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

Dan Gallaugher, honoured Official and Builder of the class of 2023, became involved in ski racing with his Grandparents. Hardworking farmers, they had a love for the outdoors, and wanted their grandchildren to have the opportunity to ski. Their amazing dedication to travelling big distances gave the opportunity of skiing to their family.

Dan has many key highlights from his involvement in ski racing, including many Nor-Am events in Canada, World Junior Championships, World Cups, and the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

One of the biggest highlights Dan listed was being a part of the hard-working Race Quality Team with Alpine Canada, working at many Nor-Am events right across Canada, building race tracks for the athletes.  He also enjoyed working with the snow and building Downhill tracks and being a part of making terrain and features for the World Cups in Canada with so many great people from the paid crew to all the hard-working volunteers.  “It is an amazing privilege to work with so many people that share the same goal to create the Race.” During the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Weather, and freezing levels at mid-mountain and above, made it a challenge to pull off, but he found it amazing to have so many volunteers and machines to work with.

“My work was skiing ,”Ski Racing” I treated it like my farm, it made me a better person and taught me so much that I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to work in and alongside so many amazing individuals.”

Dan’s mark can be found throughout Canada, as his contribution was not just for the events. He helped with track design, slope gradients and widths. His expert eye could examine a slope and see the technical challenges, always keeping athlete safety in mind. From Whistler, to Lake Louise, Panorama, Nakiska, Mt. Ste. Anne, Georgian Peaks, Castle Mt., Kimberley and more – he worked with the local organizing committees and all Canadian hosted FIS Junior Alpine World Ski Championship events, bringing praise especially for 2013 Quebec and 2022 Panorama.

His deep experience gained from working closely with the FIS World Cup Race Director Helmuth Schmalzl and his personal commitment of working with Bruce Hamstead, the late Bill McNenny and Darrell MacLauchlan, Claudio Berto, Bill Wearmouth, Ozzie,  Owen Carney and Mike Stone – all passionately committed to giving Canadian athletes the tools they needed to succeed: good races, great tracks.

Dan brought that critical international level experience needed to give athletes a sense of what lay in store if they had a chance to race World Cup.

The past few years, Dan has helped build the reputation of Castle Mountain, his home mountain. Bringing insight for pre-season training needs, safety and lending advice for building tracks.

His experience spans a coaching career at the provincial and national team level. He led the Canadian men’s Europa Cup/Continental Cup Team and worked with the World Cup speed team.

I truly hope for the Worldcups both men & Women speed that in some way we can continue on to provide a race in Canada.

And for younger athletes “Believe in yourself and take in everyday you are on your skis every turn, there truly is nothing better then to be skiing and living a life on the Mountain”

On December 30th, 1960, Mont Glen, located in the Eastern Townships,  opened for business with 2 t-bars and 5 runs.  Jim’s Grandfather was a minority shareholder which prompted his family to embrace skiing in a serious manner (enrolment in a season-long weekend program). The Glen, although a magical place for many did not have a race program in those early years; but the snow school was run by Bob Richardson, a former Olympian and well-known Quebec ski racer. Ten-year-old Jim wanted to learn to ski like Bob.  In the mid-60’s an ownership change at Glenn coincided with the opening of Bromont which did have a race program. The transition was made and within a couple seasons, Jim was racing regional FIS and Pontiac Cup events. Some fun history that Jim recalls:

• Slalom courses still used three colours (blue, red and Yellow).  The
• Hiking the Slalom course was often faster than waiting in lift lines to take the lift
• Bamboo gates with the tiny red triangular flags tied to the top
• The Pontiac Cup was a big deal when it first commenced
• The Pontiac Cup Finals at Bromont where the National Team showed up
• Coaches trying to find affordable lodging and ensuring the rooms were not located above the bar

Jim stopped racing at age 18 and, following a test run at university, accepted a job at Bromont coaching the race program on weekends while teaching skiing during the week. Shortly thereafter, at age 21, Jim began his southern hemisphere exposure, accepting a job at a large, heavily Austrian weighted ski school in Thredbo, Australia while doing a little pro-racing on the side. During this period, Jim capitalized on his other area of expertise, training race horses to fill in the typical seasonal employment gaps.  He says his first Olympic experience was as nite foreman at the Montreal Olympic equestrian site (Bromont) for the 76 summer Games.

Ski Coaching opportunities arose in 1975 when Jim began coaching for CAST. Starting the 1975/76 Season, Jim was Assistant Coach CAST Nor-Am Woman’s Team (Dianne Culver head coach), coaching Alberta locals Vanita Haining, and Loni Klettl.  The following year Jim took over the Head Coach role with Larry McKee assisting. He recalls a group of enthusiastic and hard-working skiers and  still takes satisfaction from fact that each of the women on our team won at least 1 Nor-Am race. Jim finished his “tour” with CAST, assisting another Albertan, Bruce Henry, CAST Men’s Europa Cup / Nor-Am Team coach.  At that time, Albertan athletes in his “team” included Pete and Phil Monod, Keith Humphrey, and John Hilland. 

After this impressive introduction to higher level coaching, Jim expanded his reach to New Zealand.  Jim recalls standing next to Thunder Bay head coach Craig Speiss at the (then) annual Mt Sainte Anne DH when Craig learned his head coach has resigned.   Jim capitalized on the opportunity which took him to Mt. Ruapehu, NZ summers as Head Coach from 1981 until 1984 while managing the ski school Mt Sainte Anne during the Canadian winters. 

From 1990 to 1994 Jim was  Program Director of Ski Racing New Zealand. The highlight of this experience was the success of Annelise Coberger (silver medal in the SL and first medal for a Southern Hemisphere athlete in any Winter Olympic sport) at the 1992 Albertville Games.

Jim landed in Alberta in 1994 as Program Director for Rabbit Hill Ski Club. He recalls the RHSC having a very effective club executive, a strong coaching staff, and a good group of athletes making it a great introduction into the Alberta Ski Racing Scene. 

In 1996 Jim moved onto the Banff Mountain Academy where he served as Program Director for 3 seasons followed by 2 years with Banff Alpine Racers.

The next 10+ years (2000 – 2011) Jim took the helm at Alberta Alpine as Program Director working along side a host of great local AST coaches. He recalls a strong team of athletes and a very good coaching team. Team and individual results at the NAC and World Junior levels were very gratifying and several athletes moved on to successful careers on the World Cup as athletes and/or coaches. He also acknowledges the satisfaction of seeing many of the AST athletes from that era back in the sport as coaches and/or volunteers in Alberta and ACA programs.

Jim’s final active years coaching took him to Team Panorama and subsequently Banff Alpine Racers.

Throughout the above working years, Jim was also active with the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation (78-2022) as CSCF and Learning facilitator working with young coaches on their certification courses and in practical learning situations. Jim also volunteered on the Board of the CSCF and was the Chair of the organization from 2000-2004.  

With 50 years in the game, Jim says it’s hard to pin down only key highlights but, says that the world class results from athletes who came through programs he managed over the years were very gratifying. And, equally so break-through results from athletes at the development level.

Jim was recognized in 2000 by the CSCF and the Coaching Association as a Level 4 and Chartered Professional Coach. Not surprisingly he says the technical / practical part of the Level 4 came fairly easily. However, there were also academic credits required which he took through the National Coaching Institutes at the University of Calgary and the University of Victoria.  Jim’s sense of humour is illustrated as he points out that due to his “inglorious exit” from classroom education in his late teens he was proud to achieve the academic portion of the Level 4 program at that later stage in his life.

When asked who were his key influencers, Jim said he feels very fortunate to have had some excellent mentors throughout his career.   The  person that stands out is Dave Mazey who retired as the GM of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts several years ago. Given its maritime climate and the odd volcanic eruption Ruapehu is an exceptionally difficult place to run a ski area, but Dave did so for close to 30 years. He was very supportive of ski racing and several NZ Olympians came through the race programs at Mt. Ruapehu.  Jim appreciated Dave’s management style in that it was inclusive but firm at the same time. He included a lot of people in decision making and policy development and encouraged active and vigorous debate throughout the process. However, once decisions were made, he was very clear that all staff were expected to fully support those decisions regardless of their personal opinions. That’s a lesson that served Jim well throughout his career.

Insight for the Community: It takes a village to raise a ski racer.  With many stakeholders play an important role to help make good things happen in our sport. For those that have worked with Jim they are well aware of his calm, steady demeanor and strong listening skills. Critical reflection is something Jim felt he had success with throughout his career. Reflect on the things you need to do better as an individual /or group and how to improve. Spend an equal or greater amount of time reflecting on strengths and how to lever them to improve performance.

Jim was inspired recently by and article in this spring’s Ski Racing Magazine on the Norwegian development system.  He made the observation that Bærums Skiklub which develops many of that nation’s top skiers has roughly the same vertical drop as COP leading him to think that COP is an asset that our sport has not been able to take full advantage of.

Tips for Young Racers:  Teammates are a great resource. Figure out who on your team is the best at various elements and try to be like them . Be supportive of your teammates who will often become lifelong friends.  When everyone is pulling for one another, disappointments become easier to deal with and the achievements become more enjoyable.  Never give up: Even at the highest levels of our sport athletes make mistakes. Make sure that you don’t allow a bad turn to become a bad run, or a bad run to become a bad day of training, or a disappointment on the first day of a race series impact your performance for the entire series. Having the grit to bounce back from sub-par performances is super important.

Ski Racings Contribution to my Life:   Ski Racing has had a huge impact on my life as I was able to turn something I really enjoyed as a youngster into a career. Met some very interesting people, travelled to some beautiful places, got to work with some very focused, talented athletes and coaches, and made some fantastic friends. Most importantly, it taught me that to be successful I had to become more proficient at things I didn’t really enjoy doing: public speaking, office work, and conflict resolution would be 3 of the key areas.

It makes me happy that both of my daughters who did a bit of ski racing are “skiers for life” and to know that both my grandsons who are based in Queenstown, NZ took up the sport this year. Looking forward to making turns with them on my next visit down under.

Club: Banff Alpine Racers.

Current Occupation: Retired,

Summers: golfing weekly with other Coach Alumni:  Bruce Henry, Ray Sequin, Mike DeBrisay

Winters:   Midweek skiing (Norquay/Sunshine), occasionally fill in coaching, occasionally can be found on the end of a shovel if there is a mid-week race at Norquay.

Your local National Team Athletes will be hosting the Skis and Hearts fundraiser again this fall on September 12 from 4-8pm !

This year our fundraiser will be in a very similar style to last year. It will be a family friendly backyard style event with free dinner and entry. All proceeds of the event goes directly to the athletes to cover the cost of their team fees. Come and enjoy the ski community and support your local national team athletes!

Please be sure to register you and your party so we can get an accurate idea of how many people will be attending.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCRjateyTpWbPA7A6ri3m7HbVcjcMQxYc3GNJCksI754N-bQ/viewform

See you all there!
All the best,
Your National Team Athletes from the West!
(Kiki Alexander, Britt Richardson, Cassidy Gray, Amelia Smart, Liam Wallace, Jeff Read and Erik Read)