Providing leadership with World Cup and Olympic events and within the ski community.

Canmore, AB – Bill and Carla Wearmouth moved mountains to support ski racing in Alberta from the 1960’s to the early 90’s and it is an honour to induct them into the Canadian Rockies Ski Racing Hall of Fame. Together they had 9 kids (kind of a Brady Bunch type family) and put all of them through ski racing. In the early years they volunteered at entry level races. Bill once made a comment on how unorganized a particular race was that he was helping at. Another volunteer said “well if you can do better then be my guest.” He was Chief of Race at the next event. That began his 30 year volunteer journey, and Carla jumped right in. Bill was a force. He was Race Chair or Chief of Race at numerous Pontiac and Shell Cup races in the 70’s. Possibly his greatest impact and contribution was his role with the first World Cup Downhill run in Canada: Lake Louise in 1980.

The final downhill of the World Cup Tour at Chamonix, France had been cancelled and the FIS wanted to choose a venue, as the downhill title had not been won.. Following a dramatic negotiation between World Cup Chairman Serge Lang and Canada’s World Cup subcommittee member Peter Andrews, it came down to Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria and Lake Louise, Canada.

With sponsors and a keen venue in-hand Canada was awarded the bid. But who was to lead a Race Committee with limited international experience and four weeks to put the project together?

Bill stepped up.

A Race Chairman for this dedicated team of volunteers, hotel rooms were found, the race track built, safety installed, timing wiring strung, TV cable rolled out, sponsors and funds found.  And on Wednesday, March 4,^, 1980 history was made in front of an estimated crowd of 10,000 who came out to watch the speed skiers of World Cup alpine ski racing.

The event was a huge success, marking the beginning of a Canadian World Cup Legacy that has lasted for 42 years. Delivering a race on such short notice with an entirely volunteer crew so impressed FIS President Marc Hodler he later stated this competition the watershed moment in Calgary’s push for the 1988 Olympic Winter Games.

Bill was unbelievably dedicated to safety in ski racing. He designed the first A Net and had the Alberta Team athletes build it in his garage for the 1980 WC. There was one piece used on Coaches Corner and one piece used on the top of the island on C turn. He actually invented the Willy Bag which many of us are personally thankful for.  Over many years that followed, Bill went on the Race Chair/Chief of Race numerous WC races, NorAm’s, Juvenile Nationals, Westerns, Provincial races. If he wasn’t running the race he could always be found as Starter or even Gatekeeping. He was the lead on the mountain selection committee for the ‘88 Olympics, Chairman of Alpine Events for ‘88 and Chief of Race for the Ladies DH and SG.  What a legacy!!

Carla was with Bill all the way and also worked tirelessly on and off the hill to support Alpine ski racing at the local and world level. She created and began Alpine Chair of the Rocky View Ski Racing Team at Norquay, Lyon Mountain Racing Team at Lyon Mountain (which became Wintergreen) and eventually the Kananaskis Alpine Ski Club which still exists today at Nakiska. She filled roles such as chief of hostessing at many events including the 1980 WC and Shell Cup at Lake Louise, and was Chief of Course Control at the ’88 Olympics.

Many of us in this room remember Carla at nearly all the local races, always on the course volunteering and pitching in wherever needed. She even stepped in as club van driver. Her dedication was immense.

We are reminded of the legacy left by the Wearmouth’s each time we watch the World Cup opener at Lake Louise. Thousands of aspiring Alberta athletes have trained and raced at Nakiska where their youngest son, Scott now heads up the local events. Bill and Carla were true Pioneers in the sport.

The Canadian Rockies Ski Racing Hall of Fame is pleased to recognize Bill and Carla Wearmouth, our 2022 Honoured Pioneers, for a lifetime of passion for ski racing and ski community leadership.

Author: Tasha Tallas

Please join us on November 8^th at the Malcolm Hotel in Canmore to honour the Class of 2022.

A transformative leader who has shaped and lifted our sport.

Canmore, AB – Through five decades of dedication, Maureen O’Hara-Leman has taken the enthusiasm she discovered for skiing with her Dad and shared it through instruction, coaching and leadership.

Maureen was first introduced to skiing as an 11-year old when her family moved to Calgary. The oldest of 4 children (3 younger brothers, all hockey players), Maureen signed up for ski lessons on arrival in Calgary at the legendary Happy Valley Ski Hill (now Valley Ridge community). She was hooked and it became the special thing she did with her dad.

Maureen’s passion for skiing grew exponentially.  In high school, she always had a season pass at Lake Louise and it was nothing to drive to/from the mountains both days on weekends to ski.  Loving both skiing and a challenge, she commenced her CSIA designation while still in High School.  She gained experience teaching skiing in those early days at Happy Valley, then Paskapoo (Canada Olympic Park).   Part of the ski school experience included races, in which Maureen loved and excelled. 

Maureen moved onto the pursuit of a University Education. While in university, the sport kept pulling her back to the skiing world making her completion of her degree a bit non-conventional due to taking several years off to spend winters on the slopes in Western Canada. She eventually returned to school at the University of Guelph where they recruited her to the Alpine Ski Team because she was from Alberta and could ski!!  That was the introduction to FIS like racing and slalom and GS.

After graduation, Maureen returned to Calgary to work at Mount Royal College teaching Anatomy and Physiology to nursing students for the next couple of years and continued to actively ski and teach part time.  The contract with MRC left the summers open and she spent 5 summers in New Zealand eventually moving to teaching year round, New Zealand in the summers and Europe in the winters for Club Med.  While with the Ecole de Ski Francais in those European locations, it was a requirement to train slalom and GS.  By the time Maureen returned to Lake Louise Ski School she was well acquainted with running gates, and by this time, she had her Level III CSIA Level II certification. in 1980, she returned to Calgary to teach one more winter at MRU, of course teaching and skiing at Lake Louise on the side.  It was at Lake Louise where she met her husband Chris who had just embarked on his alpine coaching career. They were married and moved back to Calgary in 1984.

Following a brief exploration with a conventional career, and the arrival of her first child Brady, Maureen returned to the world of ski school operations.  Maureen ran the ski school at Wintergreen for 5 years, followed by 10 years at C.O.P.    During this time, Maureen and Chris had a second child, Kayla, and the family was pulled further into the world of ski racing in Alberta with Chris accepting head coach roles, first with Banff Alpine Racers (BAR), followed by Mt Norquay ski club and eventually Calgary Alpine (CARC). Soon after, the children took a lead role, as their natural skiing talent quickly made itself evident.  Many of us with children skiing in that era recall Brady near the top of the finish results, and Kayla “dominating her K1-K2 races. 

In 2001 Maureen accepted the role as President , Alberta Alpine where she spent the next 7 years coordinating, organizing, building and  promoting the sport of  ski racing programs in Alberta.

Along the way, you can imagine how many skills Maureen had honed as she ran ski schools, built provincial ski racing programs, assisted ski clubs on how to host races and run programs, managed general chaos, recruited and organized volunteers, assisted with timing in the early days of ski cross.  Collectively all of these things made her a cherished contributor in the world of ski racing in our province.    Her list of accomplishments and contributions are many:

• Timing crew work from Nancy Greene thru to Nor Ams over a period of 20+  years.
• Ski Cross ladder and results person in the early development of the sport
• Bozo and Kinder Cup start, board and result management since inception (circa 1997)
• Race Chair/Chief of volunteers Lake Louise Nor Ams
• Participation as the Leader Board and Scoring lead at the World Junior Alpine Champs

Before retiring, Maureen’s career shifted away from snowsports, as Director of Volunteers CEO for WorldSkills Calgary 2009. But the call of winter pulled her back as Executive Director for Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing (CADS), now known as Canadian Adaptive Snowsports.

Maureen’s fondest memories are of the many other volunteers, parents and officials she met over these years working races, watching the athletes progress and making lifelong friends.  Highlights are the many years working on the Lake Louise Nor Am races alongside many outstanding volunteers and the early years of contributing to/supporting the development and execution of Ski Cross Nationals / Nor Ams.

For Maureen and Chris, watching her children grow and develop in the sport, include the extraordinary highlights of Kayla winning Gold and Bronze medals at the Canadian K2 National Championships when she was 14 and being at the finish line when Brady won Olympic Gold medal in the 2018 Games of PeyongChang, Korea

Maureen says:  “When we are promoting the sport of Alpine Skiing and boldly stating that participation in ski racing programs teaches life skills, develops good life management tactics and coping skills, this is not exaggerating.  It is a very accurate description of the abilities of the vast majority of our alumni athletes.”

Maureen would counsel upcoming racers:  “have fun (you can quit anytime you aren’t enjoying it), listen to your coaches, race as fast as you can, enjoy your mountain time, be nice to your friends and family, it’s easier to climb the ladder than fall off, be proud of what you accomplish.   It all adds up.”

The Canadian Rockies Ski Racing Hall of Fame is pleased to recognize Maureen O’Hara-Leman, our 2022 Honoured Builder, for a lifetime of commitment to alpine ski racing.

Please join us on November 8^th at the Malcolm Hotel in Canmore to honour the Class of 2022.

Author: Vanita Haining.

WHERE: The Malcolm Hotel, Canmore

WHEN: Tuesday, November 8, 2022

TIME: 5:30 pm

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

Save with Sporting Life! 🎿⛷️ Up to 40% Off On Clearance Race Ski Equipment. Shop now.

We are saddened to share that Betty Kent, an Alberta Alpine parent, official and racer in the Masters series for years, has left us August 23, 2022 after a long and fruitful life. To all who knew her, or knew of her, there will be a celebration of life on October 1st at 4:00 at Cross Zee Ranch in Canmore.

Her son, Chris hopes to have the ski race community in attendance. 

Please find here the link to the Obituary published in the Rocky Mountain Outlook. This includes a beautiful write up of Betty’s life and legacy.

https://www.rmotoday.com/obituaries/kent-frances-elizabeth-betty-nee-lepper-5853340

The Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation (SPAR) Donation Fund Program encourages financial support for the development of sport, physical activity and recreation in Alberta.

Through the SPAR Donation-Matching Campaign, the Government of Alberta is using donation-matching funding to create an environment where Alberta’s non-profit sector thrives. Alberta’s sport, physical activity and recreation programs provide many essential services on which Albertans rely for their physical, emotional and mental health while contributing to their quality of life.

Up to $350,000, donation-matching funds are being made available for this Donation-Matching Campaign until October 14, 2022. The donation-matching funding builds on donor support of sector programs.

To learn more about the SPAR Donation Fund Program and to donate online, visit: https://www.alberta.ca/sport-physical-activity-and-recreation-donation-form.aspx. Please choose “Alpine Ski” and “Athlete Development”.

Join Canadian Alpine Ski Racers Cassidy, Britt & Kiki for a BBQ with burgers, smokies, ice cream treats & a candy buffet!

Thursday, September 22, 2022. 4 – 8pm.

It’s FREE thanks to a generous donation from a member of the Lake Louise ski team!

Register at: https://zone4.ca/register.asp?id=29609 or skisandhearts@gmail.com