Seasons
News and Announcements
e-News February 26 | Bursaries | Spring Break | HH Uniforms| World Cup Corner | Extra Days
Nancy Greene-Nat Bosa Bursary | Only 3 days to Apply
Nancy Greene – Nat Bosa Bursary: Nancy Greene played an instrumental role in starting the Blackcomb Ski and Snowboard Club (which merged into WMSC) and in supporting the Canadian junior skier development program. Nancy has continued to be a great supporter of ski racing in Canada over the years. Nat Bosa and his companies have provided the Whistler Mountain Ski Club and the Blackcomb Ski and Snowboard Club with financial assistance for the construction of both ski cabins and have continued to support WMSC and our athletes over the years.
To recognize the tremendous contributions of Nancy and Nat in support of ski racing in Whistler the Whistler Mountain Ski Club created the Nancy Greene/Nat Bosa Bursary. These funds are intended to contribute towards coaching fees, travel expenses, equipment costs and other expenses related to the development of our ski racers. To qualify an athlete must be active in a Club program (U18/U21, U16, U14, U12), BC Team or National Team. The Board of Directors has appointed a committee to administer the Bursary and athletes should submit their requests, in confidence, to the committee by the end of February. Awards are announced in March and funds applied to the recipient’s racer account. Award criteria include perceived financial need, program costs, the athlete’s character and skill level, and parental volunteerism.
Apply to bursaries@wmsc.info. The deadline is Sunday, February, 28.
Spring Break Recovery Days | Monday March 15th and 22nd
We are adding Monday March 15th and March 22 to recover the days missed earlier due to extreme weather. You still will need to register your athletes at free of cost to allow Lead Coaches to staff properly. Also, you will need to complete the Daily Health Check (DHC)
We hope to see as many of you then!
2021-2022 HH Team Uniforms Try-on Sessions and pre-orders | Feb 27 & 28 and March 5-7
If your athlete(s) will need a new uniform for next season, we will host a few try-on sessions this weekend and next. The pre-orders are due on Sunday, March 7th.
To comply with our COVID-19 protocols, you will need to book your time slot and wear a mask. We will appreciate that only athletes shopping and one parent attend the sessions.
Sat and Sun, Feb 27 and 28 | 2:30-4:30 pm
Fri, Sat and Sun, March 5-7 | 2:30-4:30 pm
Register here:
21-22 HH Uniform Try-on and pre-ordering, Adult Sizes only | Feb 27 and 28
21-22 HH Uniform Try-on and pre-ordering, All Sizes | Mar 5-7
World Cup Corner by Roman Torn
Shifting toward the technical events of the World Championships, mid-week saw the running of the parallel and team parallel events. These events are relatively new and have their quirks and criticisms. For example, the parallel is run in a format that racers randomly draw which course they are to first run, red or blue. If all else is fair and equal the courses should be the same for both athletes for both runs on either course.
The maximum deficit for the first run is .50 of a second as long as the racer finishes the run without DQ. For the second run, the idea is the start gate is staggered in favour of the winner of the first run getting a head start on the opposite course with the lead over the other racers.
In theory this sounds fair and good until one course is significantly slower than the other which was the case in both the men’s and women’s races. This is because on average the slower course was closer to 1 second slower making it hard for any racer who randomly drew and raced the fast course first and the slow course second to win their heat. “Regardless of the outcome of the races you cannot deny they are entertaining.”
Men’s and Women’s Parallel
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1861995587913
Team Parallel
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1862662211546
Canada placed 7th
Both the Men’s and Women’s GS races showcased a lot of amazing skiing on challenging hills and surfaces. Hard snow with lots of turns all the way to the both, on the pitches and flats.
Men’s Giant Slalom
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1862904899838
Winning run
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1863710787818
Women’s Giant Slalom , super close race!
1st run
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1863195715562
Women’s Giant Slalom
2nd run
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1863243843543
Cassidy Gray 23rd
Men’s Slalom
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1862911043659
Winning run
Women’s Slalom
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1862909507810
Winning run by the best skier of the day!
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1864090691931
Laurence St. Germain 17th
Ali nullmeyer 24th
Amelia Smart 27th
Extra Training Days | Available Thursdays-Saturday | Registration Opens on Sunday late afternoon and Closes Tuesdays at midnight
Extra training days are available as below and are subject to availability. Pricing U12-U14 $75/day and U16-U21 $80/day.
❖ U12 Sunday Athletes can sign up for Fridays and/or Saturdays
❖ U12 Core Athletes can sign up for Fridays
❖ U14-U21 Core Athletes can sign up for Thursdays and/or Fridays
❖ U14-U21 Core Plus Athletes can sign up for Thursdays
World Cup Corner by Roman Torn
World Championships , Cortina d’Ampezzo
The next two weeks the town and resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo will be showcasing the 46th World Championships. Unlike winter Olympics which are every 4 years, in ski racing World Championships are held every two years with Men and women generally racing at the same venue and sometimes on the same hill. This can create interesting dynamics for men and women racers and organizers. This year Women have the luxury of being very familiar with the course as they race annually World Cup speed events at Cortina most years. The last time there was a men’s World Cup DH at Cortina was 31 years ago. Makes me feel really old, as I raced in the last men’s DH on this hill in 1990.
Another key point that should be known is, similar to Olympics there is a maximum of four athletes per nation per event participating in the World Championships. Along with the added pressure that this high profile event places on the top contenders, the opportunity for athletes that normally would run further back in World Cups produces exciting races and sometimes surprise results.
Men’s Super G
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1858921539536
Great race. Lots of drama and a good example of a course that played massive head games with some of the best skiers in the world. Best skier ended up winning but with some surprises at the top of the leader board. Won’t ruin it but make sure you watch Brodie Seger #28 at 1:21:45. James Crawford had a strong finish with a 14th finish, with Jeffery Reid 18th.
Women’s Super G
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1858852931881
Good solid race. The return of Michela Shiffrin to skiing a speed event for the first time this year. Another strong showing for Marie Michele Gagnon coming in 6th.
Men’s Downhill
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1860812867761
Not as exciting a race as the Super G. On top, a Super G course stuffed into a downhill with everyone doing their best to adapt. Very close race for the podium. Canadian James Crawford with the top finish at 21st, Jeffrey Reid 26th and Broderick Thompson 29th.
Women’s Downhill
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1860419139527
Cleanest turns won the race with the tuck turns on the flats making the difference for the winner. Marie Michele Gagnon a respectable 13th.
Men’s Combined SGS / Slalom
Amazing skiing from James Crawford, starting near the back of the pack to win the Super G segment. Confidence, early pressure and letting it run with a light touch gave him the time to beat going into the slalom segment of the combined. Watch at 1:17.22 . Strong skiing from the other Canadians as well in the SGS.
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1861222467664
Men’s Combined Slalom
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1861308995512
Slalom skiers take over for a single run on the short skis. Watch James Crawford starting #1 make great slalom turns and a run that earns him a fantastic 4th place just off the overall podium in the combined. Other Canadians Trevor Phillip finished a respectable 10th , Broderick Thompson 11th , with Jeffrey Reid 22nd .
Women’s Combined Slalom
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1861272131557
Michela showed she is still one of the best overall skiers in the world, standing on the top of the podium after a very solid run of slalom in very icy conditions that made the relatively flat course a challenge for the others. Unfortunately no Canadians finished both runs.
Nancy Greene-Nat Bosa Award | Application deadline February 28
Nancy Greene – Nat Bosa Bursary: Nancy Greene played an instrumental role in starting the Blackcomb Ski and Snowboard Club (which merged into WMSC) and in supporting the Canadian junior skier development program. Nancy has continued to be a great supporter of ski racing in Canada over the years. Nat Bosa and his companies have provided the Whistler Mountain Ski Club and the Blackcomb Ski and Snowboard Club with financial assistance for the construction of both ski cabins and have continued to support WMSC and our athletes over the years.
To recognize the tremendous contributions of Nancy and Nat in support of ski racing in Whistler the Whistler Mountain Ski Club created the Nancy Greene/Nat Bosa Bursary. These funds are intended to contribute towards coaching fees, travel expenses, equipment costs and other expenses related to the development of our ski racers. To qualify an athlete must be active in a Club program (U18/U21, U16, U14, U12), BC Team or National Team. The Board of Directors has appointed a committee to administer the Bursary and athletes should submit their requests, in confidence, to the committee by the end of February. Awards are announced in March and funds applied to the recipient’s racer account. Award criteria include perceived financial need, program costs, the athlete’s character and skill level, and parental volunteerism.
Apply to bursaries@wmsc.info. The deadline is February, 28.
Extra Training Days | Available Thursdays-Saturday | Registration Opens on Sunday late afternoon and Closes Tuesdays at midnight
Extra training days are available as below and are subject to availability. Pricing U12-U14 $75/day and U16-U21 $80/day.
❖ U12 Sunday Athletes can sign up for Fridays and/or Saturdays
❖ U12 Core Athletes can sign up for Fridays
❖ U14-U21 Core Athletes can sign up for Thursdays and/or Fridays
❖ U14-U21 Core Plus Athletes can sign up for Thursdays
SIGN UP U12 | U14 | U16 | U21
COVID REMINDER
We appreciate everyone’s efforts in regards to the Daily Health Checks and wish to remind all our racers that they need to continue to be diligent with their mask wearing – up over their noses!
E-News: Nancy Greene-Nat Bosa Award | Application deadline February 28
Nancy Greene-Nat Bosa Award | Application deadline February 28
Nancy Greene – Nat Bosa Bursary: Nancy Greene played an instrumental role in starting the Blackcomb Ski and Snowboard Club (which merged into WMSC) and in supporting the Canadian junior skier development program. Nancy has continued to be a great supporter of ski racing in Canada over the years. Nat Bosa and his companies have provided the Whistler Mountain Ski Club and the Blackcomb Ski and Snowboard Club with financial assistance for the construction of both ski cabins and have continued to support WMSC and our athletes over the years.
To recognize the tremendous contributions of Nancy and Nat in support of ski racing in Whistler the Whistler Mountain Ski Club created the Nancy Greene/Nat Bosa Bursary. These funds are intended to contribute towards coaching fees, travel expenses, equipment costs and other expenses related to the development of our ski racers. To qualify an athlete must be active in a Club program (U18/U21, U16, U14, U12), BC Team or National Team. The Board of Directors has appointed a committee to administer the Bursary and athletes should submit their requests, in confidence, to the committee by the end of February. Awards are announced in March and funds applied to the recipient’s racer account. Award criteria include perceived financial need, program costs, the athlete’s character and skill level, and parental volunteerism.
Apply to bursaries@wmsc.info . The deadline is February, 28.
World Cup Corner | By Roman Torn
With the World Championships next week, it was a light weekend of racing with only Men’s DH and SGS taking place at Garmish. Women had the weekend off.
Racing on a shortened course due to very mild temperatures and soft conditions made conditions tough for all, especially later numbers. This course is deceivingly tough with the last left corner before the finishing stretch being a good indicator of who has any legs left.
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1854666307830
Tough day for the Canadians running in the back with WMSC’s Broderick Thompsen pulling out the best finish coming 32 just out of the points starting way back in 54th. Good effort considering the conditions. Others started 43,44,48.
Winning run, super solid, very strong outside ski.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtmIB0O4rE0
Don’t usually show crashes but this is great example of a racer that walked away from a fall thanks to netting doing exactly what it was supposed to do. This is what you do not want to do just before a jump.
Joseph Ferstel, Germany
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1854603843530
The Super G the next day saw another day where soft conditions made it challenging for late starters to contend. Good day racing though for WMSC’s James Crawford and Brodie Seger coming in 19th and 21st respectively . Brodie starting 38th was one of the only later numbers to come in the points. Watch this really solid run at 1:33:44. Broderick Thompsen once again coming 32.
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1855449667985
Winning run by the SGS points leader.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW22o9fCO8E
Extra Training Days | Available Thursdays-Saturday | Registration Opens on Sunday late afternoon and Closes Tuesdays at midnight
Extra training days are available as below and are subject to availability. Pricing U12-U14 $75/day and U16-U21 $80/day.
❖ U12 Sunday Athletes can sign up for Fridays and/or Saturdays
❖ U12 Core Athletes can sign up for Fridays
❖ U14-U21 Core Athletes can sign up for Thursdays and/or Fridays
❖ U14-U21 Core Plus Athletes can sign up for Thursdays
SIGN UP U12 | U14 | U16 | U21
January 2021 Update
Here we are end of January and, all things considered, we are having a solid season thus far! Our holiday camps were well attended, and the skiing has been excellent vs. a year ago. The report from the coaches and what I have witnessed myself on the mountain, we are seeing tremendous development at all levels both free skiing and gate training. There certainly has been no shortage of free skiing which goes a long way in promoting excellence in our fundamentals. Great skiers become great racers!
I want to say a big thank you again to WB for providing the new snow making equipment towards the finish. It has been a great improvement and Dale is working closely with grooming and the snow making crew to create some of the best training conditions we have seen in years. Thanks Dale!!
We have had a new member zoom call and ski around which were well attended. Thanks to Carmine Boskovich for organizing this. These events were a big success and a great opportunity for member engagement in these COVID-challenged times. We plan on hosting these new member ski arounds several times, along with a Level One Officials Zoom Course, over the next 4-6 weeks. Keep your eye out for more details to come!
Event Update
As everyone understands, our scheduled racing events have been put on hold until the public health restrictions are eased and BC Alpine gets the go ahead to execute races. We still have in the schedule a possible FIS series in March and a scaled down Whistler Cup for April (ap 15-18). In the event that restrictions are lifted and we are permitted to host other cancelled races, we will try to fit these events in March and early April. In the meantime we will continue to provide timed training opportunities and other unique on hill environments for our athletes.
Other News
XC Saturdays have been a terrific success and we anticipate other opportunities at Olympic Park
We had several of our WMSC Alumni home for an extended period of time (Nov – Jan) which allowed our next generation of racers to witness these athletes train. This was a big hit and thanks to those that contributed!!
Thanks also to Roman Thorn who is now providing World Cup video each week in our e-news. We certainly hope you have witnessed the WMSC Alum on the world stage, so proud!!
Midyear athlete reports will be coming your way mid Feb.
COVID-19
As I am sure you are aware, Whistler is currently seeing a surge in positive COVID tests. We are very fortunate to have one of the few ski racing programs in operation in Canada right now. We must all do everything we can to preserve this incredible opportunity the club has in these challenging times. We therefore ask that now more than ever, you and your families vigorously follow the daily health checks and remind the kids that we must be COVID diligent at all times, even when they are no longer under our care on the mountain.
Finally, during these times, I wanted to remind the membership and athletes of our Teamship Values and provide an examples of how they are relevant right now -
Excellence in Behaviour – Follow the public health guidelines to the best of your ability, on hill and off. Wear your mask and excel in lift line etiquette!
Excellence in Effort – Even though we are unable to race, make the most of the training opportunities you have this year. Many athletes have no training opportunities right now.
Excellence in Communication – Be actively supportive of teammates who are setting a good example and most importantly, if you are not feeling well, let people know.
Excellence in Reputation – Show leadership in setting a good public health example with your teammates, your coaches, WB staff and the skiing public. Say thank you.
Stay safe and make the most of the incredible opportunity we have to be in this spectacular mountain playground!!!
Regards,
Bob
January 2021 Update
Here we are end of January and, all things considered, we are having a solid season thus far! Our holiday camps were well attended, and the skiing has been excellent vs. a year ago. The report from the coaches and what I have witnessed myself on the mountain, we are seeing tremendous development at all levels both free skiing and gate training. There certainly has been no shortage of free skiing which goes a long way in promoting excellence in our fundamentals. Great skiers become great racers!
I want to say a big thank you again to WB for providing the new snow making equipment towards the finish. It has been a great improvement and Dale is working closely with grooming and the snow making crew to create some of the best training conditions we have seen in years. Thanks Dale!!
We have had a new member zoom call and ski around which were well attended. Thanks to Carmine Boskovich for organizing this. These events were a big success and a great opportunity for member engagement in these COVID-challenged times. We plan on hosting these new member ski arounds several times, along with a Level One Officials Zoom Course, over the next 4-6 weeks. Keep your eye out for more details to come!
Event Update
As everyone understands, our scheduled racing events have been put on hold until the public health restrictions are eased and BC Alpine gets the go ahead to execute races. We still have in the schedule a possible FIS series in March and a scaled down Whistler Cup for April (ap 15-18). In the event that restrictions are lifted and we are permitted to host other cancelled races, we will try to fit these events in March and early April. In the meantime we will continue to provide timed training opportunities and other unique on hill environments for our athletes.
Other News
XC Saturdays have been a terrific success and we anticipate other opportunities at Olympic Park
We had several of our WMSC Alumni home for an extended period of time (Nov – Jan) which allowed our next generation of racers to witness these athletes train. This was a big hit and thanks to those that contributed!!
Thanks also to Roman Thorn who is now providing World Cup video each week in our e-news. We certainly hope you have witnessed the WMSC Alum on the world stage, so proud!!
Midyear athlete reports will be coming your way mid Feb.
COVID-19
As I am sure you are aware, Whistler is currently seeing a surge in positive COVID tests. We are very fortunate to have one of the few ski racing programs in operation in Canada right now. We must all do everything we can to preserve this incredible opportunity the club has in these challenging times. We therefore ask that now more than ever, you and your families vigorously follow the daily health checks and remind the kids that we must be COVID diligent at all times, even when they are no longer under our care on the mountain.
Finally, during these times, I wanted to remind the membership and athletes of our Teamship Values and provide an examples of how they are relevant right now -
Excellence in Behaviour – Follow the public health guidelines to the best of your ability, on hill and off. Wear your mask and excel in lift line etiquette!
Excellence in Effort – Even though we are unable to race, make the most of the training opportunities you have this year. Many athletes have no training opportunities right now.
Excellence in Communication – Be actively supportive of teammates who are setting a good example and most importantly, if you are not feeling well, let people know.
Excellence in Reputation – Show leadership in setting a good public health example with your teammates, your coaches, WB staff and the skiing public. Say thank you.
Stay safe and make the most of the incredible opportunity we have to be in this spectacular mountain playground!!!
Regards,
Bob
