A BC Alpine coach is currently in Bormio, Italy, on one of sport’s biggest stages.
Nick Cooper – “Coop,” as many know him (a nickname he shares, and competes for, with his dad Mike and uncle Nigel) – is preparing for the Olympic Winter Games. He’s there coaching a star athlete, Norwegian-born Brazilian skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, as Lucas readies himself for the men’s Olympic giant slalom and slalom events.
Nick is very much at the top of the coaching mountain. His resume now includes World Cup medals and an Olympic coaching pedigree—an ascent that began right here in B.C. His coaching journey started with the Whistler Mountain Ski Club, where he worked as a U16 and FIS coach. He then move quickly into coaching the men’s BC Ski Team, later becoming head coach of the BCST program. Along the way, he earned the 2020 FIS Coach of the Year award and became the longest-tenured BC Ski Team coach ever (move over, Dusan!).
Nick moved on to Alpine Canada, coaching the World Cup and Europa Cup combined teams and then last year was handpicked by 22-time World Cup medallist Lucas to be his coach. Since then, the results have spoken loudly: five World Cup medals this season – three in GS and two in slalom.
When I caught up with Nick at the end of a long day in Bormio, he was buzzing with anticipation for what lies ahead.
How has your Olympic experience in Cortina been so far?
To be honest, I just arrived, and we’re in Bormio—not Cortina—so there isn’t an Olympic Village, or much of an Olympic vibe yet. But Bormio is a very cool setting. It’s a classic setting and beautiful. That said, we’re completely focused on the task at hand, which is preparing Lucas to perform his best.
How is Lucas looking heading into the slalom?
The preparation has been incredible. We’ve been testing equipment, skis, and really dialing in slope preparation. This hill is flatter than many others, so we trained specifically with that in mind. Overall, we’ve done everything we can, and the team feels confident.
What are your expectations for the upcoming races?
It’s tough to say—there are at least 10 guys who can legitimately win the slalom. It’s going to be a dogfight. In the GS, I think we have a realistic chance at a medal. It all depends on how race day plays out, but yes, I believe he can do it.
Lucas has generated buzz around the world for years. What’s it like coaching the Norwegian-born Brazilian star?
It’s been great. I’ve worked with many incredible athletes, and everyone is unique, but his ski racing IQ is insane. He’s a very special athlete. Building this relationship and being part of his journey has been exciting. My role is to support his vision of success and help instill confidence. It’s been a lot of fun.
Tell us about your coaching journey through BC Alpine and how it all began.
At first, it was mostly for fun—enjoying Whistler and making more money than banging nails. But I remember a conversation with Mike Janyk where he challenged me about whether I really wanted to be a proper ski coach. That stuck with me. Eventually, I approached Dusan and committed to the path.
You’ve been known as a culture-building coach. How did you approach that?
First, I had great mentors who showed me the way—Dusan [Grasic], Jazz [Ryan Jazic] and Johnny [Crichton] especially. Beyond that, it comes down to how hard you’re willing to work. Prepare good slopes. Make training productive. Put in the effort. Wake up every day ready to work.
Several of your former BC Ski Team athletes—Brodie, Riley, and Cam—are in Bormio. Have you seen them?
I stay close with almost all my former athletes. I’ve talked to all three of them and will be seeing them soon. It’s incredible to see what they’ve been up to.
Any advice for young coaches in BC looking to pursue high-performance coaching?
Be the hardest-working person on the hill. Do right by your athletes. Relate to them, speak their language, stay flexible, and adapt. Your job is to bring out the best in them—and to do that, you need to understand who they are.
BC Ski Team 2019Cameron Alexander (left) and Nick.Celebrating a World Cup podium at Alta Badia, Italy.
Many will remember the magic of last January all too well.
Jack Crawford charged out of the start gate at the legendary Hahnenkamm downhill in Kitzbühel wearing bib 20 and attacked the Streif with full commitment, capturing Canada’s first victory on the iconic course since Todd Brooker in 1984. Longtime teammate Cam Alexander, also a Whistler Mountain Ski Club alum, added to the celebration with a third-place finish, delivering a memorable double podium for Canada.
It was a stunning performance on one of the world’s most demanding racecourses, played out in front of more than 45,000 passionate ski racing fans.
Fast forward to 2026, and Alexander appears to be rounding into top form once again. He posted a strong seventh-place finish last weekend on the Lauberhorn in Wengen, Switzerland—one of the sport’s most storied venues. Fittingly, his first post-race thoughts turned to Kitzbühel.
“Today is a good confidence boost and I’m feeling good heading into the upcoming races, especially Kitzbühel next week,” Alexander said to Alpine Canada. “I tweaked my knee in Val Gardena and wasn’t feeling good enough to race the downhills, and I didn’t feel like myself there or in Livigno. Being able to really push today felt great.”
Crawford finished 26th in the race, while Brodie Seger—also of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club—placed 46th. Seger’s result came one day after a close call in the super-G, where he spun out and narrowly avoided the safety nets, missing them by inches.
Top: Jack Crawford in the start gate at the 2025 Kitzbuhel downhill. Photo: Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool. Above. Cam Alexander charging the Lauberhorn last weekend. Photo by Alpine Canada/GEPA.
As the province’s fastest ski racers and their coaches fine-tune final preparations for the 2025–26 racing season, BC Alpine has launched a new athlete showcase portal on its website. The platform is designed to help promote the team and its athletes, while giving the broader ski community an opportunity to get to know them a little better.
Click the link below to see the seven athletes and three coaches.
In the spirit of cooperation, creativity, and finding great training opportunities, two Coastal ski clubs teamed up for a memorable trip to Baldy Mountain Resortover the Christmas holidays.
The idea to head to Mount Baldy early in the holiday break originated with the Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club, which had explored the option well in advance and worked with the resort for weeks to organize a training camp. With limited snowfall on the Coast, the Cypress Ski Club decided to join the camp on relatively short notice.
From December 19 to 23, four athletes from the Cypress Ski Club’s U16 group joined Grouse Mountain’s U14 and U16 athletes, continuing a strong collaborative relationship that has been building between the two clubs since the start of the season.
Mount Baldy proved to be an exceptionally welcoming host. Despite being a smaller resort with no snowmaking capabilities, it offered excellent training terrain and quickly became an ideal alternative to North Shore conditions at the time.
“We completed four full days of slalom training in a truly wintery environment—cold, quiet, and peaceful—far from the crowds typically found at North Shore resorts or in Whistler during this time of year when snow conditions are good,” said Ferdinand Gros, Cypress Ski Club U16 head coach.
Cypress Ski Club was thrilled to be part of the camp and would like to sincerely thank the Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club and Mount Baldy Resort for their warm welcome, hospitality, and outstanding support throughout the week.
“The overall experience was great—a mountain that, in a lifetime of skiing, was almost a myth turned out to be a fairytale,” said Ryan Jazic, Grouse Tyee head coach. “We were treated incredibly well by both the locals and mountain staff. The athletes loved the snow and the lack of crowds and lift lines, which kept the terrain in great shape both on and off piste. The stunning views when the sun came out were a bonus, and the old-school vibe made the experience truly unique.”
As the 2026 ski racing rapidly approaches, the top skiers in the province are ready to roll and hungry for ski racing.
After a productive pre-season, consisting of physical conditioning and on-snow training on two continents, the BC Ski Team coaching staff are optimistic heading into the 2025-26 season, which kicks off next week at Panorama, B.C., for the FIS GMC Cup starting Thursday, Dec. 18th.
Led by three returning BC Ski Team skiers – Dylan Stevens, Baptiste Cais and Hannah Jensen – four newcomers are officially named to the provincial team. The skiers range from 16 to 20 years-of-age and represent four ski clubs from across the province.
Photo (above) from left: Baptiste Cais, Dreas Gibbons, Dylan Stevens, Hannah Jensen, Tylee Carr, Lola Gilbert. Missing: Thea Thorn. For full team photos, including coaches, see below.
Pridy, along with assistant coaches Eric Schwenck and Dillon Prophet, said that the grind of the off-season has great potential to pay off over the coming weeks.
“This crew has been great throughout the prep, pushing each other to be better the whole way along.
Morgan Pridy, BCST Head coach
“Each of these athletes have worked hard to raise their potential over the last six months,” Pridy said. “If we can continue to learn and our efforts stay as high as our expectations, this team will have a successful season.”
BC Alpine’s VP Johnny Crichton believes that this group is a solid representation of quality athletes who have developed through the BC Alpine and Alpine Canada system.
“This team is a great example of what the BC pathway is all about, from the Nancy Greene Ski League to club FIS programs and onto the BC Ski Team,” he explained. “They are working hard in the gym and on snow, and the coaches have been intentional with every block of training. Clear, athlete-specific performance plans have kept everyone aligned, and they’re ready to race, learn, and keep pushing toward the next level.”
BC Alpine also recognizes Jasmine Coubrough, who will not return to the BC Ski Team this season due to injury, and acknowledges her commitment and professionalism during her time with the program.
“We were fortunate to have Jasmine on the team. She proudly represented the Vernon Ski Club and inspired future racers. We wish her all the best,” said Crichton.
For optimal viewing, click to see the full roster and individual athlete photos. Photos by Kimberley Rae.
BC Ski Team – 2025-26
Baptiste Cais, Fernie Alpine Ski Team (Field)
Tylee Carr, Vernon Ski Club (Vernon)
Dreas Gibbons, Whistler Mountain Ski Club (Whistler)
Lola Gilbert, Whistler Mountain Ski Club (Whistler)
Hannah Jensen, Whistler Mountain Ski Club (Whistler)
Dylan Stevens (2004) Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club (North Vancouver)
For those in the trenches of ski racing in B.C. — or even for the casual observers — the mark and brand of Karbon on the sport is unmistakable. From early-morning warm-ups to Nor-Am podiums and everything in between, the Karbon logo is visible everywhere on ski hills across the country.
The Canadian brand has been outfitting world-class winter athletes for more than two decades and is now entering its sixth season as the exclusive outerwear and racewear supplier for BC Alpine and the provincial ski team.
The partnership is rooted in shared values: innovation, athlete-first thinking and a deep belief that potential has no limits.
Five Years In: A Partnership Hitting Its Stride
BC Alpine CEO Anders Hestdalen is thrilled with the success of the partnership to date.
“In working with Karbon we have a Canadian ally who actually gets ski racing,” said Hestdalen. “They understand the grind, the weather, the long travel days, the early-morning lifts at –20°C — and the difference that high-performance gear can make in an athlete’s confidence.”
“This is more than new jackets and ski pants,” he added. “It’s a shared commitment to elevating ski racing in B.C., giving our athletes every advantage possible and celebrating the passion that keeps this community thriving.”
The provincial ski team now trains and competes in gear backed by decades of research, athlete insight and Canadian design. The partnership also reaches the club level — opening the door for young racers, coaches and families to connect with a grassroots Canadian brand.
Dressing Future Champions
For decades, Karbon’s commitment to winter sport has empowered some of Canada’s best athletes, supporting their high-performance development at every stage of the pathway. The company currently supports 12 organizations worldwide, including four alpine PSO’s in Canada: Alpine Ontario, Ski Quebec, Alberta Alpine and BC Alpine.
From future Olympians still learning to carve the perfect turn, Karbon has built its reputation on blending technical performance with real-world athlete feedback. Their gear is tested on some of the toughest hills in the world and refined by the people pushing hardest against their own boundaries.
The #NoLimits tagline isn’t simply a marketing slogan — it reflects how Karbon designs, and why its product team works hand-in-hand with elite athletes to shape every new collection.
Karbon has been busy since the brand was launched in 1997 … with 450 World Cup medals, 91 World Championship medals and 24 Olympic medals.
The Karbon Story
For Karbon, supporting BC Alpine is more than a sponsorship — it’s a continuation of its commitment to the full athlete pathway. Behind the scenes is Schure Sports, a family-owned Canadian company that has been advancing winter-sport apparel since 1982. Based in Toronto and proud of its Canadian roots, Schure Sports has built Karbon into one of the sport’s most trusted outerwear brands.
“I am very proud that BC Alpine is part of the Karbon family,” said Peter Schure, VP of Teams and Resorts. “This partnership exemplifies our commitment to sport at all levels, and we look forward to continuing this mutually beneficial relationship with BC Alpine and its athletes.”
Looking Ahead to a Bright Future
Five years into this partnership between BC Alpine and KARBON, the momentum keeps climbing. And with new gear on their backs, B.C.’s ski racers are more than ready to take the reins and charge ahead.
