Adult Race Camp
Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:46:52 -0230
Adult Race Camp in Zermatt, Switzerland
This is going to be a unique opportunity to train on the best pre-season glacier in the world. All natural snow and FIS approved training lanes makes the Plateau Rosa Glacier above the village of Zermatt the pre-season home of many World Cup teams.
We have selected an experienced group of coaches - all with many years of international experience - 3 time WC Champion Todd Brooker, Olympic and WC coach Ken Ellis, and from the HADT,
Ray Keirstead.
Zermatt is a spectacular alpine village that maintains its charm - in addition to skiing there are many other activities to take part in - hiking & mountain biking in the upper meadows, tennis, golf.
This camp is going to be limited to 16 participants - more info (pdf)
National Ski Cross Team to be incorporated into Alpine Canada Alpin
Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:46:34 -0600
Canada's ski cross athletes to benefit from shared resources with alpine
CALGARY, AB (June 21, 2010) — Canada's ski cross racers will receive increased support from Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA) starting this World Cup season as Canada Ski Cross (CSC) builds upon a successful 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the governing body of ski racing in Canada announced today.
Canada's ski cross racers are joining national alpine ski racers in being governed by ACA, benefitting from the shared use of facilities, technical expertise and other resources.
ACA Chief Athletics Officer Max Gartner said having Alpine and Ski Cross under one governing body in Canada will maximize opportunities for skiers to reach their potential and create winter sport champions in Canada.
"We believe this partnership makes the most sense for the athletes. That integrating Ski Cross and Alpine will enable the smoothest transitions for athletes who are possibly making the switch. Ultimately, it is aimed at maximizing our ability to create champions in each respective discipline," said Chief Athletics Officer Max Gartner.
"Canadian ski cross athletes quickly developed into an international power thanks to the financial support provided by Own the Podium leading into the 2010 Olympic Winter Games," said Nick Bass, high-performance advisor, Own the Podium. "With the increased resources now available through the integration with Alpine Canada Alpin, ski cross athletes are well positioned to build on their international success well into the future."
"Ski Cross really captured the public's imagination in 2010 as an exciting and fun new sport that young people want to be a part of. So we're excited about the opportunities that this partnership offers in reaching an even bigger audience of Canadian winter sport enthusiasts," Gartner said.
Canada was among the first nations to form a national ski cross organization after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced in 2006 that the sport would be part of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
"The sport of ski cross has its roots deeply embedded in the alpine system with many current national ski cross team members getting their start in alpine. We are looking forward to working together to develop world class ski cross racers," said Canada Ski Cross Sport Director Dave Ellis, who had been the Director of Sport Science for ACA prior to taking his current position in 2008.
"We are committed to sustaining the success achieved in 2010, with a gold medal performance and three other Top 6 performances at the Olympic Winter Games. We look forward to growing this partnership and developing the sport in Canada," Ellis said.
Ashleigh McIvor (Whistler, BC) became the first ever women's Olympic Ski Cross champion in 2010, while the team's success included finishing on top of the Nation's standings following the World Cup Finals in March.
"I'm really excited about the direction that alpine will take us in. The skill set that athletes develop training as alpine racers is essential in producing strong ski cross competitors, and it will be great to utilize the resources of the established, well-oiled machine that the alpine organization has become," McIvor said.
ACA was already the governing body responsible for alpine ski racing including men's and women's national teams, the national para-alpine ski team and national development programs.
Canada's able-bodied and para-alpine ski teams completed last season with 22 World Cup victories, and 44 World Cup podiums with Erik Guay (Mont-Tremblant, QC) becoming the first Canadian since Steve Podborski in 1982 to earn a discipline Crystal Globe, winning the men's super-G title.
Canada's Para-Alpine Ski Team finished with 13 of the host nations 19 medals won at the 2010 Paralympic Games, led by Lauren Woolstencroft's (North Vancouver BC) record-setting five gold medal performance.
AAA GMC Terrain Raffle
Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:21:34 -0600
GMC TERRAIN
WINNER
Steven Kempton
Halifax Nova Scotia
Ticket # 7256
$500 EARLY BIRD CASH DRAW
WINNER # 1
Peter Taylor, Truro , NS
Ticket # 7675
$500 EARLY BIRD CASH DRAW
WINNER # 2
Monique Johnson
Valley NS
Ticket # 6969
Many thanks once again to GMC Canada for donating a vehicle for the fourth year in a row --- over 5, 000 tickets were sold in Atlantic Canada . The funds raised will go a long way towards supporting programs for our young athletes
Also, many thanks to John Carroll for his ongoing support. For four years he has graciously offered to store and insure the vehicle at his dealership during the period of our draw.
Nomination process for domestic awards opened on June 1
Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:31:26 -0600
CALGARY, AB (June 9, 2010) – Nominations for the top annual awards in Canadian ski racing have opened to the public, the national governing body for ski racing announced today.The TELUS Awards of Excellence for Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA), honouring outstanding performances in the past season, began accepting nominations on June 1.
"TELUS and its team members are proud of the entire Alpine Canada Alpin team, including the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team, who consistently shine on the world stage,” said Olympic medallist Steve Podborski, TELUS director of Community Sports. “The TELUS Awards of Excellence offers us the opportunity to not only highlight the success of our nation’s athletes but to honour them for their passion and dedication to the sport in a unique and meaningful way.”
TELUS Awards of Excellence voted on by the public include the Jason Lapierre Memorial Domestic Coach of the Year, Club of the Year, Volunteer of the Year (Western), Volunteer of the Year (Eastern), Official of the Year, Race of the Year and Alumni of the Year.
The Fan’s Choice Award also enables the public to choose between a select group of exceptional performances from last season. Click here to learn more and vote online for the Fan’s Choice Award.
The nomination process closes September 30 with all winners, including top Canadian Alpine Ski Team awards, announced shortly after.
“Alpine ski racing in Canada relies on the tireless effort of thousands of officials, volunteers, coaches, racers and others in order to put on the highest quality races that enable young athletes to reach their ski racing potential,” said ACA Director of National Programs and Race Events Philippe Bernier.
“And the TELUS Awards of Excellence are an opportunity to recognize those who made the greatest contributions to the sport in Canada in the past year,” he added.
Canada's able-bodied and para-alpine ski teams completed last season with 22 World Cup victories, and 44 World Cup podiums.
Erik Guay (Mont-Tremblant, QC) became the first Canadian since Podborski in 1982 to earn a discipline Crystal Globe, winning the men’s super-G title on the final day of competition.
Canada's Para-Alpine Ski Team finished with 13 of the host nations 19 medals won at the 2010 Paralympic Games, led by Lauren Woolstencroft’s (North Vancouver BC) record-setting five gold medal performance.
The TELUS Awards of Excellence have been granted annually since 2002. For a complete list of past winners or to learn more about the awards program click here.
Experienced leaders added to Alpine Canada Alpin coaching staff
Fri, 14 May 2010 10:39:40 -0600
John McBride and Frank Kelble named head coaches of national speed teams
CALGARY, AB (May 12, 2010) — John McBride and Frank Kelble have been named head coaches of Canada’s men’s and ladies alpine speed teams respectively, as the national team shifts its focus to achieving podium results in the new Olympic cycle, Alpine Canada Alpin announced today.
McBride, perhaps best known as “Johno” among his peers, was part of the coaching staff last season that led Canadian men to four World Cup victories, the most ever by Canada’s men’s ski team. Erik Guay (Mont-Tremblant, QC) also won the men’s super-G Crystal Globe, becoming the first Canadian male to win an overall discipline title since in 1982.
“I’m very excited. We have a great staff with Marc Gagnon and Serge Dugas sticking around and we have a talented team, so I think that with a little bit of luck and a little bit of hard work we will be in good shape,” said McBride.
McBride, a resident of Snowmass, USA, joined the Canadian team coaching staff last November.
“The timing is right and my family supports it, that was kind of the biggest thing for me,” said McBride about becoming the head coach of Canadian men’s speed team. “So with my family supporting it and understanding that it is something that I am passionate about, I though it was an amazing opportunity.”
On the ladies side, Frank Kelble is taking over as the head coach of the speed team. Kelble worked with the US ladies speed team over the past five years, leading talented ski racers such as Lindsay Vonn and Julia Mancuso to an impressive four Olympic medals, five World Championship podiums, three overall titles, six discipline globes as well as 68 World Cup podiums and 34 victories over that span.
“I am really excited about joining the Alpine Canada Alpin team. The organization has a great group of people who are moving forward together, in a real positive direction,” said Kelble. “I like the athletes, the coaches and the administration. I worked for (CAST Athletic Director) Patrick Riml before and have a lot of respect for him. (Ladies team head coach) Hugues Ansermoz brings a lot of experience and success to the table as well.”
“Personally, this is great opportunity for me and I was ready for a change. Change brings new challenges and different problems, but athletics is all about overcoming challenges. Canada’s women's speed team has some tremendous athletes and a history of success,” added Kelble, who has 19 years experience coaching with the US Ski Team and coached at the University of Colorado prior to that.
David White, who has past experience coaching with the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, is returning as an assistant coach on the ladies speed team.
“Both Johno and Frank are experienced leaders who are used to coaching champions and know exactly what it takes to put ski racers on the podium,” said ACA Chief Athletics Officer Max Gartner.
“The men’s speed team got a real sense of how Johno coaches and they learned how to interact and build a relationship with him. His enthusiasm and personality is definitely something that sets him apart as well. He brought a positive energy to the team last season which is a huge asset,” Gartner added.
Prior to joining the Canadian team, McBride coached US Ski Team athletes to Olympic and World Cup medals for more than a decade, leading Bode Miller to Olympic silver medal performances in 2002 and the overall Crystal Globe in 2005 and 2008 as well as Daron Rahlves to an impressive 12 World Cup victories.
ACA also announced that experienced World Cup coach Rewk Patten has joined the staff of Canada’s men’s speed team.
Dusan Grasic, who lives in Inveremere, BC, remains the head coach of the Canadian men’s technical team while Whistler, BC resident Jim Pollock returns as ladies technical team head coach.
Speed team coaches work with athletes in the speed disciplines including downhill and super-G while technical coaches focus on the giant slalom and slalom.
The 2010/2011 World Cup season is highlighted by the Bombardier Lake Louise Winterstart, with men’s and ladies races kicking of the speed season in November, and the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GER in February of 2011.
2010/11 CANADIAN ALPINE SKI TEAM COACHING STAFF
ACA MANAGEMENT
- Patrick Riml – Athletic Director (CAST)
- Head Coach – Paul Kristofic
- Head Coach – John McBride
- Assistant Coach – Serge Dugas
- Assistant Coach – Rewk Patten
- Assistant Coach – Marc Gagnon
- Physiotherapist – Julie Harvey
- Multimark – Shawn Gaisford
- Multimark – Marko Skube
- Atomic Service – Eric Schnepfleiter
- Rossignol Service – Gernot Grasser
- Head Coach – Dusan Grasic
- Assistant Coach – John Crichton
- Multimark – Robi Kristan
- Rossignol Service – Philippe Petit Jean
- Head Coach – Hugues Ansermoz
- Head Coach – Frank Kelble
- Assistant Coach – David White
- Multimark – Pavel Zurek
- Multimark – Marco Zambelli
- Head Coach – Jim Pollock
- Assistant Coach – Tim Gfeller
- Assistant Coach – Jay Keddy
- Multimark – John Mulligan
- Multimark – Martin Holzmeister
- Matt Price – Director of Sport Science
- Matt Jordan – Conditioning Coach
- Tom Smith – Conditioning Coach
- Jean-François Rapatel – Athletic Director (National)
- Kip Harrington – Coach (Men)
- Jean-Sébastien Labrie – Coach (Ladies)
Cohlmeyer feels national competition made him a better skier
Wed, 31 Mar 2010 07:44:13 -0600
CORNER BROOK — Some parts of competing at the Canadian K2 Championships in Ontario last week were exactly what Scot Cohlmeyer expected.Other parts? Not so much.
“The hills were a bit small,” he said of Osler Bluff, Georgian Peaks and Craigleith ski resorts. “Compared to Marble (Mountain) they were smaller ... they were smaller than I thought they’d be and that makes the races shorter.”
