On behalf of the Alberta Alpine Ski Association, our hearts and prayers go out to all that have been impacted by the Jasper fires. 

Our sincere gratitude goes out to the emergency crews, firefighters, first responders, and community members who are risking their safety, and we hope that everyone stays safe during this incredibly difficult time.  

The community and residents of Jasper are in our thoughts and our hearts. Jasper has been a cornerstone in the Alberta Alpine Skiing community for many years, we will continue to be thinking of you.   

Sincerely, 

Patrick Gillespie 
President of Alberta Alpine Ski Association

It is with great excitement that we would like to introduce the Alberta Ski Team for the 2024/25 competitive season. The following athletes have shown tenacity, commitment, dedication, and a drive that is second to none. Please join us in congratulating and celebrating them.

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.

Highest Peak Gala – Thursday, November 7, 2024

Ski racing is built on the foundation of hard work. A daily effort on the snow. Behind every alpine ski race, within every program is the enormous contribution of many volunteers, officials and sport leaders, who work tirelessly to provide great programs, run ski races and ensure the administration and leadership of our sport gives our athletes every opportunity to succeed.

The purpose of the Canadian Rockies Ski Racing Hall of Fame is to recognize those individuals who have invested their time, their passion and their enthusiasm to build our sport, lift our clubs and give athletes the chance to aim for the highest levels.

For the 12^th year, Alberta Alpine and the Selection Committee are pleased that our annual gathering of alpine ski racing excellence at the Highest Peak Gala, will profile the people who have built our sport. will be our opportunity to honour our 2024 Inductees, celebrate our achievements of the past season and meet the athletes of the Alberta Ski Team. Thursday 7, 2024

Nominations for the Class of 2024 are now open. This is your chance to nominate an individual you feel is deserving of recognition by the Alpine Ski Racing Family in the Canadian Rockies.

The Hall of Fame selection panel welcomes nominees in up to five categories:

• Builder
• Volunteer
• Official
• Alberta Ski Team and/or Canadian Ski Team alumnus
• President’s Award, for special merit

Ski racing in the Canadian Rockies has grown over the past 100 years, led by the vision and determination of our many passionate leaders. These efforts have lifted in our athletes to proudly represent Canada, including Olympic, World Championship and World Cup medals. Hard working volunteers, officials and staff have become indispensable supporters of our own annual World Cup as well as leaders within organizing committees at World Championships and Olympic Winter Games. Technical leaders have been part of the digital revolution. Coaches and Team alumnus have firmly established a culture of success and a pipeline that consistently gives thousands of young athletes the fundamentals of a life-long sport, a deep appreciation for the outdoors and mountain environment, the thrill of ski racing and a passion to aim to represent our country.

“The Canadian Rockies Ski Racing Hall of Fame is a truly meaningful way to honour those who have worked so hard for our athletes,” said Alberta Alpine President, Pat Gillespie. “Every winter, thousands of young athletes get the chance to enjoy ski racing and to aim for the podium right across our province, thanks to the determined effort of our supporters. Through their hard work our athletes have developed into champions, life-long ski enthusiasts and good citizens. The leadership of our Honoured Inductees and so many more is a living example to all of us who aim to build a strong sport programs across the province and Canada.”

Nominations will be accepted until June 30, 2024 – To nominate a deserving individual, provide a brief summary of no more than one page outlining the accomplishments and duration of commitment as well as contact information for both nominee and nominator. Email information to: memberservices@albertaalpine.ca

Canada’s longest running Ski Gala – Join us Thursday, November 7^th at the Palliser Hotel in Calgary for the 57^th “Highest Peak Gala” as we honour our 2024 Inductees, celebrate the remarkable success of our sport in 2024 and meet the members of the 2024 AST as they prepare for a new season.

– 30  –

For more information:
Canadian Rockies Ski Racing Hall of Fame
Email: memberservices@albertaalpine.ca

Every year Alberta Alpine looks forward to recognizing our athletes for their hard work and commitment to excellence, on and off the track.

After an extensive deliberation process from a highly competitive pool of applicants, the Alberta Alpine scholarship committee has selected the following scholarship recipients for the 2023/24 season:

Rob Bosinger Ski Scholarship
Maya McHugh (CARC)
Graydyn Swanson (Sunshine)

Brent Marshall Memorial Scholarship
Cole Merrett (Pano)

David Murray Memorial Scholarship
Jesse Kertesz-Knight (BAR)

Franklin Donald Bean Award
Caleb Brooks (AST)

Cary Mullen Character Award
U12    Rose Opelik (BVQ)
U12    Nelson Grandoni (Westcastle)
U14    Henri Wall McComb (Snow Valley)
U14    William McGee (Snow Valley)
FIS      Jamie Heisz (Nakiska)
AST     Caleb Brooks (AST)

Certificates:

Certificates: 
Jonathan Hornseth (U10, Cold Lake) 
Declan Bellavance (U12, Snow Valley) 
Annabelle Iverson (U14, Cold Lake) 
Addelyn Nowell (U14,  
Maddie Wickins (U14, International Racers) 
Graydyn Swanson (U16, Sunshine) 
Dalton Blower (FIS, Nakiska)

Ski Canada Magazine Award
Alex Madra (U14) AB Masters
Filip Guja (U14) Paskapoo/KASC

Please join Alberta Alpine for a special evening at the Smithbilt Store.

Limited event tickets available.

Date: Wednesday June 26th, 2024. 6pm – 9pm.
Location: 1015 11th St SE, Calgary, AB. T2G 3E9
Entry-only for $50: https://zone4.ca/register.asp?id=35863
Legends club $1,000 ($700 donation receipt) contact member services for more info. Custom Smithbilt AASA logo Branded Cowboy Hat (includes entry)

Support Alberta Alpine in the 2024-2025 Season!

Thank you for attending and supporting the 2024 Quest for Gold Golf Tournament. It was an incredible event, and everyone’s support means so much!

Thank you to our sponsors:

Hole in One Sponsor: Wolfe Canmore GMC Buick and GMC Dealers of Alberta
Exclusive Breakfast Sponsor: Nearctic Property Group
Exclusive Lunch Sponsor: Kobold Services Inc.
Exclusive 19th Hole Beverage Sponsor: Raymond James Mission Wealth Advisors
Birdie Sponsor: Mount Norquay
Albatross Sponsor: Panorama Advisory Group with Rob Gray at Scotia Wealth Management

Thank You Perry Thompson Photography for tournament photography

And a big thank you to everyone who supported and made a donation:

APEX MASSAGE THERAPY
CRAVE CUPCAKES
TRANSROCKIES RACE ENTRIES
SNOWY OWL SLED DOG TOURS
WHITE WOLF RAFTING
NORQUAY
BIKE BANFF
BADGER RIDGE
POTS AND PEAKS: MARTINE DESAUTELS
GAUCHO BRAZILIAN BARBECUE
MURRIETA’S RESTAURANT
MAX GARTNER
STEELING HOME
BRIDGETTE BAR
HEAD SPORTS
BEAR STREET OUTFITTERS
LAUNCHPAD GOLF
APRES SKIED
KINGSTON MARKETING
MONOD SPORTS
CALEB BROOKS
SMITH FAMILY
SHEPHERD FAMILY
MIKAYLA WUNSCH
Alberta Ski Team and Alberta Development Group Athletes, Parents, Families, and Supporters

NOMINATION PERIOD OPENED !

Nomination period is from May 8^th to May 31^st, 11:59PM PST.

Application form link : https://forms.office.com/r/HTSaDrxZXq

The awards:

Alpine Canada is committed to promoting excellence within its sport and across all involved stakeholders. Through these annual awards, Alpine Canada wishes to celebrate and recognize individuals and organizations that transcend the spirit of excellence, performance, and community we wish to foster within our sport.

Structure and governance:

To create credibility, transparency, equity, fairness, and engagement for the awards, results and outcomes, the ACA Awards of excellence is a property owned by Alpine Canada but governed by a committee of non-Alpine Canada employees. An Alpine Canada employee will sit on the committee meetings and will provide administrative support to help execute various tasks.

Purpose of the committee: 

The purpose of the Alpine Canada Awards Committee is to select award finalists in the following categories: See attached guide for criteria and descriptions. The ones in yellow are the awards open for public nominations.

• Alpine Athlete of the Year – Female (Committee Nomination)
• Alpine Athlete of the Year – Male (Committee Nomination)
• Ski Cross Athlete of the Year – Female (Committee Nomination)
• Ski Cross Athlete of the Year – Male (Committee Nomination)
• Para-Alpine Athlete of the Year – Female (Committee Nomination)
• Para-Alpine Athlete of the Year – Male (Committee Nomination)
• Coach of the Year – National Teams – Male (ACA Nomination)
• Coach of the Year – National Teams – Female (ACA Nomination)
• Coach of the Year – Provincial Teams – Female (PTSOs Nomination)
• Coach of the Year – Provincial Teams – Male (PTSOs Nomination)
• Coach of the Year – Domestic Programs – Female (Public Nomination)
• Coach of the Year – Domestic Programs – Male (Public Nomination)
• Volunteers of the Year (Public Nomination)
• Nancy Greene Builder Award (Public Nomination)
• Minogue Award of Excellence (Open to National team athletes only)
• Sam Ousher Switzer Charitable Foundation – Post Secondary Education Tuition Assistance Scholarship (Open to National team athletes only)

Registration and sponsor opportunities are now open for the 2024 Quest for Gold Golf Tournament. Monday May 27, 2024 at Silvertip Golf Resort in Canmore.

WHERE: Silvertip Golf Resort in Canmore, AB

WHEN: Monday May 27, 2024

TIME: Registration Opens 8:00 am with the Putting Challenge from 8:00am to 10:00am

Shot-gun start at 10:00 am

REGISTRATION INCLUDES: Tee Gift, Light Breakfast, 1 beverage, Lunch and 19th Hole Apres Reception & Prizes 

Register: https://zone4.ca/register.asp?id=34772&lan=1&cartlevel=1

“Athletes U14-U19 battle in the Coal Miner course for the River Cross Cup and the FIS crew for the Golden Pick Axe at the 6th annual Sunridge Ski Cross Challenge Feb. 2-4.”…

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Recently three BAR E-Team athletes attended the FIS Alpine World Junior Ski Championships, Haute-Savoie, France.

Kendra Giesbrecht and Jesse Kertesz-Knight represented Canada alongside Alberta Ski Team member Gered Thompson, dual gold medalist Britt Richardson and Kyle McGown representing Australia…

Full article available – www.banffalpineracers.com

Photo Credit: Perry Thompson, Jesse, Kendra, Luke Patterson

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“The Linda Putnam Invitational is a highlight in every Team Panorama skiers racing career; just ask current @albertaskiteam member @zoe.gray_ and Olympian @_cassidy_gray…”

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