ALPINE CANADA2013/14

Erik Guay (Photo by Pentaphoto/Alpine Canada)

Winning medals for Canada, inspiring national pride and stimulating growth in the ski community.

Alpine star Erik Guay, the most decorated Canadian World Cup athlete ever, celebrates his 20th World Cup podium on the downhill track in Val Gardena, Italy.

Cover Photo: Manny Osborne-Paradis (Photo by Pentaphoto/Alpine Canada) 3

Canada has a rich history of passion and success on the hill with ski legends such as Anne Heiggtveit, Lucile Wheeler, Nancy Greene, Kathy Kreiner, Kerrin-Lee Gartner, Betsy Clifford, Laurie Graham and many more on the women’s side. On the men’s side “Jungle” Jim Hunter burst onto the scene before Ken Read became the first Canadian (and North American) man to win a World Cup in Val d’Isère, France, in 1975. Alongside Dave Irwin, Dave Murray and Steve Podborski, a new generation known as the Crazy Canucks put Canadian ski racing on the map.

In February, Jan Hudec became only the third Canadian man, after Podborski and Edi Podivinsky, to win an Olympic medal when he claimed super-G bronze in Sochi. Alpine Canada Alpin has gone through many changes and transformations over the years but the passion for ski racing in Canada has never diminished. Our team members are role models to all young ski racers in Canada. They are also ambassadors for Canadian ski racing around the world.   Sincerely,Danny MinogueDanny Minogue

Chairman of the BoardAlpine Canada Alpin

Dear friends,

The Alpine Canada Alpin 2013-2014 ski season resulted in many significant accomplishments of our alpine, para-alpine and ski cross athletes. We are proud to chronicle in the pages ahead many of these most thrilling highlights and achievements.

In February, our teams competed against the best in the world at the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Our alpine, para-alpine and ski cross athletes performed at an exceptional level, enabling Alpine Canada to generate more medal podiums combined then any other Canadian winter sport – an exceptional achievement led by our remarkable skiers and the talented coaching staff who support their performances.

All of our athletes’ accomplishments – Olympic, Paralympic, World Cup, national championships, Nor-Am races, etc. – are also the direct result of the support we receive from the extended Alpine Canada family. Our athletes succeed due to the passionate commitment of parents and families, donors, corporate sponsors, volunteers, provincial ski associations and clubs, federal and provincial governments, Own the Podium, ski fans and many others. For this we owe you our deepest gratitude.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to Canadian ski racing and Alpine Canada Alpin.

Warmest regards,Mark Rubinstein

Mark RubinsteinPresident & CEOAlpine Canada Alpin

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Marielle Thompson (Alpine Canada/Pentaphoto)

Ski cross Olympic gold medallist Marielle

Thompson holds the 2013-14 Crystal Globe, which she

earned as the most successful female ski

cross athlete on the World Cup circuit.

Teamwork, passion, pride and perseverance.

OUR VISION

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Jan Hudec (photo by Alpine Canada)

COMMUNITY

Actually, it takes an entire nation. The Alpine Canada family of athletes is propelled to success thanks to the passionate support of nation-wide sponsors, partners, ski fans and volunteers. From major financial partners to personal donors and dedicated volunteers who devote their weekends to ski races across the country, we all play a critical role in helping our athletes succeed.

“It’s almost like it doesn’t even belong to me,”

said alpine’s Jan Hudec following his bronze-

medal win at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter

Games that snapped Canada’s 20-year alpine

Olympic medal drought.

“There have just been so many people who have supported me and seen me through to this point that it’s the people’s medal, more or less.”

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

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Alpine Canada Alpin is the governing body of alpine, para-alpine and ski cross racing in Canada.

OUR TEAMS

ALPINE PARA-ALPINE SKI CROSS11

PHILIP BROWNToronto, Ont.

JAN HUDECCalgary, Alta.

DUSTIN COOKLac-Sainte-Marie, Que.

MIKE JANYKWhistler, B.C.

JULIEN COUSINEAULachute, Que.

JOHN KUCERACalgary, Alta.

ROBBIE DIXONWhistler, B.C.

MANUEL OSBORNE-PARADIS

Vancouver, B.C.

JEFFREY FRISCHMont-Tremblant, Que.

TREVOR PHILPCalgary, Alta.

ERIK GUAYMont-Tremblant, Que.

CONRAD PRIDYWhistler, B.C.

CANADIAN ALPINE SKI TEAM 2013/14

MORGAN PRIDYWhistler, B.C.

ERIN MIELZYNSKICollingwood, Ont.

ERIK READCalgary, Alta.

BRITTANY PHELANMont-Tremblant, Que.

BRAD SPENCECalgary, Alta

MARIE-PIERPRÉFONTAINE

Saint-Sauveur, Que.

BEN THOMSENInvermere, B.C.

ELLI TERWIELSun Peaks, B.C.

MARIE-MICHÈLE GAGNONLac-Etchemin, Que.

SASHA ZAITSOFFNelson, B.C.

MADISON IRWINToronto, Ont.

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CHRIS DEL BOSCOVail, Col. / Montreal, Que.

KELSEY SERWAKelowna, B.C.

MATHIEU LEDUCComox, B.C.

MARIELLE THOMPSONWhistler, B.C.

IAN DEANSKelowna, B.C.

TRISTAN TAFELCanmore, Alta.

LOUIS-PIERRE HÉLIEBerthierville, Que.

DANIELLE SUNDQUISTCalgary, Alta.

DAVE DUNCANLondon, Ont.

GEORGIA SIMMERLINGWest Vancouver, B.C.

BRADY LEMANCalgary, Alta.

CANADIAN SKI CROSS TEAM 2013/14

CALEB BROUSSEAUTerrace, B.C.

BILLY JOE MARCOUXSault-Ste Marie, Ont.

ROBIN FÉMYMont-Tremblant, Que.

CHRIS WILLIAMSONToronto, Ont.

BRAYDON LUSCOMBEDuncan, B.C.

ALEXANDRA STARKERCalgary, Alta.

JOSH DUECKKimberley, B.C.

KIRK SCHORNSTEINSpruce Grove, Alta.

MATT HALLATCoquitlam, B.C.

KIMBERLY JOINESRossland, B.C.

MAC MARCOUXSault-Ste Marie, Ont.

CANADIAN PARA-ALPINE SKI TEAM 2013/14

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CANDACE CRAWFORDToronto, Ont.

LAURENCE ST-GERMAINSt Ferréol-Neiges, Que.

WILLIAM ST-GERMAINSt Ferréol-Neiges, Que.

STEPHANIE GARTNERCalgary, Alta.

MIKAELA TOMMYWakefield, Que.

CHRIS STEINKEChelsea, Que.

RONI REMMECollingwood, Ont.

MORGAN MEGARRYCollingwood, Ont.

VALÉRIE GRENIERMont-Tremblant, Que.

VINCENT LAJOIESherbrooke, Que.

FORD SWETTENorth Vancouver, B.C.

JULIE ROTHWaterloo, Ont.

WILLIAM SCHUESSLER - BEDARDSt-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.

CANADIAN ALPINE DEVELOPMENT SKI TEAM 2013/14

Alpine Canada/Coast Mountain Photography

Development team athlete Valérie Grenier, of Mont-Tremblant, Que., competes in women’s super-G at the 2014 Sport Chek Canadian Championships.

THE FUTUREThe Canadian Alpine Development Team aims to nurture the talents of the nation’s best young ski racers and build the next generation of World Cup and Olympic champions.

“Most of the current crop of podium athletes competing as members of our national team came out of the development group. The time to invest in our pipeline is now.” Paul Kristofic, Vice-President of Sports, Alpine Canada

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Photo courtesy of the Canadian Paralympic Committee

Sit-skier Josh Dueck, of Kimberley, B.C., celebrates his super combined gold medal that he won at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games

OUR TEAMS

The 2013-14 ski season was one of the most thrilling in recent memory.

It was a hugely successful year on and off the hill for Alpine Canada Alpin, as Canada’s governing body for alpine, para-alpine and ski cross racing won an incredible 11 medals at the 2014 Sochi Olympic and Paralympic games – more than any other Canadian winter sport federation.

This remarkable achievement came after Alpine Canada racers picked up gold and silver in ski cross, bronze in super-G – Canada’s first alpine Olympic medal in 20 years – and

an astonishing eight para-alpine medals, half of Canada’s total at the Paralympic Games. There also was great success on the World Cup circuit, with Marielle Thompson claiming the ski cross World Cup title and Erik Guay setting a new Canadian record for podiums.

A big thank-you to our incredibly talented racers and all our sponsors and supporters, who helped make the 2013-14 campaign of one the most successful in decades.

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Photo courtesy of the Canadian Olympic Committee

SOCHI 2014

The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games were a huge success for Alpine Canada athletes. Bringing home a total of 11 medals, Canada’s alpine, para-alpine and ski cross athletes made Canada proud.

Alpine

Calgary, Alta.’s Jan Hudec quashed alpine’s 20-year Olympic medal drought by winning bronze in men’s super-G and demonstrating an incredible perseverance and will to win. Hudec overcame a nagging back injury to claim the bronze medal, which he dubbed the ‘people’s medal’ in recognition of the ongoing support he has received in ski racing throughout his career.

Ski Cross

Ski cross superstar Marielle Thompson gave Canada its golden moment in Sochi, fighting her way to a spectacular gold medal win in women’s ski cross, while teammate Kelsey Serwa claimed silver. The podium domination by the duo keeps the title of Olympic ski cross champion in the hands of Canadians, continuing the legacy of retired ski cross racer Ashleigh McIvor, who won gold for Canada at Vancouver 2010.

Para-Alpine

The para-alpine team earned an impressive eight medals at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games – half of Team Canada’s overall medal count – including two gold medals. Sit-skier Josh Dueck, of Kimberley, B.C., won gold in super combined and silver in downhill. Sixteen-year-old Mac Marcoux, of Sault Ste- Marie, Ont., who skis in the visually impaired category and was guided by Mont-Tremblant, Que.’s Robin Fémy, claimed gold in giant slalom and bronze in super-G and downhill. Sit-skiers Caleb Brousseau, from Terrace, B.C., Kimberly Joines, of Rossland, B.C., and visually impaired athlete Chris Williamson, from Toronto, Ont., guided by Nick Brush, of Panorama, B.C., rounded out the medal count with bronze medals in super-G, slalom, and slalom, respectively.

Marielle Thompson, of Whistler, B.C., and Kelowna, B.C.’s Kelsey Serwa dominated the women’s Olympic ski cross podium.

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SOCHI 2014 - ALPINE

Calgary, Alta.’s Jan Hudec claims bronze in the men’s super-G, becoming the first Canadian in 20 years to win an alpine medal at the Olympic Winter Games

“To be standing here now, it’s honestly unbelievable. I just feel really thankful and blessed. It doesn’t feel like it is my medal because there are so many people who helped me get to this point and help support me and stuck with me throughout the years. This is just the icing on the cake.”

- Jan Hudec, Olympic bronze medallist

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SOCHI 2014 - SKI CROSS

Marielle Thompson, of Whistler, B.C., and Kelsey Serwa, of Kelowna, B.C., own the top of the women’s ski cross podium as they take home gold and silver.

“It’s crazy… It was such a big wave of emotion. I’m so, so happy to be able to bring this medal home for Canada, especially to be up there with my teammate.”

- Marielle Thompson, Olympic ski cross champion

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“I was stunned. Speechless. To the moon…hearing the Canadian anthem ring loud and clear is something that I’ve dreamt of for a long time.”

– Josh Dueck, Paralympic gold medallist

SOCHI 2014 - PARA-ALPINE

Sit-skier Josh Dueck, of Kimberley, B.C., takes in the moment after winning Paralympic gold in super combined.

“It’s so awesome. I’ve never been so excited after a race. When we crossed the finish line and Rob (Fémy) told me we won, my heart stopped for a second. I crashed into him and just couldn’t speak.”

– Mac Marcoux, Paralympic gold medallist

Visually impaired athlete Mac Marcoux, of Sault Ste-Marie, Ont., and guide Robin Fémy, from Mont-Tremblant, Que., capture gold in giant slalom.

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Photo: Matthew Murnaghan/Canadian Paralympic Committee

SOCHI 2014 - OPENING CEREMONIES

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The 2013-14 Audi FIS World Cup season was one of the most successful on recent record for the alpine team. Here are just a few of the many highlights.

Erik Guay (Photo by Pentaphoto/Alpine Canada)

WORLD CUP HIGHLIGHTS – ALPINE

Erik Guay, of Mont-Tremblant, Que., wowed in December when he tied and then broke Crazy Canuck Steve Podborski’s Canadian record of 20 World Cup podiums, becoming the most successful Canadian World Cup skier ever. Before the season wrapped, Guay, the 2011 world downhill champion, added two more World Cup podiums to his ever-expanding record, giving him a total of 22 World Cup podium finishes.

Marie-Michèle Gagnon (Photo by Pentaphoto/Alpine Canada) Jan Hudec (Photo by Pentaphoto/Alpine Canada)

All-rounder Marie-Michèle Gagnon, of Lac-Etchemin, Que., put an exclamation mark on a red-hot season when she claimed her first career World Cup win in spectacular fashion with a come-from-behind victory in Altenmarket, Zauchensee, Austria, in January. Gagnon’s win was Canada’s first-ever podium in super combined and the first victory for Canada in a combined race for 30 years.

Olympic bronze medallist Jan Hudec, of Calgary, Alta., was Canada’s top-ranked super-G racer this season, winning second place at the World Cup in Val Gardena, Italy, in December.

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The Canadian ski cross team continues to be one of the most dominant forces on the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup circuit. Here are some notable moments from the season.

Photo by Malcolm Carmichael/Alpine Canada

WORLD CUP HIGHLIGHTS – SKI CROSS

Ski cross Olympic gold medallist Marielle Thompson added a second career Crystal Globe to her glittering resumé when she claimed the

2013-14 World Cup crown in La Plagne, France. Thompson – who became the first Canadian to win a ski cross Crystal Globe in 2012 –

earned six World Cup podiums in the 2013-14 season.

Brady Leman and Dave Duncan. Photos by Pentaphoto/Alpine Canada

Brady Leman, Georgia Simmerling, Chris Del Bosco and Kelsey Serwa contributed to Canada’s overall

2103-14 World Cup podium count of 16, with Leman earning three podiums, Simmerling two, and Del

Bosco and Serwa one each.

Brady Leman and Dave Duncan. Photos by Pentaphoto/Alpine Canada

Kelsey Serwa and Georgia SimmerlingDave Duncan, who earned three World Cup podiums this season, claimed back-to-back World Cup victories in Innichen-San Candido, Italy, in December. The double accolades were the first World Cup wins for Duncan, who finished the season as the top-ranked Canadian male.

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The Canadian para-alpine team

was a major challenger on the

2013-14 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Cup circuit.

Here’s why.

The team raked in 19 world cup podium finishes, including six victories.

Visually impaired athlete Mac Marcoux, guided by older brother Billy Joe Marcoux, was the top-ranked Canadian para-alpine athlete. Marcoux, a three-time Paralympic medallist and a true all-rounder, claimed seven IPC World Cup podiums across four different disciplines, including three wins.

Sit-Skier and Paralympic gold medallist Josh Dueck earned four IPC World Cup podiums, including three wins. Dueck shot to international acclaim in 2012 when he became the first person in the world to complete a backflip in a sit-ski.

Veterans Kimberly Joines, a sit-skier, and Matt Hallat, a standing athlete, won four and three podiums, respectively, with Hallat on the podium for the first time in his decade-long career. Sit-skier Caleb Brousseau and standing athlete Alexandra Starker rounded out the podium haul with one podium finish each.

WORLD CUP HIGHLIGHTS – PARA-ALPINE

Caleb Brousseau (Photo by Malcolm Carmichael/Alpine Canada)

Caleb Brousseau (Photo by Malcolm Carmichael/Alpine Canada)

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Erin Mielzynski (Photo by Coast Mountain Photo/Alpine Canada)

DOMESTIC EVENTS

The Sport Chek Canadian Championships – which featured alpine and para-alpine racers competing side by side in Whistler, B.C., and ski cross stars doing battle at Sunshine Village, Alta. – provided the perfect finale for our talented racers and also our sponsors and partners, with Alpine Canada staff providing some exciting hosting opportunities in the beautiful surroundings of Whistler in March.

Sport Chek Canadian Championships

Chris Del Bosco (Photo by Malcolm Carmichael/Alpine Canada)

Audi FIS Nakiska Ski Cross World Cup

More than 120 of the world’s top ski cross athletes gathered in Nakiska, Alta. in December for a double dose of head-to-head racing at the second annual Audi FIS Nakiska Ski Cross World Cup. This year’s event featured back to back World Cup races, where more than $80,000 in prize money was on the line. Canadians Marielle Thompson and Brady Leman were first and third, respectively on the second day of racing in chilly temperatures, representing Canada well on home turf.

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Braydon Luscombe (Photo by Malcolm Carmichael/Alpine Canada)

DOMESTIC EVENTS

Panorama IPC World Cup

More than 100 athletes from 20 countries laid everything on the line at the Panorama International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Cup in January at the largest para-alpine event in Canada. The week-long event was hugely successful, and was a great preview to the 2015 IPC World Championships, which will also be held at Panorama. The 2015 event will be the first para-alpine world championships ever to be held in North America.

Jan Hudec (Photo by Pentaphoto/Alpine Canada)

Audi FIS Lake Louise World Cup

Four Canadians charged their way into the top 10 at the Audi FIS Lake Louise World Cup in December, organized by Winterstart, where hundreds of World Cup stars vied for top spot on the podium at the popular World Cup stop. Erik Guay, Jan Hudec, Marie-Michèle Gagnon and Larisa Yurkiw earned top-10 finishes in downhill and super-G, giving the home crowd something to cheer about.

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Photo by Malcolm Carmichael/Alpine Canada

DOMESTIC EVENTS

Morgan Pridy (Photo by Alpine Canada)

Nor-Am Cup

The alpine, para-alpine and ski cross Nor-Am Cup season featured several domestic events, including the alpine Nor-Am Cup finals in Calgary and Nakiska, Alta, and the ski cross Nor-Am Cup finals in Sunshine, Alta. The Nor-Am Cup features talented young racers from across the country, many of whom will one day make up Canada’s roster of World Cup stars.

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In 1967 and 1968, Nancy Greene won the overall World Cup title and the Lou Marsh Trophy. In 1968, at the Grenoble Olympic Games, she claimed a gold medal in giant slalom and a silver medal in slalom. In 1999, Greene was named Canada’s Female Athlete of the Century by The Canadian Press.

Dave Irwin, Steve Podborski, Ken Read and Dave Murray burst onto the European ski circuit in the 1970s, conquering racecourses at daring speeds with kamikaze attitudes, earning them their reputations as the Crazy Canucks. It was not only their daring bravery that earned them recognition, but their world class results. In Val d’Isère, France in 1975, Ken Read became the first non-European to win a World Cup downhill race. Results of this caliber continued through until the early ‘80s where in 20 consecutive races, Steve Podborski reached the podium a total of 19 times. The Crazy Canucks made their mark in the world of alpine ski racing and will continue to live on as a proud legacy of Canadian sport.

1970sCRAZY CANUCKS

1960s NANCY GREENE

Throughout the ‘80s Canada claimed three Olympic medals and four world championship medals with performances by Steve Podborski, Karen Percy, Gerry Sorensen and Laurie Graham.

The ‘90s proved a successful decade for downhill skiers as Canadian athletes Kerrin Lee-Gartner and Edi Podivinsky took home gold and bronze Olympic medals in this discipline in ‘92 and ‘94 and Kate Pace was crowned world downhill champion in ‘93.

Canada’s legacy of champions dates back to 1956, with Lucille Wheeler’s bronze medal-winning performance in the downhill event at the Winter Olympic Games in Cortina, Italy. Since then, Canada has produced numerous world and Olympic champions in various events across all three disciplines. Throughout the past six decades, Canada has made its mark as a nation rich in world-class alpine skiing talent and this legacy will continue for years to come.

1980s

1990s

OUR LEGENDS / MEMORY LANE

1976 Olympic alpine men’s team (left to right): Andrzej Kozbial (program director), Robert Safrata, Jim Hunter, Ken Read, Dave Murray, Wayne Gruden (coach), Scott Henderson (coach)

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In 2014, Marie-Michèle Gagnon became the first Canadian woman to win a super combined race. (Photo by Pentaphoto/Alpine Canada)

2003 2011

2012

2013

2014

2007

2009

2010

At the world championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Mélanie Turgeon won the downhill and Allison Forsyth took third place in the giant slalom.

Chris Williamson claimed his 100th World Cup podium at the IPC World Championships in Arta Terme, Italy.

Chris Del Bosco and Kelsey Serwa won gold and Julia Murray took silver at the world championships in Deer Valley, Utah.

Erik Guay won his first world championship gold in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Jan Hudec won his first World Cup race since 2007 when he led Canada to a historic 1-3-5 finish in Chamonix, France.

With her victory in Ofterschwang, Germany, in 2012, Erin Mielzynski became the first Canadian since 1971 to win a World Cup slalom race.

Erik Guay tied and then broke Crazy Canuck Steve Podborski’s podium record to become the most decorated Canadian alpine World Cup racer of all time.

Marie-Michèle Gagnon became the first Canadian to win a super combined World Cup race when she claimed the top spot on the podium in Altenmarkt, Austria

Also in 2014, Jan Hudec broke a 20-year medal drought by winning a bronze medal in super-G at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

Marielle Thompson won the overall ski cross Crystal Globe for the second time.

Jan Hudec won the silver medal in the downhill at the world championships in Åre, Sweden.

Karolina Wisniewska became the first Paralympian to be inducted into the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame.

John Kucera won the downhill event while Michael Janyk took bronze in the slalom at the world championships in Val d’Isere, France.

The Canadian Ski Cross Team won the Nations’ Cup and would defend its title as best performing nation in both the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

Chris Del Bosco, Dave Duncan and Brady Leman swept the men’s podium at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado.

Ashleigh McIvor became the first female ski cross Olympic gold medalist at its introduction to the Games in Vancouver, B.C.

Lauren Woolstencroft became Canada’s first Winter Paralympic athlete to win five gold medals in a single Games in Vancouver.

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Abell, MartinAinley, WilliamBogden, GordonBannock, MichaelBoyko, EricChapin, ColinChristie, DerekClark, ChrisColenbrander, AndréCollombin, Ann/BevDavies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP

Drury, ReidDupere, SimonFirstbrook, John TFrancis, John

Franklin, RobertGibson, GordonGoodman, RussellGow, GrahamHall Findlay, MarthaHandreke, PatrickHutcheson, BlakeHutcheson, ScottIrwin, MikeJames, DonKeene, AlisonKlippenstein, KevinLister, SteveMacPhail, StephenMeier, MaxMore, Daniel

O’Brien, ConnorOrr, TimothyProkopanko, JacquieProkopanko, RichardPutnam, MitchRenaud, PaulRenton, KenRiddell, ClaytonRoger BeaucheminRolland, MichaelRooney, JohnRooney, RobertScotiabankSherman, MarkSirios, Francois-CharlesSloan, Monica and Evison, John

Spitznagel, PerrySporting Life IncStock, Ian / Joan Evans StockTaylor, PhilipTerra Ferma HoldingsTripp, EricTudhope, IanTurner, John & MarthaWallace, James .D.Wiley, DJWilliams, Peter/CarolWilloughby, RichardYeates, Jim

Thank you to our generous partners, sponsors and personal donors who help propel the success of Alpine Canada and its athletes.

OUR SPONSORS

Edwards, Murray / Jones, Scott

Archibald, Don / Beatty, David / Mathews, Barb / Minogue, Danny / Slubicki, Chris

GOLD DONORS

SILVER DONORS

BRONZE DONORS

*Please note: some donors wish to remain anonymous

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