine Ski Team was announced.
The athletes have been chosen by the coaches to represent their clubs and British Columbia on the Provincial stage. Former National Junior Team member Scott Anderson (Rossland) will lead the six men team into the 2002/2003 season.
The BC Alpine men's coaching team of Dale Stephens and Darren Thorburn are pleased with the selection and ready for a super season on the slopes. “We're looking forward to working with this collection of guys. It's an exciting mix with a diverse variety of goals. It's a terrific opportunity for the entire team as the guys will learn from each other.”
Solid supporters of the Men's BC Ski Team include Pontiac GMC with team vans, Air Canada supports team travel and Descente outfits the athletes and coaches each season.
About the Men's BC Ski Team:
The BC Ski Team consists of the top male Alpine Ski Racers in the province of British Columbia. The athletes are selected based on their world ranking in the four disciplines of ski racing: downhill, super giant slalom, giant slalom and slalom. These athletes train and compete nationally and internationally all year round with over 120 days on snow per year. In the summer they train in Whistler, Mt. Hood, Oregon and Chile, South America. The team also trains daily either by mountain biking, running, weight training and/or gymnastics. Each winter the team travels to Europe for a month. Throughout the winter they attend up to 45-50 competitions all over North America and Europe.
About BC Alpine:
BC Alpine is committed to bringing to our communities fun, challenge, and opportunities for personal excellence through participation and competition in alpine ski racing.
Men's BC Ski Team:
Scott Anderson, Rossland, Red Mountain Racers;
Robbie Dixon, North Vancouver, Whistler Mountain Ski Club;
Dustin Fraser, Quathiaski Cove, Mt. Washington Ski Club;
Graham Kraft, Vernon, Silver Star Ski Club;
Manuel Osborne Paradis, North Vancouver, Whistler Mountain Ski Club;
Marcus Waring, North Vancouver, Mt Seymour Ski Club;
For more information, please contact:
Sue-Lynda Gratton
Communications Manager
BC Alpine Ski Association
(604) 737-3071
Email: skiboss@telus.net
Website: www.bcalpine.com
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