Thirteen Olympians are among 39 athletes named to participate in Alpine Canada Alpin summer training programs, Chief Athletics Officer Max Gartner announced Monday as the organization intensifies efforts to achieve podium results at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
The group led by 18 senior men and 11 senior women includes seven World Cup winners and three World Championship medalists. They will be joined by 10 high-potential development ski racers when dryland training gets underway this week. The team competing on the World Cup during the 2009/2010 season will be selected in November from this training group.
John Kucera (Calgary, AB), the 2009 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships downhill gold medalist, leads a group of ‘Canadian Cowboys’ that also includes World Cup downhill winners Manuel Osborne-Paradis (Vancouver, BC), Erik Guay (Mont-Tremblant, QC) and Jan Hudec (Calgary, AB). Michael Janyk (Whistler, BC), a bronze medalist in slalom at last season’s FIS Alpine World Ski Championships headlines the men’s technical team.
The ladies team, affectionately known as the Canadian ‘Speed Queens,’ includes World Cup winners Britt Janyk (Whistler, BC), Geneviève Simard (Val-Morin, QC) and Emily Brydon (Fernie, BC) as well as Kelly VanderBeek (Kitchener, ON), who has three career podium results on the World Cup.
“With finite resources and aggressive Winter Olympic goals, we are sharpening focus to maximize resources for Canada’s best medal hopes,” said President Gary Allan, noting ACA is continuing to implement the strategic plan designed to make a world leading ski racing country.
The training group is smaller than in past years when ACA invited record numbers of athletes to gain experience and develop skills in advance of the upcoming Olympics.
The alpine team at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be announced just before the Games in February.
“The training group announced today reflects a heightened focus on athletes with medal potential in 2010 as well as athletes with the potential for success at future Olympics,” said Mr. Gartner, adding ACA intends to build on the steadily improved international result in recent years, including a number of important firsts achieved last season.
Mr. Allan said ACA is working hard to increase resources in the lead-up to the Olympics and credited the financial support of ACA’s partners for levelling the playing field for Canadian racers.
“Alpine Canada Alpin is stepping up its marketing efforts to ensure we have the resources required to win,” Allan said, as ACA seeks at least $1 million more in funding this season to counter the increased value of the Euro. “Canadian athletes must enter the starting gate knowing we have provided everything they need to medal.”
The FIS World Cup season is scheduled to get underway in Sölden, AUT next October while the alpine events of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games take place in Whistler, BC, beginning in mid-February.
ACA will announce Canada’s Para-Alpine summer training group later this month.
CANADIAN ALPINE SKI TEAM – SUMMER TRAINING GROUP
SENIOR MEN – RESIDENCE (SKI CLUBS)
Patrick Biggs – Orleans, ON (Ottawa Ski Club) *OWG
François Bourque – New Richmond, QC (Pin Rouge) *OWG
Dustin Cook – Lac Sainte Marie, QC (Mont Ste-Marie)
Julien Cousineau – Lachute, QC (Mont-Tremblant)
Robbie Dixon – Whistler, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Jeffrey Frisch – Mont-Tremblant, QC (Mont Tremblant)
Erik Guay – Mont-Tremblant, QC (Mont-Tremblant) *OWG
Stefan Guay – Mont-Tremblant, QC (Mont-Tremblant)
Louis-Pierre Hélie – Berthierville, QC (Mont-Ste-Anne)
Jan Hudec – Calgary, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)
Michael Janyk – Whistler, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) *OWG
John Kucera – Calgary, AB (Calgary Alpine Racing Club) *OWG
Tyler Nella – Toronto, ON (Georgian Peaks)
Manuel Osborne-Paradis – Vancouver, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) *OWG
Jean-Philippe Roy – Ste-Flavie, QC / Gatineau, QC (Mont-Comi) *OWG
Ryan Semple – Montreal, QC / Mont-Tremblant, QC (Mont-Tremblant) *OWG
Brad Spence – Calgary, AB (NATC – Team Panorama)
Trevor White – Calgary, AB (NATC – Fortress Alpine Ski Team)
MEN’S DEVELOPMENT TEAM – RESIDENCE (SKI CLUBS)
Travis Dawson – Calgary, AB (NATC – Fernie)
Mathieu Routhier – Sherbrooke, QC (Mont Orford Ski Club)
Erik Read – Calgary, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)
SENIOR LADIES – RESIDENCE (SKI CLUBS)
Brigitte Acton – Mont-Tremblant, QC (Mont-Tremblant) *OWG
Emily Brydon – Fernie, BC (Fernie Snow Valley Racers) *OWG
Marie-Michèle Gagnon – Lac-Etchemin, QC (Mont Orignal)
Anna Goodman – Pointe Claire, QC (Mont-Tremblant)
Britt Janyk – Whistler, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Kelly McBroom – Canmore, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)
Eve Routhier – Sherbrooke, QC (Mont Orford)
Shona Rubens – Canmore, AB (Lake Louise / Sunshine Ski Club) *OWG
Geneviève Simard – Val-Morin, QC (Montcalm (Val-St-Côme) *OWG
Kelly VanderBeek – Kitchener, ON (Chicopee Ski Club) *OWG
Larisa Yurkiw – Owen Sound, ON (Georgian Peaks Ski Club)
LADIES DEVELOPMENT TEAM – RESIDENCE (SKI CLUBS)
Stephanie Irwin – Calgary, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)
Erin Mielzynski – Guelph, ON (Georgian Peaks Ski Club)
Brittany Phelan – Mont Tremblant, QC (Mont-Tremblant Ski Club)
Marie-Pierre Préfontaine – Saint-Sauveur, QC (Club Chanteclerc)
Georgia Simmerling – West Vancouver, BC (Grouse Tyee Ski Club)
Elli Terwiel – Heffley Creek, BC (SunPeaks Alpine Club)
Victoria Whitney – Whistler, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
* OWG indicates Olympic Winter Games experience
