To: All Alberta Alpine Ski Association Members

Re: AHS COVID-19 Update of November 24, 2020

As most of you have heard, the Alberta Government has announced some new and very strict restrictions to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

These new restrictions will have a devastating effect to all our Clubs activities for at least the next 3 weeks.

The Government has indicated that groups can apply for exemptions and AASA will be immediately applying for an exemption for training. A second exemption letter will be submitted for any racing that will be within that 3-week period.

I thank all of you for your hard work at creating your Club COVID-19 protocols and the outstanding job that each of you have been doing in keeping our athletes, coaches, volunteers and home hills safe.

I will inform you of updates as they become available.

Best regards,
ALBERTA ALPINE SKI ASSOCIATION
Patrick Gillespie
President of Alberta Alpine Ski Association

Guiding Principles for event organizers

Download a PDF version here.

Event organizers shall ensure that adequate measures are in place to protect the health of all participants and ensure that they have access to immediate medical care as necessary.

Local competitions with participants from the same geographical locations or regions are preferred so that the need for overnight stays and/or air travel is minimized or eliminated.

Intra-club competitions with athletes that already have close contact with each other are encouraged.

New competition formats to keep local competition interesting should be explored.

Cross province and cross border racing at the FIS and NorAm levels will be pursued if deemed appropriate based on current recommendations/guidelines set out by federal, provincial and local government health authorities.

Current information related to COVID-19 can be found on the Alberta Heath Service website at https://www.alberta.ca/covid-19-information.aspx

Field of play set-up, services, and accommodation

The following are a set of considerations for race organizing committees, event hosts, course conductors, and the alike.

New ROC Position – COVID-19 Coordinator

• New position to be added to each ROC to ensure compliance with Alberta Health Services and Federal Government Health Authority Guidelines are adhered to during the event.
• Assigned to liaise with health officials, monitor and follow up on required symptom checks and attestation forms, maintain a record of contact information for all participant, create a notification system in the event of a positive test, develop backup staffing and volunteer plans.
• The ROC in conjunction with the COVID-19 Coordinator must implement and make readily available the isolation plan should a volunteer fall ill
• This individual will work closely with the event partners to develop a COVID-19 mitigation plan to satisfy insurance and sanctioning purposes.
• Tracking information
  • All on-site participants, including but not limited to athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials, complete a daily screening questionnaire. For added protection, these should be digitally collected and maintained by the COVID-19 Coordinator
• Contact information for the COVID-19 Coordinator is made available on the race notice and event website in the event of a positive test

Communication

It is crucial that all provisions in place are communicated clearly to all participants in advance of the event.

Every organizer is required to compile a COVID-19 mitigation plan summarizing the preventative measures in accordance with Alberta Heath Services. The COVID-19 Coordinator should lead this element of the planning process.

• Creation of Illness/ Attestation screening document prior to competition 
  • Must be made available online and tracked daily
• Should a participant fall ill during or within 48 hrs of a competition, proper notification should be provided to all event attendees through the COVID-19 Coordinator
• Meetings should be held via virtual platforms in the lead up to an event
• All event communication should be available in a digital form when possible
• Include the Resorts COVID-19 Protocol information which will help visiting teams

Race entry/ Lift Ticket

• Online registration is used exclusively including payment processing for entry fees o
  • If online registration is not possible event organizers must implement safeguard measures to ensure physical distancing is maintained.
• Lift ticket purchases and distribution to follow resort partner guidelines

On-site Meetings

• Keep meetings as short as possible
• Training and meetings for coaches, team captains, volunteers and event staff should be done virtually whenever possible.
• Meetings that might be difficult virtually, e.g., jury meetings, protests, should be done with physical distancing and outside wherever possible.
• Bib draws will should be done virtually where possible
• All documentation should be made available digitally when possible
• Distribution of paper materials should be made available in a distanced manner
• Proper signage and sanitization facilities should be made available

Volunteers

• People in higher-risk categories, such as older adults and people with underlying health conditions, or those living with or having consistent contact with those populations, should not participate in any capacity or do so in a very limited capacity and with strict controls.
• Accommodation may only be made available to key ROC members. Accommodation must comply with current accommodation/cohort rules within the province and AHS.
  • Meals 
    • All meals must respect health authority and safety guidelines
    • Gatherings are not recommended at this time
    • All meals should be pre-packaged (lunch)
  • Volunteer center 
    • Local physical distancing and capacity rules should always be adhered
    • Meetings must follow physical distancing rules or be held online when possible
    • Volunteers should arrive on site ready to go on hill with no expectations to leave gear in the volunteer center
    • Proper signage and sanitization should be made available
    • Local physical distancing and capacity rules should always be adhered
    • Limited to race administrator and required personnel only
    • Remote options should be explored when possible (start lists, analyses, results, etc.)
    • Proper signage and sanitization should be made available
    • Local physical distancing and capacity rules should always be adhered
    • Limited to timing crew and required personnel only
    • Proper signage and sanitization should be made available

Race Office

• Local physical distancing and capacity rules should always be adhered
• Limited to race administrator and required personnel only
• Remote options should be explored when possible (start lists, analyses, results, etc.)
• Proper signage and sanitization should be made available

Timing Office

• Local physical distancing and capacity rules should always be adhered
• Limited to timing crew and required personnel only
• Proper signage and sanitization should be made available

Equipment

• Once a bib has been allocated the ROC should make the best attempt to ensure bibs remain allocated to the same individual for the race series.
• Coaches should be allocated a time to collect their team bibs from a designated area
• Equipment used by volunteers (rakes, radio’s, drills etc.) should be assigned to the volunteer for the entire race series
• Installation, repairs and removal of equipment should be handled in a safe manner utilizing PPE to mitigate risk when possible (i.e., B-net, air fence, gates, etc.)
• Sharing of equipment should be avoided unless sanitization measures are in place to mitigate risk 
  • ex) gate judge packages should be set with supplies for the entire duration of the event and only restocked when necessary

Equipment preparation areas

• Establish limit for number of persons inside wax cabins
• Establish limit entry to dedicated preparation zones per team (particularly start area)
• Consider additional space for wax facilities to allow for proper distancing

On-Hill / Field of Play

• Close contact between participants from different clubs and organizations should be prohibited or eliminated as appropriate.
• Physical distancing should always be maintained
• Specific consideration should be given to particularly high traffic areas including start tent, start area, corrals, coaches’ corners and areas of high coach/official/volunteer traffic on the competition slope, the finish corral, finish area.
• Non-essential visitors, spectators, and volunteers should be limited or prohibited.
• Person-to-person transfer of competition equipment (bibs, drills, rakes etc.) should be prohibited or limited. All bibs should be cleaned or disinfected prior to re-allocation.
• Lift accessibility to be determined by the host resort
• The ROC should consider staggered entrances for teams to allow for physical distancing and minimize chances of close contact before, during, and exiting inspection
• Start area 
  • The start area marshal should be placed at the entrance to manage numbers
  • Proper signage should be visible when needed
  • Yelling and cheering should be eliminated
  • Considerations for start area spacing (volunteers, coaches, athletes, tuning, warming tents, etc.)
• Finish area
  • The finish area marshal should be placed in the finish to control numbers in the area
  • Lingering in finishing areas should be prohibited; athletes should exit the finish corral upon completion of inspection/competition
  • Race results should be used online only
  • Proper signage should be visible when needed
  • Bibs should only be returned on the final day of competition

Resort Protocols

• Participants should arrive at the venue ready to compete or train.
• Common facilities such as changing rooms, lodges, and common spaces should follow resort guidelines
• Sharing of food, water, and other items should not be permitted
• Participants should have Personal Protective Equipment: face coverings, gloves, hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes and soap, on their person
• Warm-up activities should always be performed outside or in a well-ventilated indoor space maintaining physical distancing
• Unnecessary use of indoor spaces should be avoided
• ROC’s should consult with their resort partner to ensure proper mitigation practices
• Follow all Resort Covid-19 Protocols

Awards

• Award ceremonies should not take place for U12 and under.
• Award ceremonies for U14 and up should follow these protocols. o
  • When possible, award ceremonies should be done virtually or be significantly modified by limiting spectators and coaches to ensure physical distancing.
  • When possible, awards should be announced at the end of a series vs. daily
  • Physical distancing should be adhered for podium finishers, 2 meters apart.
  • Prizes and medals are to be handed out wearing gloves and face coverings.
  • Awards must be done in an outside area and physical distancing be maintained.
  • ROC’s should provide teams with details on award ceremony attendance

Post-Competition Considerations

Equipment Manager shall ensure shared materials (bibs, radio’s, drills, etc.) that are not owned by the hosting entity are sanitized prior to shipment to next event/destination.

Tear Down

• ROC should allocate tear down based on cohort groups to minimize interactions
• Clearly identified drop off zones for equipment should be identified o
  • Clear entrance/exit

Hey guys, Alex here!

I know I am not the only one eagerly waiting for the 2021 competition season to kick off as the past year has been quite the change of pace. Although, the time off has given me the opportunity to re-group and reflect on my past season and how to improve for the next.

Upon reflection, I can say that I found my stride last year,  which brought up my consistency and intensity and enabled me to enjoy my sport more than ever. Finishing 4^th overall on the Nor-Am circuit for 2019-20 was a tremendous highlight for me and I can’t wait to carry that momentum forward! It was disappointing to not cap off the end of the season with more races, but everyone’s health and wellness is the highest priority.

A little recap on what I have been up to this last little while:

Working as a framer throughout the spring and summer months helped me stay physically fit when the gyms were closed. Since re-opening, I have been working nonstop in the gym and having lots of coffee fueled nights as a Dinos varsity athlete does. When the weather was nicer, I took every opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. Taking mountain bike day trips and getting a little lost in the wild backpacking.

I took the 6 feet rule seriously and made it more of a 60-kilometre rule! I couldn’t say the same for the wildlife as I had some curious cows visit my tent throughout the night.

It has been such a blessing to have my family of teammates and coaching staff as support. It has made this last bit of quarantine manageable. From zoom meetings and game nights I have felt much less isolated here at home. I don’t know what I’d do without everyone’s infectious positivity (probably something on the side of re-enacting The Shining).

I’d like to thank everyone in Alberta Alpine for working as hard as you do and that’s a cornerstone for how great this season will be, COVID setbacks and all.

With hills open and all the safety guidelines in place, it’s looking to be another wonderfully snowy season that I can’t wait to share with all of you.

Stay healthy and earn those turns!

-Alex

To the all Members of Alberta Alpine

As we approach the start of another ski season it is obvious that it will be one, we have never experienced before. Covid-19 has reshaped the way we all have been living, working, going to school and how we interact with each other.

We all are so lucky that we play in a sport that is outside, we can social distance yet still have a connection with our family and friends. I must thank all our home ski resorts (all ski resorts) for putting so much thought and effort into making their resorts as safe as they can yet still accessible to all our clubs. As well, I must thank all the clubs working so closely with their home resorts to work on Covid-19 protocols that helps keep everyone safe while still allowing all of us the ability to enjoy the sport we love.

As you all, know many of the resorts have been open for pre-season training and indeed have even open to the public with their earliest opening’s ever. When skiing at these resorts please follow the resort’s Covid-19 plan. We are all following what Alberta Health Services (AHS) has developed and their website is the best place to get up to date info on an ever-changing protocol within the province.

As we move into our racing time period you will see that the race calendar is up on the Alberta Alpine website. Thank you to all who helped make this calendar, big shout out to all the clubs, ROC and ski resorts that have stepped up to hold races. This has been a challenge in the current environment and although the calendar will have to be a fluid document it is our goal to hold all these events.

Some news from FIS that will benefit all our FIS athletes is that the Base FIS Points (BL) 2022 will include all valid results between 01/07/2019 to 30/04/2021. This will help our athletes hold on to their point profiles if there are no races this season that will help improve their points. This will allow them to enter a race that will not benefit them as far as points go but they will get time in the gates.

As I mentioned earlier, we are all so lucky that we ski, we get to have fun in an outdoor sport that we can do as a family and with our teammates. I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can this season and to make it out to as many races as I can. I wish everyone an awesome season and please be safe.

Best regards,

Patrick Gillespie

President of Alberta Alpine Ski Association

Wow what a crazy summer we’ve all had. I want to start off by saying I hope you are all doing well, staying safe and getting ready to go skiing! I was planning on doing a quick video on our first week at Nakiska but unfortunately I sprained my ankle and was not able to ski this week.

Our trip to Saas Fee was incredible! The first few days were a little crazy as we were all trying to remember how to ski, but thankfully we all got back into our groove. A huge thanks to the Tenne hotel for always being amazing.

Once we got back we had to quarantine for two weeks and that left a few of us pretty stir crazy. But now we are out and the team is currently at Nakiska, finally getting to ski in Canada for the first time in 7 months!

Since this is my only athlete journal this year, I wanted to use this to thank our sponsors, coaches and supporters. Over the years I have seen this team change drastically and this year I’m seeing it change for the better. Our coaches Gavin, Jim, Jonas and Peter have been amazing, fun and so supportive. I’m so excited to see what this season holds for us.

Another person I want to thank is Rob McCloskey. Rob, you’re amazing and we miss you everyday! You believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself and I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me. You’ve worked to create a positive environment for all athletes in every province, at every age. I hope your having an amazing time in Sunpeaks, but please come back and visit us soon!!

I also want to mention Alied. You may not always see Alied on the hill but know she’s always working in the backgrounds for every athlete in Alberta. Thank you Alied for making sure we stay organized and get to do what we love.

To our sponsors, Sporting life, Sync, Lone Star Mercedes: thank you for your continued support and love–we wouldn’t be able to do this without you.

I wish you all an amazing ski season and good health! If you see me on the hill come say hi! I would love to chat!

Thank you and until next time,

Ashleigh Alexander

Lifting our sport through a commitment to events, to leadership and to family.

If you are at a ski race in Alberta, particularly a high level one, chances are that you’re going to run into Bob Leitch. Say hello quickly though, because he’s likely on a mission – yet again stepping up to lead or just lend a helping hand to bring another event to a successful conclusion.

For our recipient of the 2^nd President’s Award for Exceptional Service, ‘doing what has to be done’ has long been a way of life and a part of his persona. Bob’s contributions so widely span the breadth of ski racing, they are hard to categorize; inclusion to the Canadian Rockies Ski Racing Hall of Fame named as the winner of this award was the appropriate thing to do. Athlete, Alberta Ski Team Alumni, Official, Leader, Volunteer, and race-parent, Bob has, and continues to do it all!

His ski-racing voyage started, like many others, humbly and without much expectation. At 12, on the advice of Norm Russel from Norm’s Ski Hut, his father took him for lessons at the Mighty Paskapoo. “There was a fun race at the end of the lessons” recalled Bob. “Skimeisters Ski Club invited some kids to Norquay to join their Nancy Greene program. Early recruiting strategy!”

This launched a ski racing pathway that took Bob all the way to the Alberta Ski Team and competing on the Nor-Am Tour. In 1981 Bob started his studies at UBC, also racing with the UBC Ski Team, helping win the NCSA Championship at Steamboat Springs. After school, the racing bug took him into Master’s Racing, but importantly, he also started volunteering, working course at the ’88 Olympics and other local events.

Bob’s volunteering evolved and soon enough, he became a competent and dependable leader within Race Organizing Committees. His CV of races is long and storied, but when asked, his years “hosting the Lake Louise Nor-Am with a core group of special individuals who put their heart and soul into running as quality a downhill race as you will find anywhere in the world, is a highlight”, a privilege. Bob’s roles include: Chief of Race/Chief of Course for Louise NorAm DH’s and SG’s over the past 10 years; Chief of Race/chief of course for numerous regional FIS, U16, U14 and NG events; Chief of Race/Chief of Course for multiple NorAm events and NorAm finals at Nakiska, and; Chief of Course for Canadian Championships at Nakiska.

Alongside his volunteer work with events, Bob also embarked on the Officials pathway first earning his designation as a National Technical Delegate and subsequently a FIS TD. His portfolio of volunteerism also included roles as a Director and then President of Calgary Alpine Race Club and then as a Director and Board Chair of Alberta Alpine.

Bob’s personal ski racing highlights are as a parent. “Watching our boys compete at various levels of racing and, after sport, continue to become skiers for life. It’s hard to beat a great day of spring skiing with the family or friends.” Bob and Pat, and their boys Cam and Jack, have managed a sport-active household, juggling hockey and ski schedules. It takes this family commitment and son, Jack, followed in Dad’s footsteps to the Alberta Ski Team and then to the Canadian Paralympic Ski Team as guide for Mac Marcoux where they captured gold and bronze in the 2018 Paralympics in PeyongChang.

When asked who he would like to recognize as his key influencers, he starts by saying “that in 50 years of involvement in the sport, there are many!” As an athlete, he holds up coach Ken Marchand (2014 Honoured Lifetime Builder), “a no nonsense, no sugar-coating approach to ski racing. Ken instilled the importance of hard work and sacrifice at a young age – core principals I value today.”

As an event volunteer and race official, Bob says the most influential person is his close friend Todd McNutt. “We have done (and continue to do) countless events together. I have learned so much about being prepared, anticipating problems before they happen, and all the other influences both inside and outside the fences. Truly a great mentor and friend.” He also gives a nod to Darrell MacLachlan, who “provided great words of wisdom during the FIS TD aspirant process and while acting as a FIS TD. Darrell was a good friend who will be missed by many in our community.”

‘However, the most important people along this journey have been my family. Our boys, Cam and Jack, and especially my wife Pat. Without her support and understanding I could not have been able to dedicate as much time as I have. I can’t thank Pat enough. We often joke that I have spent more nights in hotel rooms with Todd than I have with her. Now that is one very special lady.’

Bob lists his childhood heroes, while he was racing, as Ken Read and Ingemar Stenmark. Bob’s ‘voice of reason’ with issues outside the fences? “Doug Airey always managed to put things into perspective.”

With his long involvement, Bob has insight worthy of sharing: “The ski racing community is unique and very special. Lifelong friends for both athlete’s and parents are made along the way. A ski racing career is relatively short. However, skiing is a life sport and should be enjoyed with good friends as often as possible for as long as possible. Get involved. Paying forward by volunteering at any level race, sharing your knowledge and patiently teaching the less experienced will ensure we continue to host quality and fun events in the future. Nobody knows everything……there is always something to learn. Remember the reason we are here in the first place……for the athletes!”

And, when asked, he has some tips for young racers: “Have as much fun as you can and enjoy the journey…..it goes fast! You are very fortunate to be afforded the opportunity to ski race. Work hard at dryland and never give up on any training or race run. Learn to wax and tune your skis before every day on the hill. Don’t get too hung up on the results…..you will have lots of time to do that if you chose to go on to FIS. Support your team members. If you are having fun and enjoy the sport, stick with it…..it takes some longer than others to reach their potential. Not all results are measured by the clock. “If you want to be a good ski racer you need to be a good all-around athlete” says Bob. “Play and participate in as many sports as you can. Enjoy the summer doing something else so you are keen to get back on your skis when the snow falls.” Wise words.

Although he has and continues to give a lot to the sport, he insists that it has contributed much to his life and work. “Ski racing can be a cruel sport. There are often far more ‘downs’ than ‘ups’. It teaches you perseverance, patience and discipline which are all strong traits that everyone needs in life, work and to become a positive member of any community. You learn to deal with adversity, take responsibility for your actions, self-evaluate and hopefully develop solutions. If you continue to work hard you will be rewarded. If you can push out of a start gate at the top of a downhill course nothing else in life will seem that hard.” Bob says that his roles have “reinforced the importance of real, unselfish, ‘team work’, and the gratification of coming together to provide the athletes with the best track you can on any given day.”

It isn’t a surprise that for Bob, the sport’s most important gift “was the good fortune of developing both lifelong and new friendships, all of which share the one common bond of somehow being involved in Ski Racing!”

Well said, well played, many thanks, and congratulations to Bob Leitch, the 2020 President’s Award for Exceptional Service to Ski Racing and the snowsport community.

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

It’s hard not to say the name Jim Read and the words ‘Ski Racing’ in the same sentence. Our 2020 Honoured Alberta/Canadian Team Alumni has had a lifelong journey full of Ski Racing – he is recognized as one of Canada’s most successful tech skiers who then went on to compete on the North American Pro Tour as the most successful North American athlete. In the last two decades – 22 years!! – Jim has become known as one of the most passionate & dedicated alpine ski coaches in Canada.

Jim’s journey into ski racing started as a family activity. His mother had ski raced growing up therefore young Jim and his siblings had an early introduction to the sport while logging many miles skiing as a family. Jim credits his father John, “who had the patience to ski with me when I was very little.” And his mother Dee, “who taught me to put the miles on the ski hill”.

Jim grew up ski racing with the Lake Louise Ski Club before joining the Alberta Ski Team at 15 years old, then made the Canadian Ski Team at 18. Jim’s impressive career as a ski racer is reflected in his 11 Canadian Championship titles (3 junior titles & 8 senior titles), and as a two time Olympian competing in the tech events in Sarajevo 1984 where he finished 24th in GS. In the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games, he placed 13th in the SuperG and also competed in Slalom and GS. His final major FIS event was the 1989 Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail.

When Jim joined the North American Pro Tour, he quickly became known as a fierce competitor yet his humble demeanour would never lead one to believe he was as skilled and successful as he truly was. A fellow competitor on the Pro Tour, Rick Lewon, shared “he’s the greatest, humblest skier you’ll ever meet. He doesn’t have to tell you how good he is, everyone knows how good he is – consider yourself lucky to be one of his close friends.”

Jim recognizes the time he spent on the Pro Tour as a period filled with many lessons which he attributes to being monumental to his coaching career. “Ski racing has been a big part of my life however I always tried to have a life outside of ski racing also to maintain some balance. I think that is why I was able to race up till I was 35 years old. From the ages of 25 till 35 I really learned the most as I had to be my own Coach and reached out to many of the European racers with questions. This period I believe helped me the most in my coaching career.”

Jim’s first coaching job started with the Sunshine Ski Club when former Canadian Alpine Ski Team teammate and first “boss”, Wendy Lumby, recruited Jim going up the chair at Canada Olympic Park, 22 years ago. “I saw the potential in him as a coach and wanted to utilize his knowledge, so I hired him! I recognized his skills and love of the sport would make him a great ski coach” recalls Wendy.

Jim’s passion for the sport of skiing, his energy for ski racing, his fun loving spirit and his patience in developing overall skiing skills have all contributed to the foundation of every skier he’s coached. Recently taking on the position as the Women’s Coach with the Alberta Ski Team, the Sunshine Ski Club has been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience all Jim has shared since that single chair ride at Canada Olympic Park, 22 years ago. And what advice would Jim pass on to young racers? “Keep it fun. Skiing is a feel sport. Don’t overthink it. If you have a bad race, clear your head go have a few free runs. That will really help you get back on track. Free ski lots but do it with purpose. Practice good race technique while free skiing.”

Jim’s ski journey started as a family activity, getting as much mileage as possible. Ski Racing provided Jim the platform to become a life long student of the sport, developing his craft over years of multiple experiences as a ski racer. “Ski racing is a wonderful privilege to be able to be involved in. Really try and enjoy the journey and don’t get too caught up too much in the end goal. Strive to become a successful World Cup racer if that is what you want but keep in mind that skiing is a life long healthy activity that you can enjoy for many, many years.”

Join us in honouring Jim Read, our Alberta/Canadian Ski Team Alumni in the 2020 Class of the Canadian Rockies Ski racing Hall of Fame.

A lifetime of dedication to building a stronger community of athletes, coaches, volunteers and Masters.

He is a lifelong coach who has worked with generations of athletes, with many clubs and programs a level of commitment to alpine ski racing that few can match. For over 40 years, Claudio Berto has guided some of Canada’s greatest athletes in their formative years and has instilled a life-long passion for skiing and ski racing in all he has worked with.

Hailing originally from Italy, Claudio competed as a youngster in Ontario, graduating to University racing, while pursuing is studies. Upon graduation, he moved west, taking professional positions with architectural firms, but to also follow his passion for ski racing in the mountains. “Coming to Alberta was like my mountain home in Italy.”

Claudio started his western coaching with the Sunshine Ski Club where he gained great experience working with a number of young athletes who went on to represent Canada at the highest levels. “Sunshine Ski Club developed a very strong team by putting some athletes on the Provincial team and National Team like Karen Percy. What a great environment for a new coach to learn what it takes to be good at your craft.”

Like so many alpine ski leaders in the 1980’s, Claudio was a key contributor to the 1988 Olympic Winter Games as one the Alpine Skiing crew chiefs. This was also a time of his moving to the Paskapoo Ski Club and subsequently to NATC as FIS coach.

In 2002 Claudio found a calling that has been his passion for nearly two decades: Masters Ski Racing. Starting as the “Wannabes” at Nakiska, our senior athletes later became known as the Alberta Masters Ski Club. “This sparked my Passion again – there is life after FIS!”

“The Alberta Masters’ program for adults helped many hone in on improving their skiing talent, coaching, knowledge, mentorship, and to inspire others, not only in skiing, but other pursuits” says Claudio. “As adults, athletes are more likely to challenge your approach, which eventually helps both the athlete and coach to excel. Wow what a great way to learn and lift the sport for all those kids, parents and even us as coaches.”

“The Alberta Masters enables people to rekindle their passion for skiing. Ex-racers, parents, even some from the CSIA (Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance) / CSF (Canadian Ski Federation) and those who have left the sport for different reasons, benefit from the program. The Alberta Masters’ program, as well as the rest of our alpine community, come together to teach the next generation of racers life skills, hopes, time management and hopefully help them with their everyday life.”

You can find Claudio out on the hill, shooting video, talking on the radio and working tirelessly to get courses ready and race-tracks safe. He is out every weekend with drill bit in hand and sharing his experience with other coaches and his Masters athletes.

“The ‘ski community’ extends beyond the athlete to parents, family, and friends”, says our Honoured Lifetime Builder. “Their support is greater than just standing on the side of the hill with numerous dimensions to the sport – physical, mental, technical, tactical, financial – to understand the number of things they all need to feel and navigate when they are training or racing. This is the reason for my passion in what I do – trying to help parents or older athletes to fulfill their childhood dreams.”

The Canadian Rockies Ski Racing Hall of Fame is honoured to recognize Claudio Berto, our 2020 Honoured Builder, for a lifetime of dedication to athletes of all ages, to his fellow coaches, to sharing his experience and leadership skills with race organization and for passionately building the Masters racing community.

– 30 –

Recognizing skill, leadership and innovation while opening doors.

Canmore (AB) – Ethel Lumby brought a remarkable mixture of teacher and innovator to the sport of alpine ski racing, while using her skills to earn respect. Through her fifty years as a parent-volunteer, official and course worker, she broke barriers and proved that no task was too hard. These remarkable qualities are recognized as the Honoured Official in her induction into the Class of 2020 of the Canadian Rockies Ski Racing Hall of Fame.

Ethel’s ski journey has taken her from Europe, to the river valleys of Saskatchewan, to the Canadian Rockies and to the highest levels of competition as an official. Like so many dedicated volunteers, it has been a family journey.

From early beginnings on the snow with school trips to Switzerland from her native Great Britain, Ethel and Colin Lumby emigrated to Canada in the late 1950’s. Ethel started her teaching career in Regina which initially included outdoor activities with school outings for cross country and alpine skiing. Then with older students when teaching phys-ed, she built her love of the outdoors with canoe trips and ski outings. Family soon became the focal point and it was at the White Track Ski Hill near Moose Jaw where the Lumby children were first introduced to the sport.

“The mountains beckoned, so we moved to Calgary”, so the lure of the Rockies brought the Lumby family to Alberta in 1967. Ethel returned to teaching elementary school, but independently organized cross country programs. She was thrilled to watch 3 ex-students compete in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games.

Skiing brought the three Lumby children – Pollie, Wendy and Martin – into ski racing, joining the Nancy Greene Ski League, first at Happy Valley and then to the Skimeisters.

Parent-volunteers run the races and the Lumby’s joined right in. Ethel’s first task was timing, which quickly evolved to joining the Alberta Division Board as the Skimeisters Club representative. “I was involved in a fast learning curve with Dee Read guiding us all on the finer points of the sport” shared Ethel. This led to the position as Provincial Technical Chair. Guidance and mentorship from Maurice Lehodey in the officials pathway led to her certification as a national and international official where she became one of the first women world-wide to earn a FIS Technical Delegates licence in 1980.

“For the first few years I was delegated to the FIS slaloms in Red Deer” said Ethel. “I got fed up dropping my toe nails through freezing – no temperature criteria in those days!” But the experience gained from Nor-Am and the Winterstart World Cup positioned her for the Assistant Chief of Race for the women’s speed events in the 1988 Olympics, which broke a glass ceiling for Olympic Organizers to include a woman in a senior position in a major event.

One might be surprised to hear the range of tasks involved: working with convicts shooting snow down tarps to the start; insisting on Toilets for the racers on hill (one fell from the helicopter); monitoring vagabond media personnel into safe zones. “We were on the bus at 5am and going to sleep after meeting at 10 pm but a very exciting time.”

Her leadership role as a FIS TD extended into the new events for snow sports. Ethel served as FIS TD for one of the first World Cup snowboard events, at Mt. Bachelor, Oregon in 1997. “Many of the racers were quite apprehensive of the FIS involvement but wanted the insurance coverage. The atmosphere was much lighter than ski races. Pre-race nerves never evident, but focused on course. It was a learning experience for both myself and the borders as to what how FIS needed things to be done and what the sport could bring to FIS”. She also took on FIS Boardercross assignments. Ethel retired as a FIS TD in 1998, but she is quick to point out she continued to work as starter for races for several more years.

The Lumby family was fully invested in ski racing: all of Ethel and Colin’s children moved through the Alberta system and are Alberta Ski Team alumni. Wendy and Marty have also had long coaching careers with ski clubs in the province. Colin was the reliable parent-volunteer throughout it all.

The mark that Ethel has left on our sport still resonates. Ethel stands out for taking on and progressing to the highest-level of official’s roles (and excelling) in a time when women were mostly expected (or perhaps preferred) to stay behind the scenes and provide a good lunch. This, while raising three children and maintaining her teaching career.

Racers of that era will remember Ethel being a strong TD and official; firm but fair. She had a strong voice and a calm approach which stood her well. One Alberta Ski Team alumni recalled “I remember Ethel taking the time to explain the proper rules to me.” A Skimeister alumni shared “I appreciated her no nonsense, straight shooter, awesomeness. It made her a great TD, and a great person in general. “

To Ethel, the positive influence of the sport was always apparent. “Ski racing became a lifestyle in our house” she shared. “All of us worked as a team to organize our days. The importance of a full commitment to the sport and how to support one another at home as well as our peers.”

We congratulate – Ethel Lumby – the 2020 Honoured Official, for her induction into the Canadian Rockies Ski Racing Hall of Fame and her lifetime commitment to our sport and to Canadian ski racing.

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It is with genuine sadness that the Lake Louise Audi FIS Ski World Cup family shares the news of the sudden passing of Darrell MacLachlan on Friday, October 9, following a brief and aggressive battle with cancer.

Darrell’s leadership as our Chief of Race – Men was instrumental in the success of our Lake Louise World Cup events since 2001. He was also the men’s alpine skiing Chief of Competition at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver/Whistler, and the leader of the famous Green Hats. In 2014, Darrell was asked to be the Technical Delegate for the men’s alpine skiing events at the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. Darrell’s contribution also included his guidance as the FIS TD Commissioner for Canada. In 2014, he was inducted into the Alberta Alpine/Canadian Rockies Ski Racing Hall of Fame and most recently, Darrell was inducted into the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame for his remarkable lifetime contribution to Canadian skiing.

Outside the fences, Darrell was the host of the best damn volunteer barn party anywhere in the world. 

Darrell will be greatly missed by his partner, Lynne Gibson, his daughter, Alison, son-in-law Bryan and grandsons, Lennox and Everett. His many friends in the alpine ski racing community will feel his absence and he will be remembered as an iconic builder, mentor and friend. 

Darrell was the best of us and this Thanksgiving weekend we are thankful that we are better for having known him. Until we ski again Darrell.

Here
A working draft of the 2021 season race calendar is now available for you to view. Please note that this is subject to change.

This season’s calendar is being designed under extraordinary circumstances due to the COVID situation. Many pieces will not be what we are used to, but necessary to enable us to hold races at our ski hills this season.

As much as possible, Alberta races are being planned for daily drive in and out circumstances, or at sites with accommodations on the hill, providing families and/or groups access to indoor space during the race.

Alberta race events are being shortened to avoid lengthy hotel stays.

Races will primarily be scheduled on weekdays to avoid conflicts with the public, large club weekend programs and large race fields.

There will be more individual North and South zone series to keep lower field sizes at the younger ages.

Alberta will adopt more inter-club competition, designed by individual clubs to coincide with their training.

There will be changes to traditional race formats to match AHS COVID rules for groups and gatherings. These changes will be designed as we approach the winter season.

View the draft 2021 calendar by clicking this link: DRAFT 2021 CALENDAR

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time and will do our best to keep you up-to-date as things evolve.

Pete Bosinger, Mark Sharp, Gavin Preziosi