Game on!

After what has been the strangest off-season we have ever had to navigate, the AST was able to manage a successful camp to Saas Fee, Switzerland.

The team set off to Zurich on September 25 for a scheduled 18 days of training up on the beautiful Saas Fee glacier at 3500m above sea level. Talk about a shock to the lungs! After climbing 1800m in 25 minutes, with all of our gear and a bundle in tow, the coaching staff just about fell over! I’m happy to report that we adjusted nicely after the first few trips up and through the mountain (there’s actually a train that takes you up through the mountain after two gondola rides).

The camp started with five perfect days, the ones that all ski racers and coaches dream about: hard snow, sunny skies and happy faces. We all soaked in this return to snow and something resembling a normal season. This was surely going to be a camp for the ages, until a meter of snow fell which left us with three consecutive down days and skepticism on what we would get out of the camp.

As it turned out, 10 more consecutive days was what we had in store and we were determined to get the most out of this opportunity. Was it challenging? Absolutely. But everyone put their heads down and worked hard each day. Of course, we had to monitor fatigue and ensure the environments were appropriate each day, but I am proud of the effort everyone put in and the steps that were made.

All in all, I would chalk this trip up as a success. The team of athletes and coaches came together organically and were able to set the tone for the season. With the exception of one minor injury, all athletes are home healthy and ready to go for November.

I’d like to thank our wonderful host at the Hotel Tenne for their hospitality and food, the soccer field for some outstanding games, saves by Jimbo and the kneipp for its freezing cold rejuvenating dips. Of course this camp would never have happened without the 18 athletes and their families who put their trust in us to travel during these times. Thank you all for the opportunity and the lasting memories. 

As we enter our North American ski season I want to assure you that once you get familiar with wearing a face mask all the time, it really is not that bad. Humans are extremely adaptable and I was shocked at how comfortable it all became as time passed.

Let us all stay safe and ski fast! The AST looks forward to seeing you all on the hill!

Gavin Preziosi

Hey everyone, Zac here!

I would like to start off my athlete journal by saying that I hope everyone is staying healthy and sane during these difficult times while quarantined.

I am well and doing everything I can in order to stay healthy. These days I have been doing home workouts every day. My workouts include sprints, weighted lunges, weighted squats, core exercises and of course some upper body exercises as well. Although the gyms are closed I have found the motivation to do these workouts every day in order to be on track for next season.

With my season being cut short I was a little disappointed as I missed out on achieving one of my biggest goals which was to compete at World Junior Championships. Although it was canceled I am still pleased that I qualified and was selected to attend. I did accomplish my goal of forerunning the World Cup at Nakiska, what a great experience it was to be in a World Cup environment and around the best athletes the world has to offer. With that said, overall I had a good season and I am happy with my results. Although I am happy, I am still hungry for more and ready to achieve many more goals and accomplishments next season.

Last Tuesday I had the fantastic opportunity to go on my first mountain bike ride of the year with Alberta Ski Team athlete Caeden Caruthers as well as Alberta Alpine President Rob McCloskey. Although this was my first ride of the season it was also my first mountain bike ride in Alberta and it was great! We did a total of 18.3km, each six feet apart of course, and I am already eager for more!

Not only was it an amazing change of pace to be in the great outdoors but it was also nice to be around friendly faces and be able to have real conversations that didn’t involve a computer screen or a phone. Although quarantine is not over, with the parks and recreations in Alberta slowly opening back up I believe everyone will begin to regain sanity and morale will surely go up!

With such a positive experience getting back out in the mountains, I now have hope that the upcoming ski season will go off without a hitch. Although it may have a few restrictions, I am impatiently waiting to be able to be back on the slopes, clicking into my skis, and pulling out of the start gate once again!

Lastly, I would like to thank my coach JM, Alberta Alpine, the MSM World Cup Athlete Development Fund, the Mont Ste Marie Ski Club community, and everyone who supported me over the past season!

Once again stay healthy!

This has been Zac Reynolds, over and out!

Check out Zac’s Athlete Profile here.

Check out the latest ASXT Athlete Journal video submission from Reece Ralph. You can also find out more about Reece here.

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Hi Everyone,

It’s Jamie here, checking in for my last athlete journal. The past month has seen a lot of changes in the world and in ski racing due to Covid-19. It all happened so fast, so I thought I would take this time to let you know how it has unfolded for me.

Near the end of February, Raphael, Liam, and I left to Norway for the World Junior Championships. Our first stop was in Trysil for a six-day training camp with coach Greg Frechette. We had some amazing SG, SL, and GS training with the Norwegian Junior and World Cup teams.

Then, we headed to Narvik to meet up with the rest of our World Junior’s team, which included two of my teammates, Cassidy and Claire. Northern Norway is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been; looking out the plane window at the endless, snow-covered fjords was absolutely breath-taking.

Once we got settled, it was time to kick off the events with DH and SG. The track had to be shortened due to some weather issues, but it was still a fast and exciting course. We all gained some valuable speed experience and Liam surprised everyone with an 11^th place finish in the Super-G from bib 68! The next day, the women did their alpine combined race and the men were able to get the SL portion of their alpine combined off. I started bib 1 in the SL and kept the lead all the way to the end, winning my first World Juniors run!

Unfortunately, the SG portion was later cancelled and I was unable to get the chance to compete for the gold medal. This was greatly disappointing for me; however, it also gave me confidence to know I can compete with the best in the world. The last race held at World Juniors was the women’s GS where Cassidy achieved a strong 21^st place result.

At 10 pm on the night before the men’s GS race, we got some news. World Juniors was cancelled due to coronavirus. This was followed by the news, two days later, that the remainder of our season was cancelled. Nor-Am Finals, Nationals, and Spring Series were all gone. While this situation was unfolding, I experienced a whirlwind of emotion.

Going from the highlight of my career, sitting in the leader box at World Juniors, to such an abrupt halt to the season, was very disappointing. It is hard to look back and think what could’ve been. It is hard to think about all the time and work we have put in to this sport without getting the chance to achieve the rewards. It is hard to see the sport you love disappear so suddenly. However, this virus is much larger than that and I am glad to be safe at home with my family. One good thing in all of this, that I am very excited about, is that I secured a World Cup spot for next year in alpine combined because of my Nor-Am ranking.

Spending the last two weeks at home in quarantine has given me lots of time to reflect. It has made me realize how strong my passion for skiing truly is. In fact, being locked up in my house can’t even stop me from finding ways to ski. I have been occupying my time by coming up with different ways to train in quarantine. First, I built a start ramp out of all the snow I could pile up in my backyard. I set up race timing on it and did about 200 runs in a 1.7 second course. I analyzed my technique with video and I was able to improve by a whole 0.15 seconds. I started building a home gym with, the biggest project being, a new squat rack. I am hoping to also get out for some xc skiing and mountain biking soon. The preparation for next season has already started.

I would like to thank all our sponsors that supported us this year. I would also like to thank all my teammates and coaches for making this season one to remember. I couldn’t have asked for a better crew to experience it with; it was one of my most fun years of ski racing ever. Although we didn’t have quite enough time to show our full potential, we accomplished many goals and proudly represented Alberta with our passion for ski racing.

I hope you and your families are staying healthy, enjoying some family time and being able to get outside for some fresh air and exercise. Thanks to all for the season; I can’t wait to see you next year!

-Jamie Casselman

Check out Jamie’s Athlete Profile here.

Check out the latest AST Athlete Journal video submission from Gavin Donald. You can also find out more about Gavin here.

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Hi Everyone!

We’ve had a crazy couple of months on the road. With this came many highs and lows for all of us but we have a strong team and together we push each other to be the best versions of ourselves. Our team dynamic is what earns us podiums and makes our (basically 12 month) season sustainable.

I’m sure from the eyes of bystanders, our lives look compelling, but you guys get the glorified version of our day-to-day schedule consisting of early mornings, long travel days, time away from family and friends and countless hours in the gym. Since January, we’ve been away for almost 8 weeks skiing all over the continent. I wouldn’t trade these opportunities for anything, but I’d be lying if I said it was easy. I’ve learned a lot while away with the team, had some great and some not so great results, improved my skiing and had lots of fun with my friends.

Two weeks ago, the World Juniors team was announced. I was honoured to make the team and have the chance to represent both Alberta and Canada on the world stage. Like most athletes, I’m hard on myself and this is a great reminder that my skiing is on the right track and up to par with others my age across the world. Unfortunately, following the Coronavirus outbreak, the race has been cancelled. I was looking forward to our trip to France but lots of factors are out of our control and I hope to redeem myself next year!

Following this unforeseen virus outbreak, our plans for the next month have completely changed, and our mindset has shifted – now focusing on improving our technical skills rather than being in the racing mindset. This month the team is heading to Panorama to forerun and race the speed events and get in some GS training, then we’re off to Big White to race the final FIS series of the season.

Initially, I was upset about the cancellations and felt it was unfair that our season got cut so short. But it’s important to not lose sight of our long-term goals and keep training and working towards achieving them. I’m grateful for some time closer to home over the next couple weeks and hope to see you on the hill!

-SVC

Check out Sarah’s Athlete Profile here.

From day to day you have to be mentally fast, both in your actions while skiing to the way you treat every day as a new day and move forward. I find my journey through ski racing has had a lot of ups and downs, similar with most ski racers. It is a sport that fluctuates so quickly in results through on and off days, snow conditions, and mental game. 

Hola my dudes!

I am Mara Bishop from the Alberta Ski Cross Team. The ski cross season is nearing its end, but the team has had one amazing season! Our races in Calabogie were awesome, our team left with three thirds, three seconds, and one amazing first place. I finished 3^rd and 2^nd hitting the Nor Am podium for the first time in three years. The course in Calabogie was a bit disappointing since we had just competed on a smaller world cup track but with only having 7 volunteers the race went off without a hitch. The second race block in Calabogie I was amped for, hoping to keep improving and race even harder. Unfortunately in small finals on the first race day I hit my head and was left with a concussion and no ability to move head. The team pulled through the entirety of the eastern block with smiles on our faces, we are all so happy with the improvement in our skiing and the camaraderie we have built within the team.

We only had a week home in Calgary before flying out to the next race in Colorado. Our week home we stayed in the gym and did some jump training at Winsport. Jean Marc was an angel who drove from Calgary all the way to Ottawa and back with the trailer filled with our equipment. He only had two days at home before driving down to Colorado to meet the rest of the team in Denver to drive out to the last Nor Am of the year. Ski Cooper was an awesome race from what I heard, our team crushed it! Callum got second both days, Ryan got 3^rd hitting the podium for the first time this season, Alexa left with a 3^rd as well. I am so happy for my team!

The team was treated to a special day in Jackson Hole to rip up a well deserved free ski day in the best place ever. While I am stuck in Calgary recovering well, I feel very lucky to be able to work with CSI and Group 23 to get myself back on skis!

The team is heading into the last leg of the season, March holds one FIS race in Big White, BC and a handful of Europa Cup races which a few athletes from the team will go over to compete in. As well World Juniors are coming up and we have quite a few athletes who may be going but that is still up in the air. However, for this being the first year of the Ski Cross team I believe we did a great job showing that we are a force to be reckoned with. We wouldn’t be able to be the team that we are without our coach JM and the help from head office!

As always, thank you to everyone that has supported us this year! Being a part of the Alberta Alpine family has been wonderful.

Yours truly,

Bish

Check out Mara’s Athlete Profile here.

I have talked to Leslie (Firstbrook, AST Assistant Coach) about this a few times —

When you ski well you are happy, but in order to ski well you need to be happy.

— So where does it begin? It is a constant cycle that is so easy to break, yet so difficult create, but almost impossible to stay in. Why is that? Why is it so hard to be happy? Why is it so hard to ski well — we’ve only been doing it our entire lives? This season is no exception.

I know these journals are supposed to be about what the ski team is up to in the past and upcoming, but I have never really used mine to do that. If you have followed my journals for the past 3 years, I always use them as a way to express how I am doing. So I might as well not change that now.

I don’t think a start to a ski season has ever been so hard. I don’t think an entire season has ever been this hard. I never thought it would get this draining. I am exhausted. I am frustrated. It has been a lot. It is only mid February but I feel I have no season left. And that is terrifying.

To be blatantly honest, the beginning of this season has been extremely difficult to enjoy. Let me take you back to the start…

The summer was awesome. I’ve never been or felt stronger. It was my job to get my body ready for this season and with the opportunity at CSI, I felt I managed to do that.

Then came Chile. Plans changed for this trip at the very last minute but we made the most of it. I was excited to get back training on hard snow to find technique as usual summer camps are. But in Pucon, it was different: soft, soft, and more soft snow. It was challenging. I honestly wasn’t enjoying myself. My body was ready to be there but my mind wasn’t. I just wanted hard snow to find the technique again. We got some salt but that only does so much. Don’t get me wrong, I was pleased with my skiing for that time of year. But I thought it could be better. It can always be better.

October 1st/2nd. If you read my 1st journal you’ll understand why this was such a hard time.

October 13th-28th. Hintertux on snow camp. I hurt my back day 2. It was the first day in gates and I thought I was able to push through it, but the rest of the camp was a bust. I couldn’t ski like me, nothing felt good. I was doing 3 or 4 runs a day when my teammates where doing 8+. I felt it was unfair. Unfair to me that I went all that way and couldn’t even train. Unfair to my coaches because they couldn’t do anything to help me. Unfair to my teammates because I wasn’t being the teammate I knew I needed to be. When I got home I thought rest was what I needed, but I think it made it worse. Not doing anything for a week was not the best call. I let my core get weak so I had nothing supporting my back. I found this out the day I got back on snow at Nakiska.

November 4th. Nakiska pre-season starts. If you know me I’m not a morning person. So this month I openly dread because it’s 4:47am wake ups for 5 days straight, 2 days off, then repeat. You get home late. Then you have to tune, eat, shower, sleep, and repeat. It is tough. You are fatigued — mentally and physically. I’m not trying to be pessimistic about it because this month of training is vital to get the quality and repetition in before races. And I do believe this month does make you tougher — mentally and physically — however, it is just the fact in getting through it. My first day at Nakiska was horrible. I went there thinking my back was better and I could ski but I was in worse pain than I was in Europe. I tried again the next day and it just got worse and worse —along with my mental state. I went to physio to figure out what was wrong. I was told to do a lot of neutral spine core and book more appointments, but in essence, it was just going to take time. Probably one of the hardest things to hear as an athlete is “give it time”. That really didn’t sit well with me.

When it comes to emotions, I am quite an introverted person. Most of what I do is to make those around me content before I really think about my own happiness. Skiing, however, is usually the exception; I do it for myself. Even so, my worst fear in this sport is disappointing others so I do my best to avoid that, even if that means biting my tongue in uncomfortable situations. But the month of November I felt like I was there for other people. It boiled up to where I broke down and finally spoke the truth… I truly wasn’t happy. It came to a point where I needed a break and time away from the sport. I took days off but I knew skiing was what I needed as the last time I had really trained was in Chile.

I was excited for the month of November to be over. December meant races started at full force. I thought racing would bring me joy and a realization on why I fell in love with this sport in the first place. I was excited to get away from Nakiska and see new faces. But when I got in the start gate I felt numb, almost like I couldn’t care less if I was there. I just wasn’t happy. It hurt to admit. The worst part of it was I was there expecting to ski well even though I was dispirited, which led to me to be continuously disappointed in myself. It was hard, I didn’t realize it was happening until it had happened. I was so blinded by the need to perform that what I actually couldn’t do was perform.

I came into this season with the thought that I either make NCAA or CAST or I quit. And I think that was a bit too much on me that it has created a lot of pressure to perform, and I feel it is a huge reason on why I haven’t yet this season. I have had good days, but they aren’t as consistent as I need them to be. However, I have recently found my footing in training and it has rekindled my joy for this sport. Nonetheless, it doesn’t mean much when you can’t do it on race day, and for me that is my problem. Right now, trying to figure that out is my focus and I am attempting to give myself every opportunity to allow myself to do that.

I am in a better place now and I have seen a drastic change in my skiing just because of my mood. I have learnt what has made me happy. However, I am still coming to senses with the fact that “it is okay”— It is okay to not ski well. It is okay to not always get what you want. It is okay to work hard and fail. It is okay to not always be the best. It is okay if things don’t always go as planned. It is okay to not be okay— I’m continuing to learn to be more accepting of these types of situations. As much as I would love too, I can’t control everything. That being said, I don’t know where I’ll be next week, next month, next year, but what I do know is that I will be happy. And I just can’t wait.

-Claire

Check out Claire’s Athlete Profile here.

Hi Everyone!

Alexa here, checking in as we are closing out our Eastern Block, with our last two Nor-Ams in Calabogie this week. It’s sure been an eventful few months!

In early January, we had Nationals and our first Nor-Ams in Red Deer. The field was very deep, with a number of World Cup girls racing, and I was super excited to move through all the heats both days. It was super fun to battle it out and spend time with my friends that have been at World Cup all year. My results were also a huge motivator going into the next week: Nakiska World Cup.

Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. Going into Nakiska was pretty stressful, as the World Cup there two years ago did not go very well for me. Sure enough, this year also proved to be a challenge. With extreme cold, the first two days of training ended up being canceled. They decided to go ahead with qualis on Friday with only two runs of training planned. I got in the gate for first run with my best friend Abby only to get flagged because someone had crashed in front of us. When we returned the the start, we found out they had cut training short and we would not be getting our second run.

For the hour or so before quali I doubted whether or not I could get in the start gate. I knew that this race was probably the most important race for me, the best way to earn my way back onto the National Team. Nothing had gone to plan and coping with that reality was not easy.

Sure enough, I went back up to the start with lots of emotions crowding my mind. As the boys finished up it was just me and JM. If it weren’t for him there’s no way I would have been able to get into that start gate. Every time I felt the doubts creeping back in, he told me he was not going to let me give up on myself. He talked me into racing up until the moment the start was being called. Near the bottom of the course I wasn’t sure of the speed and ended up throwing in a few speed checks, no doubt killing my time. When I got to the bottom I saw my position on the board: 17th, one spot out of heats. I was pretty devastated, but having my teammates coming up to hug me as I left the finish corral definitely made me feel much better.

A few days later, it was time to race Nakiska again, this time for Nor-Ams. I was able to get some redemption on that track. After slightly frustrating quali results, I skied to two third place results. Both finals were some of the funnest heats I’ve skied in years, with Zoe, Annie and I battling it out the whole way down the track.

Now we’ve made it back to Calabogie after a frustrating trip to New York, with both our races there being canceled due to an unsafe track build. I’m looking forward to two more races here, where I scored my first Nor-Am win just last week! Time to close off our Eastern Block strong before heading home for a well deserved break!

As always, thank you to all that support us! Being part of the Alberta Alpine family this year has been such a blessing. After two challenging years of racing, I’m so thankful to be part of such a supportive, encouraging association!

Thank you for the read! -Alexa

Check out Alexa’s Athlete Profile here.

Hello, again, everyone! Prepare yourselves for this taboo subject!

Cassidy, Claire, Ashleigh, Alyssa, Kiki and I recently travelled out east, while Tora is killing her return to snow back at Nakiska. We raced a great FIS series at Alpine Ski Club and Georgian Peaks. Alyssa, Claire, Kiki, Ash and Cass took home some sweet hardware. The Nor-Am series at Osler Bluff and Georgian Peaks has just begun, and we are all super excited to conquer some steep pitches, and long flats (classic Collingwood).

Last week, on January 29th, was Bell Let’s Talk Day (or #BellLetsTalk day). It is likely you saw the blue post, or hashtag, shared on many platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook. The telecommunications company Bell Canada created Bell Let’s Talk Day to raise mental health awareness and combat the stigma surrounding it.

I felt that it is such an important subject; I should dedicate my athlete journal to the significance of mental health on teams and in sport.

Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we feel, act and think. It also helps determine how we relate to others, make choices and handle stress. Two out of three people with mental health issues suffer in silence. Being open and talking is the first step towards ending the stigma. Some believe mental health problems are fake and fixing them is as easy as flipping a light switch. A simple “just be happy” is often not a cure.

Improving mental health does not happen overnight. Plenty of people are afraid to talk about how they feel for the sake of being made fun of or treated differently. Countless people who battle mental health problems feel alone, like no one understands them or cares what they are going through. The truth is, they are not alone. Many people deal with mental health issues on various levels every day. It is possible to assume others are happy when they could just be struggling in silence. And helping people feel safe, instead of alienated, can make a significant difference in their lives. A great way to do that is to bring more awareness and discuss mental health more openly.

As an athlete, I am very familiar with the sensation of stress, pressure and anxiety, which can, at times, feel very overwhelming. I have previously experienced dealing with these feelings in silence. This is because I get worried about bringing any negativity to my team, believing they will not view my struggles as real, or think I am overreacting. I hope it is a dated belief that athletes are always supposed to be “tough.”

Recently, I started speaking more openly about my mental health in ski racing and began depending more on teammates. The support I have received is incredible and very relieving. What I realize is that we are all in this together. My team, more often than not, can relate to and understand how I am feeling. My frustrations have taught me that ski racing is a seriously team-driven ‘individual’ sport.

Our points, FIS profiles and medals are a reflection of our individual performance. We are all imperfect and need to remember that almost everyone is continuously working to better ourselves both on and off the hill. However, having supportive teammates and an open environment within the team goes a long way, even in our “individual” sport. A safe environment allows us to make progress for who we are as athletes, as well as people, and also supports performance improvement.

Believing in myself to perform my best every day is sometimes difficult. However, it is easier with the positive inspiration I get from my team. When the girls encourage me and reassure me that we are all in this together, it helps keep my spirits up. Kiki made a point this trip to say that if she couldn’t win, the next person she would want on top of the podium would be one of us. Even as fierce competitors, we need and depend on each other to accomplish goals and achieve new personal bests.

The Norwegian Ski Team has a reputation for being extremely tight-knit. It is alleged that Aksel Lund Svindal was the leader contributing to this environment. There is a story about him in the 2016 Kitzbuhel downhill, where he landed off badly on the Hausberg jump and injured his knee. Being bib 19, his immediate concern was for his teammate Kjetil Jansrud, bib 21. To avoid having the helicopter in view on the course prior to Jansrud’s run, Svindal limped over to the slalom start. He did not want Jansrud distracted and psyched out by the helicopter. This is an example of an athlete in an individual sport who, after doing his best, thought immediately about helping his teammate’s success. 

Every day we are working to develop our confidence, and we all have challenges and times of vulnerability. For this, we cannot be ashamed. Thank you, Bell.

When we notice a teammate who is not themselves, we must remember to ask, “Hey, are you okay?” and then listen. Within our racing circuit or even outside of skiing, we can say “Hi” to people we don’t really know, or join someone who is sitting alone. Any of these little acts matter and can make an impact. I am grateful for the support from my teammates, and I am hopeful I can reciprocate. In ski racing, we have to perform alone, but as a team, we are not alone! In fact, when one gets better, we all get better.

-Charlie

Check out Charlie’s Athlete Profile here.

Hi Everyone!

I am Callum McEwen from the Alberta Ski Cross Team. After the Christmas break we took a two day trip down to Castle Mountain for some soft GS training and some well needed team freshies. Shortly after, we headed up to Red Deer for some very chilly Nor Ams and Canadian Nationals. Lots of really great competition as many came for the following World Cup in Nakiska.

Last week I got to start my first World Cup and it was really the cats meow. Super cool experience to run a big fast track with the best in the world. Unfortunately I took a big slam in training and didn’t put down a great run in qualifications with a 39th place finish but my morale quickly shifted when my roommate finished in first place claiming his first World Cup victory!

Despite the World Cup not going as planned I was still able to put down some great racing in the following NorAms with two 4th place finishes and some fun heats with my friends and teammates.

The team and I have just arrived in Calabogie, Ontario where the next two NorAms will take place. Calabogie has a very fun track and should definitely make for some interesting heats! Afterwards we will be heading to Gore Mountain for the next races and then back here to Calabogie for the last two NorAms of our Eastern trip.

This upcoming block should prove to be lots of fun and very challenging and I am excited to see what’s to come! Make sure to keep an eye out on the results, the team and I will make Alberta proud!

This has been Callum McEwen for the ASXT, over and out!

Check out Callum’s Athlete Profile here