CRSR Hall of Fame 2024 Inductees
Recognizing an extraordinary commitment of five sport leaders to alpine ski racing and our athletes.
Canmore (AB) – Alberta Alpine and the Selection Committee of the Canadian Rockies Ski Racing Hall of Fame are pleased to announce the Class of 2024 – four dedicated leaders with an extraordinary commitment to the development of alpine ski racing in Canada.
“These athletes, officials, pioneers and builders have lifted our sport, athletes and ski clubs throughout our province” said Pat Gillespie, President of Alberta Alpine. “It is important to recognize this extraordinary contribution, which has delivered a world-class World Cup for over fourty years, productive ski club programs and opportunity for our youth”.
The Class of 2024 will be honoured at the Highest Peak Gala on November 7th at the Fairmont Palliser Hotel in Calgary.
Over the coming weeks prior to the Highest Peak Gala, Alberta Alpine will post profiles of each Honoured Inductee, to recognize the remarkable dedication of each to our sport – providing invaluable leadership to the community and giving our athletes the events, programs and organizational capacity which have made Alberta Alpine one of the most productive provincial sport organizations in Canada.
Introducing the Canadian Rockies Ski Racing Hall of Fame Class of 2024:
Gene Durand – Honoured Official – The Durand family commitment to alpine ski racing runs very deep. Gene brought his leadership skills to Alberta Alpine as a member of the Board and Chair, which at that time also included the ACA Board. His dedication to the staging of events included leadership positions with the Lake Louise World Cup and Nor-Am and be became a fixture at the base of Fallaway (on the Men’s Downhill at Lake Louise) every year for the staging of U16 and FIS races.
Bill Irwin – Honoured Alberta & Canadian Team alumni – Bill Irwin carved his own pathway in ski racing, reaching the World Cup and representing Canada in Europe. Along with his partner Kelly Kryczka, the Irwin’s raised four children, all engaged in high performance sport (three in alpine ski racing, one in syncro swimming). From the 1980’s, over nearly four decades Bill could be found working with race organizers at every level, including the 1988 Olympic Winter Games Organizing Committee, World Cup at Lake Louise Nor-Am’s, ensuring safety was in-place, race quality and surfaces to proper standards and filling leadership roles from Race Chair to course worker.
Craig Rusnak – Honoured Builder – Roped into the ski racing world through his daughter, Sydney, Craig (better known to some as “Rooster”) has brought passion, energy, enthusiasm and commitment to our great sport. Working Nor-Am’s World Cups, Special Olympics, Para-Alpine World Cups and World Juniors – in Canada and abroad – Craig has covered the spectrum of volunteer positions and energized our events. He continues to be an inspiring leader, in his home club of Snow Valley, throughout the province and internationally.
Barb Wood – Honoured Volunteer – From the Lake Louise Nor-Am to Pontiac GMC Cup to the 2022 World Juniors to supporting events at all levels, Barb Wood has been an extraordinary contributor as Chief of Race and Volunteers. A ski racer who has paid it forward with her own children in the sport, she also extends her profession as a teacher to guide numerous student-athletes as a tutor to navigate the performance pathway.
The Canadian Rockies Ski Racing Hall of Fame event is a legacy event with the goal to support future champions in the province, with all proceeds invested into Alberta Ski Racing programs.
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For more information:
Pat Gillespie, Alberta Alpine
Email: pat@albertaalpine.ca