VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

We are extremely excited to be rolling out Project 2030 to our community and would like to invite you and your members to rewatch this webinar. It will focus on a broad overview of the athletic plan for the next seven years with a deeper dive into phase one. This project aims to be transformative for our community and sport. Please watch to learn how it will impact our community and what we need to make it happen.

Zoom Link

Passcode: 5M!QrkTg

Sunridge Alpine Ski Team has grown this year…

https://www.sunridgeskiteam.com/

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The ski season is back up and carving for the Lake Louise Ski Clubs, welcoming back our Race, Grizzlies, and All Mountain athletes to @skilouise …

https://www.lakelouiseskiclubs.ca/

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Great start to the season in Saas-Fee for the Evolve Ski Cross crew! Athletes were able to get two weeks of solid GS training paired with time on the track build….

https://www.skinasa.org/evolve-ski-cross-club

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1 March, 2024 @ 8:00 am – 7 March, 2024 @ 4:00 pm

WCM: SG / SL / GS

FMC: GS

As host of the 2024 FIS World Criterium Masters Alpine Skiing, Kimberley Disabled Skiers Association is excited to welcome you to Kimberley Alpine Resort, British Columbia, Canada.
Learn more.

In case you missed it, the ITP Sports – Safe Sport Meeting from November 1, 2023 is available to watch on demand.

THANK YOU to all who supported the 2023 Highest Peak Gala! We are so grateful for the support of everyone who donated, attended the event, participated in the online raffles and silent auction, or supported in other ways.

Photos: Perry Thompson Photography

Banff, AB – Growing up in the Mullen house was all about skiing. As prairie folk, Blais’ parents, Lorne and Elaine, relished in going to the mountains and made the trip with their 3 kids, every weekend, all winter.  Their love of the mountains and skiing was immense and the family made the decision to move to Banff. Blais, age 5, and her older brothers, Shawn and Cary, were part of the Sunshine Racing Club where they spent the days ripping the slopes with Shanne Levitt and later, Claudio Berto. Blais recalls chasing the “big kids” including Darren Thorburn, Rob Mix and of course her brothers. As a youngster she wanted to “tuck and go fast”, a natural racer. Her parents were avid volunteers, with the mountain patrol and as officials at local races, while her brother Cary often followed and mentored his little sister.

When Blais turned 10, the family moved the kids to the Banff Alpine Racing team, which had just been started by the Wiegele family.  By the time Blais was 15 she had a Canadian juvenile title (now U16) under her belt, was a formidable ski racer, and was selected to the Alberta Ski Team. During her years on the Alberta Ski Team, she won several Canadian Junior titles and was subsequently invited to the Canadian Alpine Ski Team at age 17. Career highlights include a top 15 at the 1994 World Juniors in Lake Placid, a Nor-am win, 2^nd place at the Canadian Championship downhill, and 11 World Cup and 7 European Championship starts.

In the years that followed her retirement from ski racing, Blais turned her focus to building a real estate business and starting a family. Ski racing “set me up with discipline, goal setting and a serious work ethic” all of which contributed to her dedication and successes. Her young family was introduced to racing, initially with the Snow Valley Ski Club in Edmonton before the move back to the Banff Alpine Racers and Bow Valley Quikies which she’s been an integral part of the club since 2012.

Everyone who knows Blais, say she embodies the term “passion for your work”.  She has cultivated that passion into every athlete or coach she has worked with for the 10+ years she been a part of the BAR/BVQ team.  Coaching requires a lot of energy, which does not end at the end of a session, coaching is an “athlete first” role and Blais has showcased this while balancing the most important role in her life as a mother of four incredible kids who have all been or are still a member of BAR/BVQ family.  In 2019 Blais took over the role of BAR U14 Head Coach from Jim Davis, a fellow 2023 inductee.  Replacing a fellow Sports Hall of Fame inductee are clearly very big shoes to fill and Blais now moving into her 4^th year in this role continues to lead the U14 program with the vision of building character, passion, and team work.  These are life lessons every athlete and coach will benefit from in any future endeavours.  The Banff Alpine Racers and Bow Valley Quikies are all so proud of Blais and congratulate her on this prestigious induction.

As an athlete, parent and coach of young ski racers for over 40 years, Blais’ passion for the sport runs deep and her philosophy strong.  She believes the ski racing community must be supported by “at home” solutions and WE must continue to mentor and develop excellent coaches, and invest in high quality venues to train and race at home. As a racing community it is vital to have this local infrastructure to reduce travel costs for families as well as to host higher profile races such as Nor-Ams and World Cup in order to continue to grow the Canadian development system.

And to all those athletes striving to be their best, Blais would confidently advise, “No Whining! Be smart about injuries. Don’t rush. Train hard, go fast, have fun and enjoy the process. You are creating your future self, skills and friendships that will last a lifetime”.

The Canadian Rockies Ski Racing Hall of Fame is pleased to recognize Blais O’brien, our 2023 Honoured Canadian and Alberta Ski Team Alumni, for her accomplishments as a ski racer and for her enduring passion and dedication to the racing community.

WHERE: Fairmont Palliser, Calgary

WHEN: Thursday, November 9, 2023

TIME: 5:30 pm

REGISTRATION INCLUDES: Cocktail Hour, Dinner, Entertainment, Canadian Rockies Ski Racing Hall of Fame Awards Presentation.

To purchase 50/50 TICKETS click here

To purchase tickets for the NECKLACE RAFFLE click here

To view the SILENT AUCTION click here

To make a DONATION click here and Select “Alpine Ski” then Select “Athlete Development”

To purchase 50/50 TICKETS click here

To purchase tickets for the NECKLACE RAFFLE click here

To view the SILENT AUCTION click here

To make a DONATION click here and Select “Alpine Ski” then Select “Athlete Development”

Lisa Thomson: An Esteemed Member of the Canadian Rockies Ski Racing Hall of Fame

Lisa Thomson’s remarkable journey in the world of ski racing serves as a shining example of unwavering dedication, passion, and the power of community. With over two decades of dedicated service to the ski racing community, her story is a testament to the transformative nature of the sport.

A Personal Connection and Lifelong Passion

Lisa’s journey into the world of ski racing was inspired by her children, marking the beginning of her impressive career. Her passion for skiing, however, has been a lifelong affair, starting at the tender age of 2. Growing up with a brother who raced, Lisa spent her early years deeply immersed in the world of ski racing, experiencing the excitement of the slopes and the racing environment firsthand.

Diverse Positions and Achievements

Lisa’s contributions to ski racing are both extensive and varied. She began volunteering in the ski racing world 22 years ago and has since worked with athletes of all ages, from Nancy Greene League-aged participants to those in FIS, NorAm, World Cup, Junior World Championships, and the IPC World Championships. Her dedication even extended to volunteering for Special Olympics races.

As part of the Banff Alpine Racers (BAR), she served as the Volunteer Coordinator for races such as Quickies, Caribou Cup, U14, U16, and FIS races from 2001 to 2014. Her experience is well-rounded, having held various roles both inside and outside the race fences. Beyond her club involvement, Lisa’s dedication shines in her work with Nor-Ams and World Cup events. She served as a Sled Dog Course Worker for 11 years at the Lake Louise World Cup and held positions as part of the Race Organizing Committee (ROC) and Volunteer Coordinator for six years at the Lake Louise Nor-Ams from 2015 to 2021. Her contributions extended to international competitions, including the 2022 Junior World Championships and the Nor-Am Finals at COP/Nakiska in 2013 and 2014, where she took on roles in ROC, Volunteer Coordination, and course work. Her expertise also found a place within the Panorama Nor-Am volunteer team, and she held a paid position in communications and managed the media center at the 2015 IPC World Championships at Panorama.

However, Lisa’s true passion lies not only in her impressive positions but in the camaraderie and collective effort of the ski community. She cherishes the moments when the ski racing community unites to overcome the challenges posed by nature and race logistics. She marvels at the fact that skiing is one of the few winter sports that starts with a blank canvas, constructs an entire race arena from scratch, and then, once the race is complete, leaves no trace of its existence. The monumental effort behind this process continues to inspire her.

Influential Mentors: Guiding Lights on the Slopes

Throughout her ski racing journey, Lisa had the privilege of learning from mentors who significantly shaped her path in the sport:

• Barb Wood taught Lisa the art of coordinating volunteers and running races at the NorAm level, setting the stage for her future contributions to the ski racing community.
• Randy Tarchuk, Lisa’s crew chief at World Cup and Panorama for over a decade, played an instrumental role in imparting invaluable hands-on skills. These included building and maintaining racetracks, swift repairs, and replacements of b-nets, mastering essential tools like crampons, slipping, shoveling, raking, and more.
• Bob Leitch and Todd McNutt, Lisa’s Lake Louise NorAm chiefs for several years, provided her with comprehensive knowledge of running races from start to finish. Their professionalism, expertise, and composure left an indelible mark on Lisa.
• Mike Irwin, serving as Panorama Chief and Race Chair for Junior Worlds, guided Lisa in understanding the higher-level aspects of ski racing. He taught her the nuances of navigating through the sport’s politics and making things happen, all while maintaining a composed demeanor and an abundance of patience.
• Lynda & Ken Read offered Lisa a broader perspective on ski racing, encompassing not only the sport’s mechanics but also its history and the underlying passion that drives it.

Insights for the Ski Community

Lisa’s message to the ski community is clear: get involved and develop your skills. Regardless of your skiing abilities, there’s a place for everyone in ski racing. She encourages ski parents to participate, as their involvement sets a positive example for their children and creates a sense of community. For retired athletes, Lisa emphasizes the importance of staying involved and passing on their skills and passion to younger generations.

To young racers, Lisa advises showing appreciation to the volunteers who support their endeavors. A simple “thank you” can go a long way. She emphasizes the importance of hard work, a positive attitude, and having fun on the hill.

The Profound Impact of Ski Racing

When reflecting on how ski racing has contributed to her life and work, Lisa is candid about the great influence the sport has had on her. Ski racing has been more than a pastime or an extracurricular pursuit; it has been a deeply rewarding, transformative force. It has provided her with growth and confidence, and her unrelenting passion for it consumes her in the best possible way.

Lisa humorously admits to losing herself in social media, scrolling through ski racing clips and captivating races. Furthermore, she confesses to eagerly anticipating the arrival of winter and the promise of snowfall when the leaves begin to turn, a sentiment that may seem unconventional to some.

She describes the experience of racing down World Cup tracks with a drill in one hand, a roll of b-net in the other, and a backpack filled with essential tools as an extraordinary transformation. Her cell phone, always within reach for capturing photos, has become an ever-expanding gallery of racecourses and snow-covered mountain landscapes – many of which end up being replicated on her easel at her studio. 

Perhaps the most powerful testament to the impact of ski racing on Lisa’s life is the deep sense of community and the relationships she has forged. Her journey has been punctuated by enduring friendships, inspiring stories, formidable challenges, and moments of shared success. Through ski racing, she has witnessed a world both breathtaking in its beauty and awe-inspiring in its power.

In Summation

Lisa Thomson’s distinguished induction into the Canadian Rockies Ski Racing Hall of Fame is a well-deserved honor, symbolizing her relentless commitment to the sport and the community it has nurtured. Her journey is an inspiring testament to the transformative power of ski racing, which has not only provided her with personal growth and confidence but also ignited a consuming passion. Lisa’s unwavering dedication to the sport, her profound insights, and her commitment to fostering an inclusive and engaged skiing community are a source of inspiration for all. Her journey serves as a shining example of how individuals can make a lasting impact through their love for the slopes and the camaraderie of the ski racing community.

Author: Geoff Irwin