Thank You Genstar!

Alberta Alpine Ski Association is thrilled to announce a new, multi-year Partnership with Genstar Development Company! Genstar Development Company is “Bringing Land to Life” with a variety of new and established communities across North America. AASA is excited to partner with Genstar and work together to support ski racing in Alberta.

“Genstar is very excited to partner with Alberta Alpine for the first time in a multi year deal where we hope to have a meaningful impact to the success of the organization and its athletes across the province and country. Giving kids more opportunities to experience the sport of ski racing is something that we are proud to stand behind and we thank you for allowing us to be part of the future and growth of skiing in Alberta.” – Genstar Development Company

Please see the below message regarding Noram Cup Finals at Panorama Mountain Resort:

“Please join us in hosting the Noram Cup Finals at the Panorama Mountain Resort.

The event is 11 days of exciting racing in which the Noram Cup champions in each discipline will earn World Cup spots for the 2024-25 season!

Support is needed for set-up and tear-down as well. It is long race series – even if you can assist us for a few days, that would be awesome!

Please use this link to register as a volunteer :

https://snowreg.com/#!/events/aca-volunteers-panorama-noram-finals-april-1-11-2024

Our Volunteer Services Team will follow up with you.

All CARC age groups are now on snow! Let’s thank those at the heart of our program who made this happen, our incredible coaching team!….

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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.