Doug Airey is retiring from Wolfe GMC Buick after a long and highly successful career and will be moving from Edmonton to Eastern Canada. On behalf of the entire Alberta ski racing community – our athletes, coaches, volunteers, and families – we want to express our sincere gratitude for Doug Airey’s incredible support over so many years, as a volunteer and as an ambassador of our sport.

From serving on the AASA board and volunteering at races to supporting athletes at all levels, including our Alberta Ski Team, Doug’s contributions have directly shaped the growth and success of ski racing in our province.   Notably, Alberta Alpine’s long-standing sponsor relationships with Western GMC Buick and the GMC Dealers of Alberta are, in large part, attributable to Doug’s passion and commitment to ski racing and his influence within the GMC network.

Thank you, Doug,  for being such an integral part of our ski racing family. Your impact will be forever appreciated, and we are profoundly grateful for everything you have done!

Lake Louise, AB – An annual favourite that draws young athletes and families together on the local Nancy Greene Ski League circuit, the Lake Louise Ski Club hosted the Doug Meyers Invitational this past weekend – and the event certainly did not disappoint! For over 20 years, the DMI has evolved ways to celebrate the joy of skiing, a main focus of this entry level program for U6/U8/U10 age groups along with participation and skill development, ultimately reinforcing the core values of the NGSL program.

Doug Meyers was a former ski racer, coach and Nancy Greene coordinator with the Lake Louise Ski Club. He was also a school teacher, tennis instructor, golfer and all-around athlete and lover of life. In April 2003, at the age of 30, Doug passed away to brain cancer. The next season, the Lake Louise Ski Club approached the Meyers family and asked if they could name their race in his honour.

Since that first Invitational in 2004, the race has become an event that many clubs look forward to every year, with over 300 young athletes taking part as was the case this past weekend. It is a 2-day event, the most memorable highlight of which sees every racer taking part in a parade down the front side of the mountain via Easy Street, led by club mascot Grizz of course, and sporting bright yellow t-shirts to celebrate Doug’s favourite colour.

This year’s program was a little different than previous, with all racers taking part in a 2-run dual GS on the Saturday, followed by a revamped ‘events day’ on Sunday. Held on Juniper, coaches built the first ‘Dougie’s Downhill’ event which included four DH-style turns followed by a wedge jump athletes could pop off and measure their longest distance (9 metres was the record!) All participants gathered in the finish corral after that one to get their ‘I jumped [distance]’ helmet stickers. The day also hosted a speed trap, with the fastest time tracked at 87 kmph, a Moguls challenge, where kids could ‘choose their adventure’ between Charlie’s Choice and Tickety, a timed ski-cross style Terrain Track AND an obstacle course through Jerry’s Jungle. (Did we mention that over 300 kids took part?) No doubt a ton of fun for the kids, parents, and everyone on the hill…and a good night’s sleep on Sunday!

Gavin Preziosi, ED of the Lake Louise program, says that part of the magic around this event is the right timing. “It comes at the time of the year when, after everyone involved has been working really hard to get to this point in the season, we all benefit from this perfect reminder of why we do this. These kids wear the joy of the sport on their faces.” Preziosi went on to say that he comes away from the DMI re-energized and keen to keep building an even better ski racing program at Lake Louise where he’s been in the role for 4 years.

Thanks go out, as always, to club organizers, Alberta Alpine, and the many volunteers and team sponsors who contribute so much to the success of these events, and the memories created.

Club Spotlight: The Lake Louise Grizzlies Ski Club is the home of Nancy Greene skiing at Lake Louise, dedicated to teaching skiing essentials to children 5 to 9. We foster good sportsmanship, teamwork and a love of outdoor activities. Our athletes are provided with world class ski coaching in small group environments designed to maximize both technique and enjoyment. Building on a strong foundation of their ski skills, these little athletes have the opportunity to later transition to the Lake Louise Race Ski Club if speed is their love, or the Lake Louise All Mountain Ski Club if ripping on big terrain at Lake Louise is their passion. No matter where their hearts take them, they will learn the skills they need and love for the sport with the Grizzlies.

Find out more information at https://www.lakelouisegrizzlies.ca/contact.html

Cold Lake, AB – The Kinosoo Blizzards hosted the final North Zone NGSL race weekend March 28-29 at Kinosoo Ridge Resort for the U6/U8/U10 age groups.

Things kicked off Saturday with a spectacular fly-by of two Canadian Armed Forces CF-188s from 4 Wing Cold Lake. They flew past in formation and then followed up with some spectacular maneuvers and set the tone for a speedy weekend (and a Top Gun costume theme for day 1!)

With a smaller roster of athletes taking part, organizers managed numerous races Saturday and a total of 7 runs per racer!  The morning format was two 1-run races on both red and blue panel slalom courses and then in the afternoon, inspired by some recent footage of the BVQ’s Caribou Cup relay, mixed teams of 6 were created and the kids had another 5 runs of action. Things switched up a bit Sunday with a tropical beach costume theme and a best-of-2-run Giant Slalom race. Several racers then did their best at the Slush Cup being held by the ski hill and enjoyed the warm-up hot tub after!

Thanks to all the volunteers from the club to run such a great race this weekend, and for continued support throughout the season. It was much appreciated by the Race Chairman, Todd Parker, that lots of host club members went the extra mile, some even out of their comfort zones, to take on new positions to ensure our race went smoothly. In that sense, the weekend was a good demonstration of development for both athletes and volunteers!

Many thanks for the support and sponsorship from Alberta Alpine, Kinosoo Ridge Resort, both Sundance and Pacesetter Ski Shops who provided some fabulous prizing, and the local business community that pitched in to make this last race especially great.

The Alberta Alpine Ski Association (AASA) sent six U16 athletes to represent the province in Abetone, Italy at the 44th Edition of Pinocchio on Skis international race series.

Led by coaches Erin Fynn and Johnny Bennett, these young athletes were exposed to many new and valuable experiences both on and off the hill. Traveling overseas for the first time as competitors and managing all their gear, fatigue, plus new and somewhat unfamiliar surroundings was just the beginning.  Cultural differences, from the food, languages and customs – even the assertiveness in the lift line-ups was very eye opening for them! – so much was new. And when introduced to the European athletes, initially they saw only the differences… and then very quickly saw the similarities they shared.

The actual races exposed these athletes to international competition, including international seeding and varied rules, but also the realization they could punch in! Ellie Hyndman scored an impressive 5^th place in the Slalom behind athletes from Italy, Croatia, and Great Britain. She also cracked the top 15 in GS with teammates Ainsley Langley Taylor landing in 16^th and Maddie Wickins close behind in 20^th, all less than .9 tenths apart. The boys also finished the GS in the top 30 within 5 places and 1 second of each other in their 2-run GS race. The Men’s slalom race proved to be a bit ‘spicy’ to say the least, getting the better of our boys who did not finish, but delivered meaningful experience nonetheless.

But they didn’t just ‘represent’ on the race course. After first arriving to very thin snow conditions, Abetone was hit with huge snowfall and the Albertan contingent took advantage of the powder day by free-skiing and were proud of being recognized as the “crazy” Canadians for wanting to go off-piste. That will be a fond memory for all of them, as will some of the other highlights the athletes listed off, including, “standing in the start and realizing I was racing in Italy!”

From waving the Canadian flag during the Parade of Nations, meeting and getting to know other athletes that were staying at the same hotel and enjoying croissants in the breakfast spread every morning, the competition atmosphere in Abetone was one of those experiences-of-a-lifetime many only just hear of.

Traveling beyond the venue, the team visited Venice on a day off and more memories were made, from the gelato, the alleyways, the waterways, the basilicas, and (of course) the pizza!

Congratulations to the Alberta athletes Ellie Hyndman, Ainsley Langley Taylor, Madeline Wickins, Henry Petersen, Charles Blouin and Holt Mackenzie who boarded the plane on Day 1 as friends and acquaintances and returned home after so many shared experiences as family.

For race results from the international Pinocchio on Skis, follow the link >>

The Alberta U14 Finals were hosted by Team Panorama Ski Club March 27-29^th at Panorama Resort.  Just over 140 athletes competed in GS, Super-G, and Slalom over three days and (6) one-run races.   Race Chair Jay McGilvary reported that all the events ran safely and smoothly thanks to  a huge number of volunteers that stepped up to work the course. It was also noted by more than a few folks that Team Pano Program Director, Mark Sharp, must be credited with committing a ton of pre-event snowcat rebuild time in order to revive the track to a fantastic race surface having been nearly destroyed only four days earlier after warm weather took it down to the dirt!

On the Women’s side, hometown racer Emerson Dublonko dominated, taking gold in five of the six events. Claire Hiscock of Paskapoo shared the podium with her twice in the Super-G, as did Jasmine Blake from Team Pano West in the GS, and Kim Jayu from Paskapoo in the SL.

In the U14 Men’s, there was a little more movement on the podium, at least after the back to back wins for Colby Lacey of Snow Valley in the Super-G. Pano’s Findlay Spencer collected 1^st and 2^nd in GS and another 2^nd in SL; Lake Louise’s Alexander Howard earned a 2^nd in SG, 1^st and 3^rd in GS, and narrowly missed the podium in SL with two 4^th-place finishes, and Merrick McHugh from Team Panorama claimed a SG bronze, GS silver, and gold & silver in the SL.

Race highlights for athletes and spectators alike included a fastest speed clocked in the Super-G of over 93 kmph, a particularly wild Boys’ SL event on Sunday, and a beautiful day of sunshine for the Friday GS.

Overall champions for the U14 Finals Series were named Sunday. Congratulations to this year’s podium:

U14 Women

1. Emerson Dublonko, Team Panorama
2. Jasmine Blake, Team Panorama West
3. London Jensen, Calgary Alpine Racing Club

U14 Men (all three separated by only 10 race points!)

1. Colby Lacey, Snow Valley Ski Club
2. Spencer Findlay, Team Panorama
3. Merrick McHugh, Team Panorama

Finally, a special thanks to CAST alumni Manny Osborne-Paradis for joining the athletes at the banquet and energetically sharing his career experiences from youth racer through to World Cup. 

Results of all the racing action can be found here >>

The Alberta Alpine Ski Association (AASA) is proud to announce the six athletes selected to represent the province on the U16 Europe Project in Abetone, Italy. This exciting initiative recognizes the commitment, performance, and potential of Alberta’s top U16 athletes, providing them with a unique opportunity to compete and train on the international stage.

Team – U16 AASA Europe Project

Women
Ellie Hyndman
Ainsley Langley Taylor
Madeline Wickins

Men
Henry Petersen
Charles Blouin
Holt Mackenzie

*Conrad MacPherson* was originally selected but ultimately was unable to attend due to Sickness

The team will be led by experienced coaches Erin Fynn and Johnny Bennett, who will support the athletes throughout this high-performance development experience.

The group departed Calgary on March 23, arriving in Milan, Italy, before traveling to Abetone for a focused block of training and competition. The itinerary includes dedicated training days, followed by the Abetone FIS Children’s Races on March 27 and 28. The trip also allows time for continued training and cultural experiences before returning to Calgary. Please help us cheer them on for their competitions.

The U16 Alberta Europe Project is designed to expose Alberta’s top developing athletes to elevated international competition, accelerating their growth both on and off the hill. Competing in Europe places these athletes in the heart of the global alpine skiing landscape, where they will face deeper fields, varied terrain, and diverse race formats. These challenges are instrumental in advancing technical and tactical skills while building the adaptability and resilience required for success in high-performance sport.

Beyond competition, the experience offers significant personal development. Navigating new environments, cultures, and expectations fosters independence, confidence, and professionalism. Training and racing alongside international peers also allows athletes to benchmark themselves against some of the best in their age group, providing valuable insight into the standards required for future success.

For AASA, initiatives like the Europe Project play a critical role in long-term athlete development. By investing in early exposure to high-level competition, Alberta Alpine is strengthening the pathway toward FIS-level racing and beyond. Just as importantly, the program continues to cultivate a culture of excellence, ambition, and global perspective, key ingredients in developing not only successful ski racers, but well-rounded individuals.

AASA congratulates all six athletes on this outstanding achievement and looks forward to following their progress as they represent Alberta with pride on the international stage.

Jasper, AB – Over 3 days at Marmot Basin, the North Zone hosted their Regional Finals with 110 registered athletes from U14-U19. Hosted by a multi-club ROC including Cold Lake, Snow Valley, Red Deer, Jasper and Nitehawk, this event is the ‘big one’ of the season where athletes chase the coveted Porteus Cup for fastest combined SL and GS times, as well as the overall Regional Series points awards for U16 and U19. The annual weekend wrap-up is capped off with a 150-person banquet where racers and coaches celebrate their fun year of ski racing together and hold a bib draw for the final day of competition.

Results highlights include the Alberta North Series Overall Winners:

• U16 Female: Annabelle IVERSON – COLD LAKE
• U16 Male: Jayden BEUERLEIN – RED DEER
• U19+ Female: Brooke HORWOOD – SUNRIDGE
• U19+ Male: Christopher COOPER – RED DEER

And this year’s Porteous Cup winners:

• Female: DVOROVAYA  Ornella -U14 RABBIT
• Male: LUXFORD  Miles -U16 SUNRIDGE

A huge thanks to host Marmot Basin and Jordan Spence, who consistently impresses us with their professionalism and customer service! Also thank you to our prize sponsors, Sundance and Pacesetter who provided our athletes and volunteers with some great tokens to help us remember this fantastic weekend!

Final Slalom and Giant Slalom Results can be found here >>

Castle Mountain Resort, AB – The 2026 U16 Western Championships, presented by Sporting Life, were successfully held at Castle Mountain Resort from March 16–20, bringing together an outstanding field of young athletes and coaches from across Western Canada.

A total of 244 athletes, supported by 52 coaches and more than 125 dedicated volunteers, took part in the event. Hosted by the Westcastle Ski Club, the championships welcomed teams from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Yukon. From start to finish, the event was a powerful reflection of the strength, spirit, and collaboration within the Western Canadian ski community.

Despite challenging “coastal-style” weather conditions, including periods of rain, snow, and wind, the atmosphere throughout the week remained overwhelmingly positive. Athletes rose to the occasion with remarkable resilience, adaptability, and determination, embracing each day’s challenges with maturity beyond their years. Whether navigating difficult course conditions or adjusting to schedule changes, their perseverance and commitment to performance were truly inspiring and a highlight of the championships.

The success of the event was made possible through the extraordinary efforts of the Westcastle Ski Club and its volunteer team. More than 125 volunteers dedicated countless hours both on and off the hill, demonstrating exceptional commitment, flexibility, and pride in delivering a high-quality event under demanding circumstances. Their willingness to step up in adverse weather conditions ensured that the competition ran safely and smoothly. This level of community support is the backbone of alpine ski racing, and the contribution of the Westcastle Ski Club cannot be overstated.

In anticipation of difficult weather, the Race Organizing Committee, led by Race Chair Lauren Lynch-Staunton, made the proactive decision to adjust the competition schedule two days prior to the event. This required significant coordination and adaptability from athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers alike. Thanks to this collaborative effort, organizers successfully completed the Super-G, Giant Slalom, and Slalom races, with only the Skills and Team events ultimately cancelled due to weather conditions.

Competition took place across several of Castle Mountain’s premier race venues. The Super-G and Giant Slalom events were contested on the Lone Ranger venue from the top of the chair, while the Slalom races were held on Whiskey Jack. Across all disciplines, athletes demonstrated exceptional skill, grit, and sportsmanship, showcasing the depth of talent emerging across the western provinces.

Team Alberta delivered an impressive performance, highlighted by strong results across multiple clubs. Alberta’s female athletes were particularly dominant, sweeping the podium in all three events. Notable multi-medal performances were achieved by Ainsley Langley-Taylor, Lauren Cross, and Charles Blouin of Calgary Alpine Racing Club, along with Ellie Hyndman of Banff Alpine Racers.

Alberta Alpine extends its sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Westcastle Ski Club, all volunteers, officials, coaches, and partners, including the team at Castle Mountain Resort, whose collective efforts made this event possible. Hosting a championship of this scale requires an incredible level of dedication and teamwork, and the success of this year’s event stands as a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together.

The 2026 U16 Western Championships will be remembered not only for the high level of competition, but for the resilience of its athletes and the unwavering support of its volunteers the hallmarks of a strong and thriving ski racing community.

Full results can be found here >>

Club Spotlight: The Westcastle Ski Club offers programs from NGSL through to FIS that develop confident, skilled, and well-rounded skiers. Whether the goal is to race at a high level or simply enjoy every run on the mountain, our athletes gain the tools to succeed.

Grounded in Alpine Canada’s Long-Term Athlete Development model, all of the WSC programming balances technical skiing, gate training and free skiing while making the most of Castle Mountain’s terrain and snow.  Our Mission is to ‘provide competitive alpine ski racing programs focused on the development of youth into skilled athletes and responsible young adults through an athlete-centered, coach-driven approach supported by a strong parent and volunteer infrastructure.’

Time spent in gates not only builds racing ability but also creates stronger, more adaptable all-mountain skiers. With consistent training, quality coaching, and a supportive community, WSC athletes are prepared for competition and inspired to carry a lifelong passion for skiing. 

For more information about Westcastle Ski Club and their programs, contact club president Kari Grandoni at kari@westcastle.org

The North Zone was busy with events for their younger athletes these past couple of weekends, and Snow Valley Racing ran them both. Hosting 4 races this winter, this is the busiest ROC season the Snow Valley Ski Club has had in a long time.  Here are some highlights:

U12 North Zone SL/GS Series

Canyon Ski Resort, AB – On March 14-15, Snow Valley Racing hosted the North Zone U12 SL and GS at Canyon Ski Resort in Red Deer.  79 young athletes from Red Deer, Edmonton, Grand Prairie, Fort McMurray and Cold Lake took part in the weekend series which, now more than half-way through the season, was an excellent opportunity for these racers to show the progress they’ve made in their skills and technique in the gates.

The weather was fantastic – certainly less challenging than at the previous weekend’s U14 event at the same venue – and spirits were high, everyone enjoying the beautiful views of the Red Deer River in addition to the action on the slopes. Athletes had 3 single-run races each day and, for many, this was the first cross-blocking slalom event – and they crushed it!

Every ski race is always a big commitment from the race organizing committee, and this weekend was no exception. SVR is grateful of the incredible support of friends from the Canyon Ski Resort, the Red Deer Ski Club, and all the North Zone teams, volunteers, coaches and parents who make this type of event successful. And big thanks to Boston Pizza for generously keeping the workforce very well fed!

SVR Program Director Chad Mansell’s amazing disco helmet, shining light and good vibes on the entire event at Canyon Ski Resort March 14-15.

U8/U10 North Zone Sundance Cup

Edmonton, AB – On March 21, Snow Valley Racing hosted 165 athletes at the North Zone U8/U10 Dual SL Sundance Cup event at Snow Valley Ski Club in Edmonton.  It was a fun, welcoming alpine racing experience, emphasizing participation and skill development and reinforcing the core values of the Nancy Greene Ski League (NGSL) program. Clubs from Red Deer, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray and Cold Lake came to challenge each other, and the race itself consisted of (2) two-run races (best of AM and PM) off the triple chair. 

After a couple days of rain and snow, conditions were challenging but beautifully warm, spring weather came out for race day and, with the help of our Snow Valley Ski Club sponsors Wolfe Automotive Group, Boston Pizza, Sundance Ski Shop and Swix, we had a fun-filled event for athletes and spectators with giveaways, draws and lots of excitement.  Sundance Ski Shop and Mitch from Swix provided incredible draw prizes and did tuning demos, even waxing some athletes’ skis. Boston Pizza provided the athlete lunches, and the Wolfe team brought hot chocolate and coffee to warm-up bellies and provided even more draw prizes. Organizers also had music playing for a fun, party atmosphere in the finish for athletes and spectators!

Event results can be found here.

Mt. Norquay, AB – The Bow Valley had 3 days of rain prior to the annual BVQ Invitational which made for difficult conditions and a change of race format for this year’s event.  On Saturday, the snow was extremely challenging, and much of the resort was ungroomed and closed due to slides. That morning, so many incredible parents from visiting clubs joined the Bow Valley Quikies’ course crew to keep the race track safe for the athletes who were competing in 4 slalom runs each in one day.  Rallying like that to successfully get those race runs completed really shows how supportive our ski community is and how everyone is here to achieve the same goal of developing ski racers and skiers for life.

AASA Program Director Josh Benge commended the Banff Alpine organization and BVQ team on their near-heroic efforts. “All the volunteers and coaches did a phenomenal job adapting and adjusting to make it happen for the kids.” At the end of the event, which included 3 runs of GS on the Sunday as well, the count was just shy of 180 participants between the U8 and U10 age groups both days. Event results, beyond the hundreds of smiles from athletes and spectators alike, can be found here.

Lake Louise, AB – Two races on two ski runs from one start + four courses per gender + eight race runs and eight podiums PER DAY = a recipe for two very successful days at the Lake Louise FIS GMC Cup Slalom Extravaganza!! It was a first-time running two races simultaneously for the Lake Louise Ski Club ROC (X2!), but the efforts were worth it. Athletes had two opportunities per day to score results which, for some, meant a little less pressure to contend with, and with both provincial and national team athletes on the start lists, the competition was tight.

Course conditions were a bit soft in sections after lots of new snow fell in the days leading up to the race, but the sunshine shone especially bright Friday, and DJ Marzzy kept the fans and racers entertained with a play-by-play from the finish.

Congratulations to the many athletes making huge gains in the rankings over the two days, and shout outs to multi-podium performances from Jesse Kertez-Knight (CAST), Caleb Brooks (AST), Gavin Johnson (AST), Katie Smith (AST), Noemie Brooks (BAR), and Jessica McLellan (BAR).

Full results from the Lake Louise FIS GMC Cup Slalom Extravaganza races can be found here >>

Watch for more results coming soon from Alberta Ski Team athletes competing this week in Aspen at the Stifel Success NorAm Finals, streaming here >>    
FIS Results here >>

Banff, AB – Team race fans take note, the Crazy Canuck Challenge is slated for Friday, April 17th ahead of the Bozo Cup weekend at Banff Mt. Norquay. Planned as a fun corporate fundraising race, the goal is to make a substantial contribution to Alberta Alpine athletes representing the province and country at the Junior World Ski Championships, the World Cup and the Olympic Winter Games.

Each Team will consist of four (4) participants who will be joined for the day by a “ski legend’ – who will coach, race and share their stories of their time with the Canadian or Alberta Ski Teams. Build your team of friends or colleagues, challenge other competitors to do the same, and enter the Crazy Canuck Challenge before April 10, 2026 (Maximum 16 Teams)!

The event will be a fun dual giant slalom format – no jumps – on the Cascade Race Venue, directly in front of the Norquay day lodge. The winning team will be determined by the best combined time of all five members.

The day includes lift pass, light breakfast, lunch and après, coaching for the day with your Team Legend, and post event auction at the après-ski with amazing opportunities for great gift items, ski gear and memorabilia.

Registration is open now >>  for a great day of fun, action, camaraderie, and community on the slopes of Norquay in support of a fantastic cause!