Volunteerism Celebrated at SZ NGSL Reitbauer Cup Weekend
Ever wonder what it takes behind the scenes to put on a race? We caught ourselves a glimpse of the action from this weekend’s races at Nakiska hosted by the Skimeisters Alpine Ski Club (SARC), and it seems that smiles have a lot to do with it (ok, really organized smiles!). And it’s especially fitting, giving a little extra shout-out to the volunteers in this case, because the annual NGSL Reitbauer Cup weekend is named in honour of longtime Skimeisters Marg and Hans Reitbauer whose countless hours on the ski hill and in the board room created a lasting legacy in the local ski racing community.
“This year’s Reitbauer Cup was the first one without Marg Reitbauer, who passed away on June 4, 2025” shared Catherine Decelles from the Nakiska Alpine Ski Association (NASA). She added that Marg’s son, Rick, delivered a loving tribute to his mother during Saturday’s awards ceremony and had spent the day with the race crew, helping to slip the course, cheering on the athletes at the start, and socializing with members of the ROC. “We caught Rick up on all the great things happening in the province for ski racing and it was an absolute pleasure sharing the day with him. We are proud to continue to celebrate his parents’ legacy in Alberta ski racing.”
The on-hill energy on both sides of the fence this weekend was high. The NGSL program is all about young athletes and families participating in a welcoming introduction to alpine racing. Creating a fun atmosphere at all levels that encourages participation and skill development aligns with the core values of the NGSL program, and the Reitbauer Cup really illustrates that experience.
NGSL Program Manager, Zoë Brooker, commented that the weather was incredible, with beautiful, warm sunshine and a nice, hard surface that meant consistent course conditions through the whole field…which at nearly 250 athletes per day, was significant! The Chief of Course said he had a solid course crew with many new faces, and they all worked hard to keep the track in great condition. Shout-outs to all of the coaches from the many clubs taking part who joined course volunteers for an extra lap up the lift after races were completed Sunday to grab all the equipment from the race venue and help get it to the bottom in a record 30 minutes. “The coaches really went the extra mile for us,” according to Brooker. She says spectators and parents don’t often see the extra work coaches put in after the last racer finishes, but it is very much appreciated!
It appears volunteerism is certainly alive and well in this community. One of the key take aways noted about the weekend by the race organizing committee (ROC) was the number of new volunteers who came out to lend a hand both on and off the hill, joining forces with the many seasoned ‘alumni’ who return specifically for this legacy event. “With over 50 volunteers needed per day, many in new positions, everyone rallied and worked hard to pull off a great weekend of racing for these entry level athletes,” reported Eva Shang, club Treasurer working in the race office this weekend. She noted that some stars on that team pulled together a minor miracle ahead of the awards ceremony, executing a wicked mail merge so that each medal and ribbon handed out was labeled with the winner’s name. And while parents and kids enjoyed the sunshine waiting for awards, SARC coaches Andrew and Suz lead a very energetic dance party, quite likely the weekend highlight for many of these young kids! It will definitely be a positive ski race experience they’ll remember.
For full race results, follow:
Saturday: https://albertaalpine.ca/calendar/#5891
Sunday: https://albertaalpine.ca/calendar/#6200
