Three days of learning, sharing and celebration brought B.C.’s ski racing community together as the countdown to the 2026–27 season begins.
There may not have been any snow on the ground, but there was plenty of ski racing energy in Sun Peaks this weekend. [All presentations can be viewed at the bottom of this article.]
Under bright sunshine and cooling temperatures, the tight-knit BC Alpine community converged on the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel for three days of learning, resource sharing, discussion and celebration, officially kicking off the 2026–27 ski racing season.
Coaching philosophies shared
Coaches got things underway Friday with a full afternoon of discussion and professional development, with a focus on the topic “Good is Built: From Reflection to Action,” bringing coaches together around shared philosophies and, importantly, how those ideas can translate into action within their programs this winter.
The program also included Mike Janyk on Self Determination Theory, an update and discussion with Alpine Canada’s Declan Norris on high performance training methodology, and a look ahead to the 2027 race calendar.
BC Ski Team head coach Morgan Pridy provided a technical update and some of the learnings emerging from the current provincial team. The session provided an opportunity to connect what is happening at the provincial-team level with athlete and coach development throughout the BC Alpine pathway.
The community comes together
By Saturday afternoon, the room had grown as representatives from BC Alpine member clubs joined coaches for a packed Member Summit featuring information, discussion and resources they could take back to their home clubs.
BC Alpine CEO Anders Hestdalen opened the Summit with an update on progress toward the organization’s 2023–2028 Strategic Plan before Tom Berekoff and Sport BC CEO Rob Newman took the floor for a session on philanthropy, fundraising and the range of services available to sport organizations in B.C.
One of the biggest opportunities discussed was the BC Amateur Sport Fund, which raised an impressive $8.1 million in 2025, with funds earmarked for amateur sport initiatives throughout the province. The discussion highlighted the opportunity for sport organizations to think differently about philanthropy and fundraising, and to tap into resources already available within B.C.’s amateur sport system.
The group also learned more about KidSport, Sport BC’s program dedicated to helping remove financial barriers that prevent children and youth from participating in organized sport. Together, the two programs offered a powerful example of the resources available to help strengthen sport from the grassroots up.
The rest of Saturday offered something for virtually every corner of the ski racing community. Declan Norris explored fitness qualities in young athletes, while Julie Morris of MyHR tackled a challenge familiar to many ski clubs, hiring and retaining seasonal staff, and Johnny Crichton continued the Good is Built conversation.
Later in the afternoon, Laurie Ehrman of Alpine Canada led a discussion on diversity, equity and inclusion in alpine ski racing, while Mark Newton shared information on Alpine Canada’s Para-Ready Program and available grant opportunities.
A night to celebrate
Saturday evening shifted from learning to celebration with the annual Goldie Awards, recognizing the athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials, clubs and ski resorts whose contributions helped make the 2025–26 season a success. Named in honour of Bruce “Goldie” Goldsmid, who spent 37 years leading BC Alpine, the Goldies celebrate the people and organizations that make ski racing possible across the province. [full list of recipients is below the photo gallery.]
2026 Goldie Award winners
Charlie Yule, Mt. Washington Ski Club — Dave Murray Bursary
Nevis Liu, Whistler Mountain Ski Club — Dave Murray Bursary
Luke Belsham, Revelstoke Ski Club — Bob Parsons’ Bursary
Hazel Schmidt, Mt. Washington Ski Club — Bob Parsons’ Bursary
Danica Williams, Mt. Washington Ski Club — Ski Canada Bursary
Hannah Jensen, Whistler Mountain Ski Club — Athlete of the Year
Sylvi Nymann, Mt. Washington Ski Club — Development Coach of the Year
Dillon Prophet, BC Ski Team — High Performance FIS Coach of the Year
Drew Hetherington, Whistler Mountain Ski Club — Head Coach of the Year
Zak Bourgon, Windermere Valley Ski Club — Hustler Award
Whistler Mountain Ski Club U14 — Team of the Year
Rob Boyd, Whistler Mountain Ski Club — Coast Zone Official of the Year
Craig “Rooster” Rusnak, Windermere Valley Ski Club — Kootenay Zone Official of the Year
Andrew Czornohalan, Smithers Ski & Snowboard Club — North Zone Official of the Year
Kim Shippam & Murray Smith, Vernon Ski Club — Okanagan Zone Official of the Year
Josh Douglas, Whistler Mountain Ski Club — Moira Jaatteenmaki Provincial Official of the Year
Apex Ski Club — Ski Club of the Year
Teck U14 Provincials, Apex Ski Club — Event of the Year
Mt. Washington Alpine Resort — Ski Resort of the Year
John Trimmer, Mt. Washington Ski Club — BC Alpine Builder Award
Planning for success
Sunday morning brought everyone back together for a few final updates before the Annual General Meeting.
Hestdalen presented From Start Gates to Spend Gates, BC Alpine’s Value of Ski Racing Study, followed by an officials update from Mark Schwenck and Drew Hetherington’s presentation on the Alpine Terrain Awareness Program.
The AGM officially brought the weekend to a close and marked the beginning of a new chapter for the organization, with a new Board of Directors elected under BC Alpine’s newly adopted bylaws. After three days of conversations, new ideas, shared resources, reconnecting with friends and celebrating some of the people who make the sport special, attention now turns to what everyone is thinking about and preparing for: the season ahead.
BC Alpine is pleased to announce an expanded three-year partnership with Haywood Securities Inc. that will strengthen support for high-performance alpine ski racing across British Columbia.
Beginning with the 2026-27 season, Haywood Securities will become the title sponsor of BC Alpine’s provincial FIS race series. The series will be renamed the Haywood FIS Race Series, reflecting Haywood’s increased commitment to the development of B.C.’s emerging high-performance athletes.
Haywood will also continue as the lead sponsor of the BC Ski Team, building on a longstanding partnership that has supported athletes competing at the provincial, national and international levels.
Supporting the High-Performance Pathway
The Haywood FIS Race Series is expected to include four to five events at ski areas throughout British Columbia each season. The series provides an essential competitive pathway for athletes progressing from club programs to the BC Ski Team, national teams and international competition.
Haywood’s continued support of the BC Ski Team will help BC Alpine provide the coaching, training, competition and development opportunities athletes need to pursue success at the highest levels of the sport.
“Haywood Securities is proud to expand our partnership with BC Alpine and become the title sponsor of the Haywood FIS Race Series. We believe in supporting athletes who demonstrate commitment, resilience and the drive to perform at their best. We look forward to continuing our support of the BC Ski Team while helping create meaningful opportunities for the next generation of alpine ski racers across British Columbia.”
— Rob Blanchard, Haywood Securities
BC Alpine CEO Anders Hestdalen welcomed the expanded partnership and its continued impact on the provincial high-performance pathway.
“Haywood Securities has demonstrated a genuine long-term commitment to alpine ski racing in British Columbia and Canada. Their support has been instrumental in the success of the BC Ski Team and in creating opportunities for our athletes to develop and compete at the highest levels. Within our community, Haywood Securities has become synonymous with high performance, and we are incredibly proud to expand this partnership through the new Haywood FIS Race Series. On behalf of the entire BC Alpine community, I would also like to extend a special thank you to Rob Blanchard and Bernard Leroux for their continued support and commitment to alpine ski racing in British Columbia.”
— Anders Hestdalen, CEO, BC Alpine
The expanded partnership represents a shared commitment to strengthening the provincial racing system, supporting B.C.’s leading athletes and building a sustainable high-performance pathway for the next generation.
BC Alpine looks forward to launching the inaugural Haywood FIS Race Series in the 2026-27 season.
Following the approval of BC Alpine’s new bylaws at the Special General Meeting on July 28, 2026, nominations are now open for election to the BC Alpine Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting on Oct. 4, 2026.
BC Alpine is seeking qualified candidates who can contribute to a skilled, diverse and effective Board. Experience in one or more of the following areas is particularly valuable:
Board leadership and sport governance
Finance, legal or human resources
Sponsorship and technology
Coaching, ski racing or officiating
Para sport
BC Alpine also encourages nominations that support a Board reflecting a diversity of ages, genders, backgrounds and perspectives, including greater representation from First Nations and Asian communities and those with experience in para sport.
Individuals may nominate themselves or another person. Every nomination must include the nominee’s written consent, provided by signed or electronic signature.
Nominations must be submitted to BC Alpine by midnight Pacific Time on Sept. 13, 2026, 21 days before the AGM.
Please submit nominations and written consent to Anders at Andersh@bcalpine.com.
BC Alpine has announced six athletes selected to the 2026-27 BC Training Group, a key step in the high-performance pathway toward future BC Ski Team selection.
The six-athlete training group features a mix of returning talent and emerging athletes from across the province, providing a strong foundation for the upcoming season.
“Despite it being a trying season for the team, with some focused on overcoming injury and the rest fighting to make headway at Nor-Am competition, the entire group worked relentlessly to create stable footing coming into the 26/27 season and I believe they have put themselves in a strong position to both expedite progress in the prep and perform during the comp. We are very proud of Hannah and the work she put in to be selected for CAST D, we will be cheering hard for her. We are also very excited for Steve and Baptiste to start their next chapters and wish them continued success.”
Pridy said the combination of experienced athletes, new additions and coaching continuity has created an exciting environment heading into the 2026-27 season.
“Our crew has already been working hard during the spring and it’s exciting to get everyone together this month. All of the athletes are bringing different strengths into our environment and I look forward to seeing how high of a standard they can set as we work together towards them achieving their goals”
The coaching staff remains unchanged, with Pridy returning as head coach alongside assistant coaches Eric Schwenck and Dillon Prophet.
The team will begin its preparation with a month-long fitness and training camp in Fernie, followed by on-snow camps in Europe in August and South America in October. The focus throughout the summer and fall will be on physical preparation, technical development and building momentum toward the race season.
The MEGA Camp at Sun Peaks Resort lived up to the hype, welcoming a record-setting number of participants and creating a constant buzz of activity on and off the slopes. Over 10 days, the resort was energized by hard work, high performance, and an inspiring atmosphere that showcased the strength of alpine ski racing in British Columbia.
The MEGA Cup FIS races were equally successful, attracting a deep field of competitors from across Canada and the United States. Blessed with sunny skies, firm overnight freezes, and outstanding track preparation, athletes enjoyed four days of fair, world-class racing with minimal need for salt despite warm daytime temperatures.
Across two giant slalom races and two slalom races, organizers loaded the lifts at 6 a.m. each morning and completed racing by noon — an impressive operational achievement with fields reaching as many as 240 racers. The efficient schedule and exceptional surface conditions helped many athletes post career-best FIS points to close the season.
The BC Ski Team delivered several standout performances. Fourth-year BCST racer Dylan Stevens opened the series with victory in the first giant slalom after starting 29th in a field of 122 racers, then added a fifth-place finish the following day. Teammate Baptiste Cais earned two slalom podium finishes, placing second and third across the two-race series.
On the women’s side, Hannah Jensen capped a strong season with a win in the second giant slalom, while also finishing fourth and sixth in slalom competition. Lola Gilbert added a bronze medal in giant slalom and delivered consistent results throughout the week. See the full results below.
“MEGA Camp and the Mega Cup once again demonstrated what is possible when clubs, coaches, volunteers, officials, and resorts come together with a shared commitment to athlete development,” said Anders Hestdalen. “Sun Peaks provided an exceptional stage for competition, and it was fantastic to see so many athletes finish the season performing at a high level.”
A major contributor to the event’s success was the dedicated organizing committee and volunteer team. BC Alpine extends sincere thanks to Wade Rettie (ROC Chair), Jeff Robinson and Graham Cope (Chiefs of Race), Scott Karpiak (Chief of Course), Keven Dubinsky (Chief of Timing), Phyllis Kennedy (Race Administrator), Carmen Kirshenblatt (Technical Delegate), and Gabrielle Fox (Volunteer Coordinator), whose leadership and commitment helped deliver four exceptional days of racing.
This past weekend, Lightning Creek Ski Club marked its 50th anniversary at Troll Resort, bringing together generations of athletes, coaches, and supporters for a memorable celebration of community and skiing.
The day began with a dual glalom fun race, followed by a dinner in the lodge where it all began in 1972 with Lars and Astrid Fossberg. The evening program was led by MC and current club president Falko Kadenbach.
Falko welcomed alumnus Ian Grady, who raced with the club in the 1990s. Ian shared an engaging look at the region’s ski history, tracing its roots through the early ski hills in Wells and Quesnel. Representing a four-generation ski racing family, his perspective highlighted the deep heritage of the sport in the area. More on the Troll Ski Resort history from the Canadian Ski Museum.
The evening continued with club founders John Marien and Kris Dittman, who first envisioned Lightning Creek Ski Club in 1976. John reflected on the club’s early days and growth, while one of the most inspiring moments came from Kris—who is visually impaired—returning to the slopes that day to ski and run gates for the first time in over 20 years, a powerful reminder of skill, trust, and passion for the sport.
John also spoke about the early days of the Nancy Greene Ski League, which laid the foundation for the club’s youth programming, and the strong collaboration with Prince George Ski Club to support athlete development in the North.
Top photo (L to R): Mike Garry (coach), Neal Wood, Lucien Bellamy, Brice Bennet, Stuart Lebeck, Scott Turton, Ryan Cook, Toby Bellamy, Carly Felker, Mike Knault, Russel Wood. Above, left: Kris Dittman and John Marien. Above, right: Lightning Creek Ski Club today. Above: 1980s team.
Denis Wood, the club’s first Alpine Chair (1984), shared stories from the early racing years, including the introduction of electronic timing, the well-known Troll Downhill, and team travel across the province. His reflections emphasized the passion, commitment, and sense of adventure that defined the era.
Falko then carried the story forward into the early 2000s, recognizing key contributors and acknowledging the challenges that led to a temporary pause in operations from 2003 to 2009.
The club’s revival in 2009, led by John Marien, Dianne and Darrel Dagneau, and a dedicated volunteer group, was highlighted by Mike Sakakibara. He spoke about rebuilding the club’s foundation, including major investments in infrastructure such as the clubhouse (2014), timing systems, safety netting, and equipment—driven by strong leadership and community support.
Bringing the story to present day, Falko emphasized the importance of partnerships with clubs, resorts, sponsors, and provincial programs, as well as the continued development of coaches, officials, and volunteers. He recognized key contributors over the years, including longtime coach Karcsi Peter and past Alpine Chair Michelle Klapatiuk, whose efforts helped shape the club’s success.
The celebration also included video messages from BC Alpine CEO Anders Hestdalen and Olympic gold medallist Nancy Greene, both congratulating Lightning Creek on reaching this milestone.
A special recognition was given to John Marien for his lifelong commitment to the club—as founder, coach, and leader. He was presented with a BC Alpine team jacket and 50-year anniversary memorabilia in honour of his enduring impact.
The evening concluded with an open mic and time to reconnect, as past and present members gathered to celebrate five decades of skiing, community, and shared passion.
