2024 Dee Read Memorial Scholarship Awarded To Top Performing Alberta Juniors Polly Lang and Jake Kertesz-Knight

Canmore, Alberta – Alberta Alpine is pleased to announce that two top-performing junior athletes are recipients of the 2024 Dee Read Memorial Scholarship. Polly Lang, a 2^nd year member of the Alberta Ski Team and Jake Kertesz-Knight, competing with the independent BAR-E Team will receive financial support based on their outstanding results in the 2023-24 alpine ski racing season.

The 19-year old Lang whose home club is NATC, competed her second year as a member of the Alberta Ski Team. She finished 2^nd in the GMC Alberta Cup Series and posted five top-30 results on the Nor-Am Tour. 

“I faced challenges this season with a pre-season back injury,” said Lang. “I was very motivated to make up for the missed training and I focussed on finding quality over quantity. I also did a lot of video analysis and was patient. As a result, I noticed significant improvement. I really trust the process I am currently on and think there are still lots of improvements to come. My ambition is set on qualifying for the Canadian 2025 World Junior Championships Team.”

Kertesz-Knight, an 18-year old based with Banff Alpine, competed for the BAR-Elite Team. He also finished 2^nd in the GMC Alberta Cup Series and is currently ranked 1st in Super G and 2nd in Slalom and Giant Slalom for his age in Canada. 

“I had many great accomplishments that I was so proud of including winning the second run at the Canadian National Championships GS Race, and a number of FIS races across Canada,” said Kertez-Knight. “The highlight was sharing the podium with my brother Jesse many times this season, including the overall GMC Alberta Cup where we took the top two spots! My future goals are to further improve my ski skills and world rankings, in order to make the Canadian Junior World Team for 2025 and one day I hope to be good enough to compete on the World Cup Circuit for Team Canada!”

“To succeed on the Alberta Ski Team requires focus, hard work and commitment,” said Alberta Alpine President, Patrick Gillespie. “Both Polly and Jake are demonstrating the dedication necessary to achieve and are a great example to all athletes with Alberta Alpine. The goal is to see these two athletes earn their spot and lead the Canadian Team to the 2025 FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships in Tarvisio, Italy.”

Since 1988, promising young Alberta alpine ski racers have been named as recipients of the Dee Read Memorial Scholarship, awarded annually by the Read Family. This scholarship is awarded to high performance athletes in Alberta, to recognize excellence in alpine skiing and to provide support to athletes who one day hope to represent Canada in World Cup, World Championship or Olympic competition. 

About Dee Read

Athlete, coach, official, volunteer and parent, Dee Read set many precedents and broke barriers as a leader in sport: one of the first female FIS Technical Delegates world-wide, the first Chair of Alberta Alpine and Board Member of Alpine Canada. Her dedication reached far beyond her family to influence athletes, parents, coaches and sport administrators right across Canada, who benefited from her knowledge, generosity and warm spirit in lending a firm but insightful hand as a sport leader in Canada and Alberta.