Nine North Zone athletes and two coaches from Ft McMurray and Grande Prairie made up the Team Alberta North roster and competed at the Arctic Winter Games (AWG) in Whitehorse, YT March 7-14, 2026. AWG is an international, multi-sport games bringing together culture and competition, in celebration of the Northern circumpolar world. The Games host teams from Alaska, Yukon, Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), Nunavik-Quebec, Nunavut,  Northwest Territories, Sapmi (northern Scandanavia – Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russian’s Kola Peninsula) and Northern Alberta. Team Alberta North brought home 9 Ulu medals and showed just how strong we are together. Alpine events included SL, GS, and Dual SL and in the Ski-Cross, Alberta athletes stood on the podium in every category!!

The team brought home a gold, three silvers and three bronze medals from the event, not only crushing it on the slopes, but earning recognition as joint recipients of the Hodgson’s trophy for the first time. Considered the most prestigious award of the Games, the Hodgson goes to the team who best exemplifies fair play, team spirit and the philosophy of the Games. It was an honor to share the award with Team Nunavut.  

Besides athletes and coaches, Alberta Alpine was also very well represented by a couple of amazing volunteer officials in key roles, namely Don Boyce as Technical Delegate (TD) and Thu Pystynen as Race Administrator (RA). 

Athletes on the 2026 Team Alberta North included: Erik Anderson (NAST) , Cormac Reddy (FMSC), Julianna Ryan (FMSC), Kiara Gagne (FMSC), Alyssa Cardinal (FMSC), Carol Anderson (NAST), Luca Pilote (FMSC), Nick Woytuik (NAST), Riley Anderson (FMSC), coaches Alyvia Penner (NAST) and Mike Cox (FMSC).

Full results can be found here >>

Red Deer, AB – North Zone Regional U14 athletes and above participated in a giant-slalom at the Canyon Ski Area on the Red Deer River Valley this weekend. Despite Mother Nature dishing out some extreme weather, these athletes excelled in three separate races held over the weekend. The Technical Delegate (TD) Brent Molesky noted that the race organizers and course volunteers pulled out all stops in order to make the event happen, dealing with sunny, slushy conditions on Saturday and a morning squall with 70kmh wind gusts on Sunday. North Zone races are always a collaborative effort, with race organizers pooling resources and working each others’ events, and this weekend was no exception, with a Chief of Race in from Cold Lake, the timing team coming out of retirement from Snow Valley and Rabbit Hill ski clubs, and a first-year club dad from the home team stepping up as Chief of Course to work alongside the seasoned veterans.

Snow Valley Ski Club sisters Gabrielle and Elise Cawsey took top 2 spots on the podium in Race One on Saturday, separated by just shy of half a second, while Cold Lake’s Annabelle Iverson clinched gold by less than two-tenths of a second in the afternoon race. Elise Cawsey earned gold again on Sunday, followed by two-time silver medallist this weekend, Table Mountain’s Chenae Bowker. In the boys event, the podium was pretty consistent through all three events with Ryan Jamieson (Table Mountain, SK) owning the top spot, Jasper’s Camden Ferenczi earning 2 of the 3 silver medals (the trifecta foiled by Jamieson’s teammate Cole Mack in the afternoon race on Saturday), and bronze won in all three races by hometown racer Christopher Cooper (RDSC).

Complete results can be found here >>

Club Spotlight: The Red Deer Ski Club was formed in 1985 to offer competitive alpine racing programs in Central Alberta. Our mission is to provide the youth of Central Alberta with the highest quality alpine ski racing program, in which they can flourish and achieve their individual goals and personal best.

The Red Deer Ski Club is a family-oriented club that provides alpine racing and training programs for children ages 4 to 20. The program is run at Canyon Ski Resort. Children are fully supervised and our coaches are certified by the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation (CSCF). In addition to races, fun events are planned throughout the season and parents are encouraged to participate. Emphasis is on the development of ski racing skills in a safe, structured learning environment. For more info on what the Red Deer Ski Club has to offer, visit us here >>

Panorama, BC – Nearly 200 athletes gathered at Panorama Mountain Resort this weekend for the 20^th Annual Linda Putnam Invitational. Linda was a dedicated volunteer and mother of two children in the Team Pano program, and her husband Todd was in position as Starter as he has been since the inaugural event.

“What I love about this race every year,” said Race Co-chair Joanne Gray, “is the overwhelming sense of community. It just fills my heart. This weekend it was even more powerful – you could look to your left, or look to your right, and literally see and feel the strength of our ski community all around you.”

The event itself is an amazing feat of timing…that’s where 20 years of practice certainly shows! Athletes get eight timed runs each, which means 1600 timed runs are tracked, in less than four hours! Then everyone takes off to ski the mountain before returning for awards at 4:00 pm sharp. A notable keepsake for participants is the ‘Ski for Life’ hat in honour of Linda. Results from all the action can be found here Putnam 2026 >>

Drone coverage was shot for this year’s anniversary race after two years of planning and approvals to do so. How many of the 1600 runs can you see!? 

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Day Two features a different kind of event, with all the kids participating in more of a scavenger hunt. Armed with a bingo card to complete, the activities are varied, one being to have a conversation with somebody on the hill ‘not from Canada.’ Imagine the stories going home with visitors from around the world about the especially friendly youngsters from Panorama, BC!

Club Spotlight: The Team Panorama philosophy is that the cornerstone of a great sporting program is a seamless progression of knowledge and coaching from the grass root to the elite levels. Our programs are based on the AIM 2 WIN Long Term Athlete Development System, teaching the right things at the right time; solid foundations established at each level are necessary to move to the next stage.

The Entry Level program is the beginning of the journey as a skier and ski racer and it is our goal to ignite the flame in each and every child by developing a culture of learning and fun. Our programs are all about introducing the sport of skiing and ski racing as a fun sport to the children and their families.

Our U8-U10 program is introduces the world of skiing on the mountain and the game of ski racing. The goal at this level is to introduce the initial critical basic skiing skills at an early age in a fun relaxed environment.

Click for more info about Team Panorama programs >>

Lake Louise, AB – The U14 PSO SG camp and race series took place last week. Saturday’s event brought soft, challenging conditions as warm weather settled over the hill. Despite the demanding surface, athletes were focused and raced hard. The organizing team ran four single-run races throughout the day – two for each gender – giving athletes multiple opportunities to compete and learn from the course. It was a rewarding effort for all involved, and memorable for more than this experience alone.

As is customary at Lake Louise when an athlete passes, they are honoured with a final ride, and bib F1 is reserved for a dedication run. On Saturday, in memory of Emilio Hrazdira, F1 was called to the start. The course was cleared through each section as Emilio was announced down the hill and through the finish.

“We honour Emilio by going faster, higher, further together.

Bib F1 Emilio Hrazdira in the gate going in 30 seconds.

B1 Emilio has finished safely.

God speed Emilio.”

It was an emotional moment for athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers alike, and a powerful way for our community to pause and remember Emilio together.

Sunday arrived and marked a unique moment for the club. In a rare occurrence — and fittingly on International Women’s Day — the race jury was made up entirely of women, with Julie, Steff, and Michie serving in those roles. Emilio seemed to have other plans for the race day, however. Overnight snowfall turned the mountain into a powder day, and the race was ultimately cancelled. Instead, athletes and coaches embraced the conditions and spent the day doing what skiers love most — skiing powder together.

Full race results from Saturday can be found here >>

The Alberta Masters Ski Club hosted it’s 20^th annual Rides of March event at Nakiska Ski Area last week and combined the 2026 Western Canadian Masters Alpine Championship (WCMAC) with a fun race for U16 and U14 athletes. (87) Masters ski racers from across Canada aged 21 to 83 and another (39) U17 athletes competed to see who was fastest in three disciplines: Super-G, GS, and Slalom.

SG training on Thursday was followed by a bluebird SG race day Friday on the famous Map Maker run. Unfortunately, we were only able to run from top to mid-mountain, but even then, athletes got to feel the speed and the g-forces that a true Super-G provides. Both Super-G’s tested athletes with a fast drop from a steep start ramp, with heavy left footers to Coaches Bump. The snow was grippy and hard, with excellent visibility. Coaches Bump was sizable this year, so athletes had to ensure they kept their feet grounded. Next was a gradually right turning section, where proper tucks and angulation were rewarded before the Walking Buffalo rollover, which provided a blind drop-away. Another 10 turns to the finish and the top athletes were getting down the full course in just under a minute. Both runs ran without incident and the male Master Darren Gee took the title for fastest run of the day, with females Hayden Kluge (U16) and Addelyn Nowell (U16) in hot pursuit only 1.5 seconds back. Top female Master was Katya Cuddihy and the top U17 male was Eli Gauthier in both runs.

GS on day two took a bad turn in the afternoon with Gold shutting down, so it turned into a one run race. Visibility was good, but the wind and warmer temperatures impacted the snow and the chairlift. Competitors saw another fast start heading down Map Maker with a tightly set course, but on firm and grippy snow. Coaches Bump was beautifully set, and the following flatter section opened for several turns and then quickly tested the athletes by going back to tighter turns and softening snow conditions. It was a give and take course, with a couple of gate sets that the Masters had not seen yet in training, which kept everyone on their toes. The youngish-gun Adam Gee (27) took the fastest run at 60.32 seconds, while the fastest U17 Charles Blouin was extremely close at 60.48 seconds. Officially speaking, the top Master was Stephane Ricard at 63.10 seconds. Top female was Ainsley Langley Taylor at 60.65; talk about fast kids!!! Top female Master was Hugoline Morton with a 64.66, apparently her first time back on GS skis in 5 years!

The Saturday night Gala was fantastic at the Finish Line Lounge, with Nakiska GM Jan Sekerek, head chef Jeremy, and the servers all providing an unbelievable smoked brisket and atmosphere to boot. The Master SG and GS awards were handed out, and competitors were given a sneak peek on how the overall age handicapped standings were shaping up. Everyone also got to look at the Rides of March auction items. A huge shout out to Irene Collins and Eveline Lefebvre for their tireless work, as well as all the sponsors who provided fabulous items to bid on.

On day three, Mother Nature decided to show everyone how finicky she can be. She had already thrown sun, wind and temperature swings, so she decided some moisture was necessary. With rain overnight, the morning course conditions were soft. By mid-morning she started dropping the temperature and puking snow, almost too much snow!! The first run was a nicely set course, relatively straight but athletes needed to keep their speed in check; especially with some turns resembling a bobsled track. An incredibly hard-working ROC, led by Mike Gee, Bob Leitch, Dave Bartle and Nick Tadeo pulled off an amazing race weekend in challenging conditions, perhaps at their best Sunday afternoon. Contemplating cancellation, the Masters athletes exhibited their resiliency and slipped and sidestepped the finish to remove approximately 20 cm’s of snow that had fallen since the morning, enough to carry on the race. The second run wasn’t tricky but had some challenges with the continued fresh snow and a more challenging finish, which caught a couple athletes. Adam Gee laid down the fastest runs in both races, while Darren Gee took the fastest overall for male Masters. Victoria Konate and Skylar Heida (U17’s) respectively split the fastest female times, with Irene Collins taking the overall slalom top spot for female Masters at age 70! Introduced this year was an age-based handicap system for the four overall championship awards. This FIS based point system was hard to put together from a results side of things, but it made for some tight race results and an exciting last day.

By: Josh Benge. Athletic Director – Alberta Alpine

Keeping the Long View: Why Patience Matters in Alberta Ski Racing

Ski racing in Alberta is built on passion. Athletes commit countless hours on snow, families invest time and resources, and clubs and coaches work tirelessly to create meaningful opportunities. In an environment driven by competition and performance, it can be tempting to focus on short-term results, rankings, podiums, early success, or quick progression. However, the most successful athletes, programs, and systems are those that keep a clear focus on long-term development rather than immediate gains.

Development Is Not Linear

One of the most important truths in ski racing is that athlete development is rarely a straight line. Growth happens in phases, technical, physical, emotional, and tactical, and these phases do not always align neatly with race results. An athlete who dominates at a young age may plateau later, while another who develops more gradually may thrive in U16, FIS, or beyond.

In Alberta, where athletes face the unique challenges presented by our geography such as weather variability, travel distances, and limited training windows, patience becomes even more critical. Early success should never come at the expense of sound fundamentals, athletic literacy, or long-term motivation.

The Risk of Short-Term Thinking

Short-term thinking often shows up in subtle ways:

• Prioritizing race results over skill acquisition
• Pushing athletes into higher levels before they are physically or emotionally ready
• Over-specializing too early
• Measuring success only by podiums, rankings, or points

While these approaches may produce quick wins, they frequently undermine long-term progress. Athletes may struggle later with technical limitations, burnout, injury, or loss of confidence when competition becomes more demanding.

True development focuses on what the athlete is learning, not just where they are finishing.

Building Complete Ski Racers

Alberta’s development pathway is designed to build complete athletes, skiers who are adaptable, resilient, technically sound, and confident across varied terrain and conditions. Disciplines such as ski cross, free skiing, and varied training environments play a critical role in this process, particularly at younger ages.

For U12 and U14 athletes, success should be measured by:

• Improved balance, coordination, and how the athlete stands on their skis
• Comfort on varied terrain and snow conditions
• Growing race awareness and decision-making
• Positive relationships with teammates, coaches, and competition

These qualities may not always translate immediately into results, but they are essential foundations for future performance.

The Role of Families

Families play a central role in shaping an athlete’s experience in ski racing. A long-term mindset from parents and caregivers helps create an environment where athletes feel supported rather than pressured.

This includes:

• Valuing effort, learning, and resilience over outcomes
• Trusting coaches and development pathways
• Allowing athletes time to grow at their own pace
• Understanding that setbacks are part of progress

When families reinforce patience and perspective, athletes are more likely to stay engaged, motivated, and confident as challenges increase.

Trusting the Process

Long-term development requires trust. Trust in coaches, in programs, and in the pathway itself. It also requires consistency and collaboration across clubs, zones, and provincial initiatives. Alberta’s strength lies in its ability to provide diverse opportunities while keeping athlete development at the centre of decision-making.

The ultimate goal is not early success, but sustained performance, lifelong enjoyment of the sport, and the ability to reach an athlete’s full potential over time.

Looking Ahead

Ski racing is a long game. The athletes who succeed at the highest levels are rarely the ones who rushed the process, they are the ones who built strong foundations, embraced challenges, and stayed committed through the ups and downs.

By keeping the long view in focus, Alberta ski racing can continue to develop athletes who are not only competitive, but capable, confident, and passionate about the sport for years to come.

Come be part of the fun at the FIS GMC CUP Lake Louise Slalom Extravaganza. happening March 13th to 14th.  We’re also looking for crew on March 12th for course set-up

It’s a great way to spend some time outdoors, see high level racing, and be part of something special at Lake Louise. We’d love to have you on the team.

Registration: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/LLSlalomExtravaganza#/

Alberta Alpine scholarships are now posted for 2026.

Alberta Alpine is pleased to offer a variety of award and scholarship opportunities. We encourage all athletes to apply; note age categories to ensure eligibility. Awards and scholarships are reviewed and selected by an independent selection committee.

The deadline for submissions are;

March 26, 2026 (12pm)

• Rob Bosinger Ski Scholarship (U16)
• David Murray Memorial Scholarship (U19, U21)
• Ski Canada Magazine Award (U14, U16)
• Franklin Donald Bean Award (AST)
• Brent Marshall Memorial Scholarship (U16, U19)
• Cary Mullen Nomination (U12, U14/16, FIS, AST)

May 15, 2026

• Read Family Scholarship (AST)

Coaches, athletes and general club members are welcome to submit Cary Mullen nominations for athletes who display the qualities Cary views as essential: Courage, Commitment, Confidence and Camaraderie.

Dear Alberta Alpine Community,

Over the past several days, our entire alpine community has been carrying a profound sense of loss. We have felt shock, grief, disbelief, and deep sorrow. At the same time, we have witnessed the strength, compassion, and unity that define our sport in Alberta. In moments like this, we are reminded that alpine skiing is more than competition; it is a community, and it is a family.

On behalf of Alberta Alpine, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Emilio’s family, his teammates, his coaches, and the entire Lake Louise Ski Club. Emilio was not only a valued member of his club, but a respected and admired athlete within the broader provincial ski racing community.

At just 15 years old, Emilio had already distinguished himself through his remarkable talent, work ethic, and passion for skiing. He competed at the top of his age category, earning multiple victories and consistently ranking among the very best. More importantly, he exemplified the dedication and love for the sport that we strive to foster in every athlete.

Emilio lived the spirit of alpine skiing. He gave his full effort in every training session and every race. He embraced challenge, pushed his limits, and brought energy to those around him. Whether in the gates or exploring the mountain freeskiing, he skied with courage, enthusiasm, and joy. His passion was contagious, and his presence elevated his teammates and competitors alike.

Emilio embodied our mission to foster resilient, passionate young people who carry a lifelong love for the mountains. Skiing was not simply an activity for him, it was a deep and genuine part of who he was.

We grieve alongside the entire ski community. We encourage everyone to check in on one another — especially our athletes and coaches , and to lean into the support systems around you during this difficult time.

For now, we hold close the image of Emilio doing what he loved most, carving powerful turns, charging hard, embracing the mountain, and always eager for one more run.

Emilio will forever remain part of Alberta’s alpine community. His spirit will live on in the mountains we share and in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing him.

With deepest sympathy and unwavering support,

Josh Benge 
Athletic Director 

Grande Prairie, AB – This past weekend the Nitehawk Alpine Ski Team hosted their annual Frozen Moose event which, this year, combined an alpine ski race AND a ski cross training event simultaneously! It was busy, but athletes, coaches and volunteers alike had a blast! Athletes from Cold Lake and Valley Ski Club participated as well.

Saturday saw the U12 athletes training ski cross with former ASX athlete Kiersten Vincett. They learned start technique, feature management and got to experience some fun heats! U14/16/19 athletes ran both a two-run slalom and a single-run GS race. On Sunday, organizers flipped the program and the U12 athletes did some dual panelled slalom fun races, while the U14/16/19 athletes took their turn on the ski cross course with Kiersten. 

On Saturday evening, athletes, coaches and parents enjoyed a speaker panel of Canadian National Ski Cross Team members Courtney Hoffos, Abby McEwen and India Sherret via Teams, who share their stories and answered audience questions. “What was your worst injury?”  asked by one of the younger athletes drew some laughs from all three ladies who responded with, “do you want a laundry list?” Despite sharing some examples that highlight the danger of the sport, exactly zero kids were deterred (sorry parents!) and, instead, all the athletes were even more inspired to take advantage of the training opportunity offered. All in all, the evening was a great way to engage the ski community off the slopes in a social atmosphere.

“We’re very thankful of our host venue, Nitehawk Year-Round Adventure Park, for their support of this event,”  said Chief of Race and NAST President, Ashley Woytiuk, “and thanks also to Alberta Alpine, the GMC Dealers of Alberta, and our very own The Drop Rideshop for providing some awesome draw prizes that added to the fun of the event.

The Nitehawk Alpine Ski Team is a local kid’s ski racing club that promotes the sport of alpine skiing and competitive racing in and around the Grande Prairie area. The club offers kids ages 4 to 16 the opportunity to develop their skiing skills, pursue competitive ski racing, and be a part of a fantastic team environment that engages them in life long outdoor recreation. All  members are registered with Alberta Alpine and can compete in both traditional downhill and ski cross events.

The club is a non-profit that operates primarily out of Nitehawk Year-Round Adventure Park, with additional training and competitive racing at other Northern AB ski hills. The primary goals of the Nitehawk Alpine Ski Team, in addition to producing excellent skiers, is to engage youth in our community in an active lifestyle, develop a team attitude and to guide them towards a lifetime love of alpine skiing. Visit https://www.nitehawkalpine.com/ for more info.

Jasper, AB – The Jasper Junior Olympics (JJO) took over Marmot Basin this past weekend, an annual event in its 47th year!! One of the largest Nancy Greene Ski League gatherings of its kind, it draws keen ski racing kids from a multitude of clubs from across Northern Alberta, and this year was no exception, with over 250 young athletes taking part.

Friday kicked off with heavy snowfall, but everyone arrived safely. Set-up was busy with all hands on deck, and the energy was already building. The kids enjoyed free skiing with their coaches and clubs, making the most of the fresh snow and getting comfortable on the hill.

Saturday brought beautiful weather and plenty of fresh powder. The parking lot was full, volunteers showed up in full force, and the athletes were ready to go. The atmosphere was electric all day long. The youngest category (ages 4 &5) spent their day on course on School House, while the older  U8 and U10 athletes raced Giant Slalom on Dromedary. Coaches and spectators could see the athletes’ performances improve as the day went on, showing a real desire to challenge themselves and give it their best. At 2:00, the 4 and 5 year-old “Dream Team” participants received their awards — they did an incredible job and showed so much determination and heart!

Sunday treated everybody to blue skies and sunshine. The kids were all smiles, families gathered for parking lot lunches, and the positive vibes continued. Jasper the Bear joined the celebration at the 2:00 awards, making it extra special. There were lots of prizes for volunteers and great swag for the athletes to wrap up an unforgettable weekend.

“The JJO weekend went really well.” said Tyler Riopel, JST and Chief of Event Quality. “The weather cooperated and everyone had a good time which felt very positive during what was a very tough weekend in the ski racing community.”

Organizers want to extend a mountain of thanks to Warren and Faith and the whole Stetson GMC team out of Hinton, Alberta who were on site to be part of the event, as well as to Marmot Basin, Alberta Alpine, and community sponsors and volunteers who contributed to the weekend’s success.

CLUB SPOTLIGHT: The Jasper Ski Team is an alpine ski racing team based at Marmot Basin in Jasper National Park. We are a friendly and welcoming club with athletes from the ages of 6 to 16 on our team. Our U10 (Nancy Greene) program is a fun, progressive and exciting program for athletes between the ages 6 and 9 to be a part of. A 25-day program with most training days taking place on Sundays throughout the winter, we focus on creating a safe and friendly learning environment where we hope not only to improve the athlete’s skiing ability but also ‘soft’ skills such as leadership and teamwork. For more information, go to http://www.jasperskiteam.org/contact-us.html

The Alberta Alpine Ski Association is deeply saddened to share that two of our athletes were involved in an avalanche incident on February 27 at Nakiska Ski Area. One athlete was able to self-rescue, while the second was buried. After being rescued by first responders and the best efforts of emergency services, the athlete passed away after being transported to hospital.

We are heartbroken and profoundly saddened by this tragic loss of life, and we extend our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family as they navigate this unimaginable grief.

Our entire community is shaken by this event, and our thoughts and prayers are with the athletes, their families, teammates, and coaches during this incredibly difficult time. We recognize that this situation has had a profound impact on many, and we are committed to ensuring appropriate support is available to those affected.

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the rescue teams, coaches, and volunteers whose rapid response, professionalism, and dedication were critical in this situation. Their efforts and courage are deeply appreciated by our entire community.