To our incredible race organizing committees, clubs, coaches, and volunteers across the province, THANK YOU!

On behalf of Alberta Alpine, I want to extend our sincere appreciation for the time, energy, and passion you have invested throughout this past season. From the first days of training to the final races on the calendar, your collective efforts created an environment where athletes could learn, grow, and perform at their best.

Our ROC’s worked tirelessly behind the scenes to deliver safe, fair, and high-quality competitions. These events are more than just races, they are critical development opportunities. Every start, every course set, and every well-run event provides athletes with the platform to build skills, gain confidence, and take the next step in their progression. Your commitment to excellence plays a direct role in shaping the future of our sport.

To our clubs, thank you for your leadership and collaboration. You are the foundation of athlete development in Alberta. By hosting events, supporting programming, and fostering strong club environments, you are helping athletes not only achieve performance goals, but also develop resilience, sportsmanship, and a lifelong connection to skiing.

To our coaches, we want to recognize the vital role you play every single day. Your dedication extends far beyond the finish line, early mornings, long days on snow, travel, planning, and constant mentorship. You are educators, leaders, and role models. The growth we see in our athletes, technically, tactically, and personally, is a direct reflection of your commitment to their development. Thank you for the care, professionalism, and passion you bring to our sport.

And to our volunteers, course workers, gate judges, timers, organizers,  chiefs to first timers, and supporters, our sport simply cannot exist without you. Your willingness to show up, often in challenging conditions, ensures that every athlete has the opportunity to compete in a safe and supportive environment. Your contributions are essential to both the success of each event and the overall development pathway.

Because of all of you, we have been able to deliver meaningful, high-quality experiences that support athlete progression at every level. Together, you are building not only better ski racers, but stronger individuals and a more connected alpine community.

Thank you for being the backbone of our sport and for your unwavering commitment to athlete development in Alberta.

I am truly grateful and look forward to continuing this work together next season.

Josh Benge

Nakiska Ski Resort, AB – For the highest calibre alpine ski racers in the province, it all came down to last week’s FIS GMC Cup Series FINALS at Nakiska to determine who would claim the overall title for the 2025/26 season. Over 250 athletes took part, coming from club, provincial and even national teams, so competition was fierce and it was a solid opportunity for all athletes to see how they stacked up after a winter of training and racing throughout North America.

Slated to start with 2 days of Super-G as of Tuesday, Mother Nature had other ideas and the first event day was scrapped due to mild and unsafe conditions for a speed event, but come Wednesday, the weather cleared, the surface was firm and race organizers pulled off an amazing double header, running two 1-run Super G races per gender. In the morning race, Ontario’s Emma James narrowly beat the field with a 1:08:90, less than a tenth of a second recorded between Estelle Martin (1:08:96) and Rachel Tiviluk (1:08:98). Top Albertan in the women’s race was Mikayla Wunsch in 4^th place.  Canmore’s Jeffrey Read (CAST) topped the podium in the Men’s first race with a 1:05:00 ahead of BC’s Sasha Gilbert (1:05:37) and Colton Bartholomew (1:05:73) . In the afternoon, James again claimed first for the women (1:08:48) just ahead of Gabby Wall, top Albertan with a 1:08:57 and, again, Rachel Tiviluk (1:08:59) from Georgian Peaks. In the 2^nd Men’s Super-G race, the US athletes crept on to the podium with Abraham Musty (team?) in first (1:03:82) and just ahead of Sasha Gilbert again in second (1:03:86), with Everett Dooley (team) trailing by only one-hundredth of a second in third…and incredibly close race. Top Albertan was Caleb Brooks in 4^th place, missing the podium by 3 one-hundredths of a second.

The sun came out in full force for both days of Giant Slalom (GS) and athletes shone too, seeing a Canadian National Team sweep of the podium in the 1^st Men’s GS Thursday led again by Jeffrey Read with 1:48:15 combined, ahead of teammate Jake Kertesz-Knight (1:49:02) and brother Erik (1:49:11). Alberta weas well represented on the women’s podium led by CAST member Kendra Giesbrecht (1:51:10), with Gabby Wall (U of C Dinos) trailing by :14 (1:51:24) and Rebecca Pelkey (BAR) in third with 1:52:06. Friday’s race Saw Jeffrey Read (1:46:41) own the podium once again, followed by Colton Bartholomew (1:46:80) in second and Jesse Kertesz-Knight (1:46:93) in third place. The Women’s podium just shuffled the same three athletes from the previous day, this time Gabby Wall (1:55:40) taking the win ahead of Pelkey (1:55:70) and Giesbrecht (1:55:97).

The two, final Slalom events took place over the weekend and, while the snowy weather returned for Sunday, it did not dampen the mood as racers battled some tough courses to come out on top. On Saturday, Jesse Kertesz-Knight had a commanding lead by more than  a second over silver winner Thomas Carnahan and third place Erik Read.  Kendra Giesbrecht earned the gold ahead of Dinos’ Mikayla Wunsch and Gabby Wall in 2^nd and 3^rd respectively. Day two of the slalom got off to an unusual start…that was restarted after a gate was incorrectly replaced after being knocked out and two athletes’ times were recorded before the error was rectified. After a few more athletes ran the original line, and it was determined that the mis-set gate marked an unfairly fast line, the race was scrapped and restarted. According to TD Rob Tupper, and 3 other TD-accredited officials on course that day, it was something not seen before; however, being the independent authority on fairness and safety, the call was made to restart the men’s race. At the end of the day, Jesse Kertesz-Knight took yet another win for the series, trailed by Alberta Ski Team athlete Caleb Brooks and Dinos’ Taras Dets in third. On the women’s side, U of C’s Gabby Wall claimed gold, ahead of Estelle Martin by .24 of a second, and Kendra Giesbrecht in third place. Sunday’s race also marked the retirement for a few athletes, a bittersweet milestone marked by lots of cheers and the occasional costume, and congratulatory hugs in the finish corral.

The overall FIS GMC Cup was determined on a points system combining results from 22 separate race starts over six race series (including this series) during the 2025/26 season:

December:

• Panorama 3XGS & 1XSL
• Mt. Norquay 2XSL

January:

• Nakiska 2GS & 1SL

February:

• Mt. Norquay 2XGS & 2XSL

March:

• Lake Louise, 4XSL (in 2 days!)

The overall top three for each gender were awarded FIS GMC Cup plaques, and the winners’ names will be added to the prestigious GMC Cup trophies, in circulation among the Alberta ski racing elite since the 1970’s.

Congratulations to this year’s FIS GMC Cup champions:

WOMEN

1. Gabby WALL, U of C Dinos
2. Nikola BUCHAR, Windermere Ski Club
3. Elena DEDA, Windermere Ski Club

MEN

1. Caleb BROOKS, Alberta Ski Team/Lake Louise Ski Club
2. Jake KERTESZ-KNIGHT, Canadian Alpine Ski Team/Banff Alpine Racers
3. Jesse KERTESZ-KNIGHT, Canadian Alpine Ski Team/Banff Alpine Racers

Official results for the entire FIS GMC Cup Series at Nakiska can be found here >>

Dear athlete, coach, parent, official and volunteer,

You are the heart of sport — its energy, its passion, and its future. As you push boundaries, break records, and inspire communities, remember that true greatness begins with safety, respect, and integrity.

Safe sport is not just a policy — it’s a promise. A promise that every participant, regardless of age, background, or level, deserves to train, compete, and thrive in an environment free from abuse, discrimination, and harm.

We need your support to promote these important values by showing respect among the sport community and to report situations where the conduct of someone is not respectful of these values.

Your voice matters. Your actions matter. By standing up for safe sport, you’re not only protecting yourself — you’re protecting your teammates, your sport, and the generations to come.

Be informed. Be involved. Be a leader. Speak up. Support others. Demand accountability. Together, we can build a culture where safety is the standard, not the exception.

Let’s make sport a place where everyone feels empowered, respected, and safe — always.

Anyone who witnesses or experiences inappropriate behavior in our organization’s environment can report it in complete confidentiality.

Participants, employees, members, community and partners now have access to the Alberta Safe Sport Complaint Mechanism (ABSSCM) operated by our external partner, ALIAS (effective April 1, 2026).

Every report is received and handled by ALIAS, the independent provider. PSOs are engaged only as required by policy (e.g., jurisdiction or implementing an outcome.) Our goal is to prevent and address misconduct, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all.

Here is the link to file a complaint: https://albertaalpine.ca/safesport/
Thank you for your commitment to safe sport.

Speed Sisters is back. It’s open to female identifying athletes – 2014 year of birth and older.

April 27 – 29, 2026
Lake Louise
➡️ https://zone4.ca/register.asp?id=41659

Proudly presented by Genstar.

Nakiska, AB – The U16 Provincial Finals at Nakiska Ski Area provided a fitting conclusion to the season, bringing together Alberta’s top U16 athletes for a highly competitive and rewarding series of races.

The event featured Super-G and Giant Slalom on Map Maker, alongside Slalom on Whoop-Up, offering athletes a well-rounded test across all disciplines. A highlight of the week was the Super-G, which ran the full length of the venue to the bottom of the chair, creating a demanding and exciting course of approximately 75 seconds. This longer format challenged athletes’ endurance, ability to glide, focus, and tactical execution, and was a standout experience for many competitors.

Adding to the depth and energy of the event and following Alberta Alpine’s development opportunity philosphy, second-year U14 athletes were invited to compete in the Giant Slalom and Slalom races. Their participation provided a valuable development opportunity and a unique chance to race alongside U16 athletes. It was encouraging to see these younger competitors rise to the challenge, gaining experience while contributing to a strong and competitive race environment.

The Slalom event on Whoop-Up pushed athletes further, featuring long courses that were the maximum vertical for their age category. Combined with some challenging snow conditions throughout the week, the races required adaptability, resilience, and determination. Athletes responded with strong performances, demonstrating not only technical ability but also the kind of perseverance and character that defines high-level alpine racing.

A significant contributor to the success of the event was the Nakiska Race Organizing Committee (ROC), which was uniquely assembled from clubs and volunteers across the province. This collaborative approach brought together a wealth of experience and commitment, and the result was a professionally delivered event under demanding conditions. Alberta Alpine extends its sincere and heartfelt thanks to the entire ROC for their leadership, flexibility, and dedication to creating a high-quality competition environment for all athletes.

The U16 Finals also marked the conclusion of the season-long U16 series, recognizing consistent excellence across all disciplines. On the women’s side, Ellie Hyndman (Banff Alpine Racers) claimed top honors with 705 points, followed by Sofia Pelkey (Calgary Alpine Racing Club) with 451 points, and Juliet Boskovich (Team Panorama) in third with 402 points.

In the men’s series standings, Conrad MacPherson (Banff Alpine Racers) secured first place with 670 points. He was followed by Charles Blouin (Calgary Alpine Racing Club) in second with 520 points, and Samuel Richardson (Calgary Alpine Racing Club) rounding out the podium in third with 452 points. These results reflect not only strong performances at Finals, but a season of consistent effort, resilience, and competitive excellence.

Overall, the U16 Finals at Nakiska were marked by a high standard of competition and a positive, development-focused atmosphere. The event served as an important milestone for athletes as they closed out their season, with many stepping up to meet new challenges and showcasing their growth over the winter.

Full results from the event are available here: https://albertaalpine.ca/calendar/#6354

Panorama, BC – The 2026 Canadian National Championships were held at Panorama Resort March 31 through April 5 and showcased extremely high-level racing in Super-G, GS, and Slalom events despite the challenges of brutal weather conditions. The culmination of an intense competition season, this series presents an opportunity for National, Provincial, and Club-level athletes to measure themselves against each other. For some, it’s the first chance to do so this winter depending on where race schedules cross paths between the World Cup, NorAm, and Provincial Cup series.

Podiums were dominated by Alberta Alpine alumni, and the results showed true depth in the Alberta program over the 6-day series, with numerous top-10 finishes, including:

Super-G, Men

• 3^rd: Jeffrey Read, CAST/Banff Alpine Racers (BAR)
• 8^th: Caleb Brooks, AST/Lake Louise Ski Club (LKLSE)
• 9^th: Jake Kertesz-Knight, CAST/ Banff Alpine Racers (BAR)

Super-G, Women

• 2^rd: Zoe Gray, CAST/Montana State University/Team Panorama (PANO)
• 3^rd: Kiki Alexander, CAST/ Sunshine Alpine Racers (SUNSH)

Giant Slalom, Men

• 2^nd: Erik Read, CAST/Banff Alpine Racers (BAR)
• 3^rd: Jeffrey Read, CAST/Banff Alpine Racers (BAR)
• 4^th: Jesse Kertesz-Knight, CAST/ Banff Alpine Racers (BAR)
• 5^th: Jake Kertesz-Knight, CAST/ Banff Alpine Racers (BAR)

Giant Slalom, Women

• 1st: Cassidy Gray, CAST/Team Panorama (PANO)
• 3^rd: Rebecca Pelkey, Calgary Alpine Racing Club (CARC)
• 7^th: Gabby Wall, U of C Dinos
• 8^th: Kendra Geisbrecht, CAST?/Banff Alpine Racers (BAR

Slalom, Men

• 1^st: Liam Wallace, CAST/Sunshine Alpine Racers (SUNSH)
• 2^nd: Erik Read, CAST/Banff Alpine Racers (BAR)
• 3^rd: Jesse Kertesz-Knight, CAST/ Banff Alpine Racers (BAR)
• 6^th: Willam Steed, Montana State University/Banff Alpine Racers (BAR)
• 8^th: Jake Kertesz-Knight, CAST/ Banff Alpine Racers (BAR)

Slalom, Women

• 4^th: Gabby Wall, U of C Dinos
• 6^th: Rebecca Pelkey, Calgary Alpine Racing Club (CARC)
• 7^th: Mikayla Wunsch, U of C Dinos

Full results from Canadian Nationals and Panorama FIS races can be found here >>

Link to full ACA article: https://alpinecanada.org/news/nations-best-deliver-at-canadian-national-championships-in-panorama

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.