by Kathy Stahr | May 17, 2019 | Member News
by Kathy Stahr | May 16, 2019 | Member News
New Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) website supports athletes, parents and coaches from grassroots to high-performance, and encourages sport for life.
Calgary, Alta. (May 15, 2019) – Alpine Canada has launched a new resource for current and prospective stakeholders within Canada's ski racing community from the grassroots level to high-performance and sport-for-life parents, coaches, athletes, volunteers, officials and administrators.
As part of the revisions to the organization's Long-Term Athlete Development Pathway, Alpine Canada has created a stand-alone LTAD web site that provides a one-stop resource for all aspects of athlete development – from recreational racers to those working towards national team goals.
"Alpine Canada's LTAD 3.0 provides all of our grassroots stakeholders a clear pathway for athlete development, supported by the latest in sport science,” said Jenni Stielow, Senior Manager Coach Education and LTAD Project Lead. “The tool is aimed at everyone from parents, coaches, volunteers, officials and administrators at the club and provincial levels to prospective ski racing participants.”
“The new ACA LTAD 3.0 takes into account the multiple pathways our athletes will follow during their career including the recreational and sport-for-life and the high-performance, national team streams," said Stielow. "We have leveraged input from experts in every field as well as real-life experiences of athletes and coaches from the national team to club and provincial ski racing."
The LTAD site is found at ltad.alpinecanada.org. The website includes distinct engagement points for athletes, parents and coaches while providing visually engaging resources for all key stakeholders. In addition to outlining on-snow guidelines for every stage of a ski racer's development, the site also offers essential off-snow training guidelines for every stage, and resources for balancing education and athletics, as well as nutrition and mental strategies.
"This isn't only about developing the next Erik Guay, Kelsey Serwa, or Lauren Woolstencroft. While the pathway to a national team berth is part of the LTAD, so is the pathway to recreational ski racing,” said Vania Grandi, CEO Alpine Canada. “We want to develop life-long skiers who embrace a holistically healthy approach to the sport, and become ambassadors for ski racing for the next generation of racers.The resources are there to support parents, athletes, and coaches every step of the way from those who want to become involved and need help finding a local ski club, to those who have aspirations of representing Canada in international ski racing."
Grandi also noted the new ACA LTAD 3.0 is not only an alpine ski racing resource. It includes specifications for ski cross and para-alpine racers throughout the development stages. "The new LTAD site was built to be inclusive of all three disciplines to create one Alpine Canada team and establish the foundation of the Alpine Canada Way."
The LTAD site will continue to evolve and be a long-term, ongoing resource for Canada's ski racing community moving forward. Visitors and stakeholders are encouraged to review the website and share their comments, suggestions, and questions via email to LTAD@alpinecanada.org.
by Kathy Stahr | May 14, 2019 | Member News
Ski Team Alumni Unite to Host September 2019 GranFondo Fundraiser
Have you ever dreamed of cycling the scenic Sea to Sky Highway as part of North America’s best GranFondo from Vancouver to Whistler with former ski champions?
If yes, here’s your chance!
On September 7, 2019, Rob Boyd (CAST 1985-1997), Britt Janyk (CAST 1997-2011), and Diana Arn-Haight (CAST 1980-1987) invite you to live an experience of a lifetime.
Your $2,000 ultimate GranFondo bike ride includes:
- Ride alongside Ski Team alumni
- Alta Class status in the GranFondo (choice to ride the 55km, 122km or 152km)
- Alpine Canada bike jersey
- Express package pickup service at VeloSpoke
- Exclusive priority startline – be first over the Lions Gate Bridge
- Event day bag check
- Alta Classe lounge at the finish with complimentary hot meal and beverages included
- Invitation to intimate Thursday night reception at St. Regis Bar & Grill
- Post ride massage by certified massage therapists from The Spa at Nita Lake Lodge
- Invitation to Friday afternoon pre-ride in Vancouver with other celebrity guests
- Exclusive gifts and offers from premium event sponsors
- Post ride get together at the Whistler Mountain Ski Club
- Pride to support ski racing in Canada!
- $1,000 donation tax receipt
- Space is limited!
For each seat sold, $1000 will donated back to the ski racing system to:
- Provide valuable resources to support the development of Canada’s national alpine, para-alpine and ski cross teams.
- Support the BC Provincial Ski Team to support the next generation of BC Athletes aspiring to the Canadian Alpine Ski Team.
- Upgrade the Whistler Mountain Ski Club fitness training equipment.
For more information about the GranFondo, CLICK HERE.
For more information about this initiative contact:
Marie-Hélène Thibeault
Director, Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement
Alpine Canada Alpin
mthibeault@alpinecanada.org
Anders Hestdalen
General Manager
BC Alpine
AndersH@bcalpine.com
Mark Tilston
Executive Director
Whistler Mountain Ski Club
marktilston@wmsc.info
Reserve your spot before August 15, 2019!
by Kathy Stahr | May 1, 2019 | Member News
Coach Meeting, Member Summit, Offficials Update and Annual General Meeting 2019
Save the date! Our 2019 Fall meetings are scheduled for October 31st to November 3rd. Because interest and attendance have been growing in recent years, we are excited to be able to take this event to a new level and invite all of you to the spectacular, luxurious Predator Ridge Resort just outside of Vernon. Over four days we will host our Member Summit, AGM, Coach Meetings, Coach Education and the Officials Update. We hope to attract even more of our members this year as we combine education, business and fun in a tranquil, scenic setting. The highlight of course will be the big Goldie Awards celebration and party we are planning! Details, guest speakers and agendas will follow in early September.
Thursday, October 31st – Sunday, November 3rd at Predator Ridge Resort near Vernon
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DAY
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DRAFT SCHEDULE
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Thurs, Oct 31
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Coaching Course (TBD)
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Fri, Nov 1
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Coach Meeting (lunch and afternoon meeting)
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Fri, Nov 1
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Coach Dinner (TBD)
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Sat, Nov 2
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Coach Meeting (cont'd in AM only, coaches stay for Summit)
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Sat, Nov 2
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Member Summit (lunch & afternoon); Officials Update (all day)
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Sat, Nov 2
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Parka Party 🙂 and Goldie Awards at Predator Ridge (all evening)
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Sun, Nov 3
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Member Summit (cont'd) & AGM (all day until about 2 pm)
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Accommodation: https://www.predatorridge.com/resort/predator-ridge-lodge/:
The Lodge at Predator Ridge offers studio, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom suites. There will be lots of sharing opportunities, but everyone who wants will have a private room/bathroom – sharing kitchens and common areas in some cases.
Deadline for booking accommodation is the end of August!! Call 888-578-6688 and mention BC Alpine – CLICK HERE FOR GUESTROOM DETAILS AND PRICING
Agendas and guest speakers will be announced early in the fall.
by Keven Dubinsky | Apr 30, 2019 | Member News
Dear BC Alpine members and volunteers, thank you for another great year!
We have a lot to be excited about as we wrap up the 2018/19 season. BC Alpine’s membership grew to an all-time high of 6,256 registered members. This is a 5% increase over last year and we have seen growth or stable numbers in all programs across the board. Well done ski clubs!
BC clubs hosted 67 successful events this year. They included 102 slalom races, 82 GS races, 10 SG races, 2 downhill races and 58 duals, SX/ team events or other fun competitions. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who helped make this possible.
The BC Ski Team also had an excellent season. Unfortunately, Francis MacDonald and Myles Kowalczyk were injured, but we are supporting them through their recovery, and they are doing the hard work required to get back on snow with their teammates as quickly as possible.
Last fall we announced our strategic plan and our goals for the next four years. I would like to remind everyone of what we intend to achieve by 2022. We will report on how we are tracking at the Member Summit and AGM in November 2019. The full Strategic plan can be found here http://bcalpine.com/files/Odds_and_Ends_Files/?open=BC_Alpine_Strategic_Plan_2018-2022.pdf.
- To maintain a strong profile and increase the vitality of alpine ski racing in BC:
Have a ski club in every ski community in BC; a strong, modern and recognizable brand; a comprehensive media plan and strong alumni engagement by 2022.
- To provide leadership in the delivery of high-quality coaching and officiating in BC:
By 2022 we would like to see 400 registered coaches in BC (minimum 40% female), all coaches enrolled in professional development, and more than 150 active and trained level 2 Officials.
- To be the “go to” sport for developing athletic excellence:
Have the highest provincial representation on the national ski team; three top-10 results annually at Nor-Am races by our provincial team, and to show a 40% growth in registered athletes from Nancy Greene Ski League to Masters’ racing by 2022.
- To increase our financial viability:
We will maintain a balanced financial performance, show a 60% increase in annual revenue from sponsorship and fundraising initiatives by 2022, and have two new revenue streams.
Save the date! Our 2019 Fall meetings are scheduled for October 31st to November 3rd. Because interest and attendance have been growing in recent years, we are excited to be able to take this event to a new level and invite all of you to Predator Ridge Resort just outside of Vernon. Over four days we will host our Member Summit, AGM, Coach Meetings, Coach Education and the Officials Update. We hope to attract even more of our members this year as we combine education, business and fun in a tranquil, scenic setting. One of the highlight of course will be the Awards celebration and party we are planning! Details, guest speakers and agendas will follow in early September. In the meantime, PLEASE visit BC Alpine’s Calendar https://bcalpine.com/calendar/?M=11&Y=2019#2851 for information on the accommodation options at the resort. Deadline to book is August 31, 2019.
The upcoming season will see some changes in the development pathway. Alpine Canada is committed to preparing athletes to win at the World Cup level. BC Alpine and the other PSOs will work to prepare athletes to qualify for the C-team through the provincial teams, and at the same time work to strengthen clubs and programs across the province. This means that the Development Team will no longer exist and the best performing provincial athletes will get opportunities with the national team through projects while having their home base with the provincial teams. We believe this model is financially viable and will bring stability and consistency to the development pathway. More information on this will be presented as the team selection and yearly training plans are ready.
Thank you again to everyone that made this season a great one: Athletes, clubs, parents, volunteers, coaches, officials, sponsors, ski areas and lovers of ski racing!
I want to remind you that BC Alpine is here for all of you – our members. We exist because of you and our job is to give you the tools and support to run your clubs while teaching kids life and ski skills through alpine ski racing.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need anything, have questions or just want to come by our office for a chat and a cup of coffee.
See you at Predator Ridge!
Anders Hestdalen
CEO – BC Alpine
by Kathy Stahr | Apr 20, 2019 | Member News
ENJOY hundreds of action, candid, portrait and team photos captured by the experts at Coast Mountain Photography HERE
April 11th to 14th, Whistler Blackcomb welcomed U14 and U16 alpine ski racers from around the world for the 27th Whistler Cup. This prestigious event has become the hallmark of the juvenile race calendar. Canada captured the overall title for the first time since 2013.
"It's absolutely fantastic to bring it back for Canada," said the team’s head coach and Alpine Canada’s senior manager of coach education, Jenni Stielow in an interview with Pique News. "The athletes really put their full effort into competition here, which was fantastic. They were very competitive and they paid attention to small-scale details, which I really think paid off in the long run."
Led by Arianne Forget (Prevost, Que./Club de competition Belle Neige-S1 Racing) who captured two individual gold medals in super-G and giant slalom, and silver in slalom, as well as gold in the team event, Canada captured 7 medals in U16 race action.
Alexis Barabe (Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Que./Club de ski Saint Sauveur) captured silver in the men’s super-G.
Britt Richardson (Canmore, Alta./Calgary Racing Club) was among the multi-medallists at the event, having finished third in the U16 ladies’ giant slalom and slalom races, captured gold in the team event, and finished fourth in the super-G.
“I didn’t have a lot of expectations for myself (coming in) as I just wanted to race the best I can and see how I stack up against the other racers here,” said Richardson on the weekend. “I’m happy with my results over the past few days. There has been some very tight races and some great skiers.”
SUPER G
Arianne Forget (Team Canada) took the gold in one minute, 08.78 seconds followed by Noa Szollos of Israel and Emillie Bakkevig from Oslo, Norway was third in 1:09.71.
In the men’s U16 super-G competition, Alexis Barabe (Team Canada) placed second in the men’s super-G with a time of one minute, 08.63. John Herland of Norway won the gold medal in 1:08.44 seconds and Tollef Jostein Haugen of Norway was third in 1:09.03.
GIANT SLALOM
Arianne Forget was on top of the podium again in the GS with a two-run-time of 2:19.11 with Noa Szollos of Israel placing second, 2:20.81 and Team Canada’s Britt Richardson was third in 2:22.72. Other Canadians in the top ten include Makenna Lebsack, Calgary, Alta., was fourth in 2:23.23 and Cydnie Timmerman of Calgary 8th in 2:24.41.
In the men’s giant slalom, Tollef Jostein Haugen led Norway to a 1-2 finish clocking a two-run-time of 2:17.34. Hermann Fjeldavlie Lindberg, of Lillehammer, Norway was second in 2:18.07 and Manuel Horwitz of Chile was third, 2:18.74.
BC’s Hemming Sola was top Canadian, finishing just off the podium in fourth in 2:19.34.
SLALOM
On the ladies side, two Canadians were on the podium. Britt Richardson captured first-place, Arianne Forget, gold medalist in Super G and GS was second and Emilie Bakkevig from Norway took third-place.
Britt Richardson from Canmore Alberta (Team Canada) led the pack by 0.9 seconds over Team Canada’s Arianne Forget from Prevost, Quebec.
Cyndi Timmerman of Calgary was 6th in 1:32.13 and Penny Robinson of Thunder Bay, Ont., was 7th in 1:32.48.
In the men’s U16 slalom, Tamas Trunk of Hungry was the victor in 1:29.48, Tollef Jostein Haugen of Norway second in 1:30.51 and Nick Kirkwood of US third in 1:31.05.
Mathis Lafond of Bois-des-Fillions, Que., was fifth in 1:31.73, Brady Shears of Edmonton, Alta., sixth in 1:32.66, Aleksas Valadka of Oakville, Ont., seventh in 1:32.76, Ojas Ashok Dhaka of Alberta ninth in 1:33.38 and Matthias Shorter of BC was 10th in 1:33.91.
TEAM EVENT
Whistler Cup U16 Dual Slalom:
1st place – Canada
2nd place – Norway
3rd place – Chile/Israel
The U14 Festival was held alongside the U16 races. Below are the top-three nations overall for that competition.
Nancy Greene Award (top performance by a Canadian female):
U14: Madison Donnelly – Ontario
U16: Arianne Forget – Canada (Prevost, Que)
Dave Murray Award (top performance by a Canadian male):
U14: Felix Shorter – WMSC
U16: Aleksas Valadka – Canada (Oakville, Ont)
Full results: http://bcalpine.com/calendar/#2628
