Annual Pre-Season Fitness Testing Series
This month, Alberta Alpine athletes from across the province came together for our annual pre-season fitness testing series, held in both the North and South Zones. These ACA-standardized combines play a key role in tracking athletic development, benchmarking year-over-year progress, and preparing athletes for the upcoming race season. They are also a prerequisite for certain projects and races, such as the Whistler Cup and the World Junior Championships.
The North Zone hosted its annual Fitness Combine in partnership with the University of Alberta’s Kinesiology Department. Nearly 40 athletes, ranging from first-year U14 through to FIS, participated in a full battery of tests assessing strength, agility, power, and endurance.
Program Director of Rabbit Hill, Tessa Dakin, shared her reflections on the event:
“It was great to see all of our NZ athletes come together. North Zone athletes are comprised of many different clubs. Despite this, I love seeing how the athletes come together and support each other! It was awesome to see them cheering and pushing each other to strive for the best results in the combine. We can’t wait to get on snow and for the 2025–26 race season to start!”
Meanwhile, the South Zone hosted its testing days at the Canadian Sport Institute Calgary, with athletes showing impressive effort and focus throughout the weekend. Over 90 athletes attended, with U14 to Masters racers taking part in testing.
Josh Benge, athletic director of Alberta Alpine, says this about the events:
“Fitness is the cornerstone building block for athletes, without it accomplishing your on hill goals become much harder. I was pleased to see such a diverse group pushing hard and cheering for each other while showcasing their fitness gains. The athletes who attended embodied Alberta Alpine’s ethos of Inspiring Excellence.”
The data collected from both events will contribute to Alberta Alpine’s long-term athlete development benchmarks, giving coaches valuable insights for training adjustments and injury prevention as the season begins. Once all data is tabulated, each athlete will receive an individual performance report giving them insights. A huge thank-you goes out to our coaches, parents, and volunteers who made these sessions possible — and to the athletes who continue to bring passion and energy to everything they do.
