News and Announcements

a Message from Bob Armstrong

Posted by Whistler Mountain Ski Club at Apr 17, 2020 4:43PM PDT ( 0 Comments )
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April 17, 2020

To all Parents, Athletes, Coaches, Volunteers, Sponsors, Alumni and Community Stakeholders.

These are certainly difficult days for everyone, and I therefore do not want to take up much of your valuable time with a long note; other than to say, I look forward to helping the Club through this challenging period and insuring we will have a bright future ahead.

​I do want to say a massive thank you to Mark Tilston for his significant contributions to WMSC over the past 5 years. His stewardship, passion, rigor, experience, and discipline centered on the development of our athletes, coaches and the overall program will be a lasting foundation. We are all very proud to know that Mark will be leading the Canadian Alpine Men’s team and certainly wish him and his wonderful family, Britt, Nina and Tiree, all the best in this new endeavour. We will be watching Mark!

​While I officially start May 1st, I have been working with both Mark and the Executive Committee of the Board to facilitate a seamless transition. Our number one concern at the moment is for the well being of you and your families. Please take good care of one another.

​There are a few updates I want to share with you stemming from my first Executive Committee meeting.

  1. We are very excited to announce that there will be a year end celebration, albeit not in the parking lot with a bbq and a beer. This year, thanks to Conrad Pridy, WMSC will be hosting a virtual awards show. Stay tuned for further details; please add April 25th to your calendar.
  2. The Club will be applying for the appropriate government subsidies both for our not-for- profit organization and wage subsidies for our coaches and key staff.
  3. Regarding potential credits and refunds for our season 2019/20, we will be assessing this once our year- end audit is complete, and we better understand what we qualify for under the current government programs.
  4. Additionally, we will be sending out our annual membership survey, which you can expect to be delivered sometime in May.

Finally, know that the Club and our more than 50 years of “developing champions in life and sport” is well positioned to emerge out the other side of this public health crisis, whenever that may be. We will communicate regularly with you as more information becomes available regarding resumption of normal club activities.

Regards,

Bob

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The Audi 2020 Canadian Ski Racing Votes and Nominations are open for only 2 more days.

Nominate WMSC as the Ski Racing Club of the Year Now! Follow this link to nominate and vote for your athlete, coach, volunteer, Ski Racing club of the year https://alpinecanada.org/awards

Let’s have some good news on this difficult time. Please forward to your friends and family.

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Rob Boyd Bursary Nominations deadline Monday, April 20th

Athletes, if you haven’t nominated a teammate, do it now! Deadline is fast approaching. Please email the WMSC Bursaries Committee at bursaries@wmsc.info

This is the Second Year of The ‘Rob Boyd Bursary’ which is awarded annually, to the next seasons U18 athletes, making current 2nd year U16’s eligible for the award as well.

​1 female and 1 male athlete will be awarded $1000 each, which will be credited towards their WMSC account. In time, as the fund grows, additional bursaries may be awarded.

Candidates should embody the ‘WMSC Teamship Values’ and include (but not limited to):

  • Passion for the sport – ski racing as well as knowledge/skills/desire to ski all aspects of the mountains.
  • Sportsmanship – showing positive attitude, assisting fellow athletes and appreciation for officials/volunteers (on or off the slopes).
  • Be a role model/mentor/ambassador for the sport (yet perhaps have a bit of a wild side?!?).
  • Work ethic – arrive early, stay late (to take one or two more runs – off piste?), show a willingness to assist coaches, collect/transport training equipment and gear when necessary
  • Show potential and desire to be successful in racing, and when appropriate, give back to the sport.

Nominations should be submitted by teammates or coaches directly to the WMSC Bursaries Committee at bursaries@wmsc.info explaining why the individual should be considered for this award. Submissions should be in letter form and include anecdotes or examples that exemplify the individuals’ character and/or actions deserving of recognition and support.

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A quick note to inform you that our 2020-2021 WMSC Bursaries are still taking place.

All 2nd year U16 to U21 Athletes who are enrolling in the WMSC 2020-2021 season are eligible to receive any of the WMSC Bursaries. These are financial awards which can be applied to further your participation in pre-season camps and races. Rob Boyd, Dave Murray and Jordan Schick set an example in the Ski Racing community and it is in this spirit that we are pleased to honor them with these bursaries.

The purpose of the WMSC bursaries is to support, promote, encourage and sponsor WMSC Teamship Values, sportmanship, leadership and passion for ski racing. These bursaries recognize U16 to U21 athletes who exemplify these qualities.

We will be announcing the winners on Saturday, April 25th virtually. Stay tuned!

For specific details and criteria for each bursary, please visit WMSC Awards and Bursaries

Rob Boyd Bursary

Rob Boyd – the first ski racer to win a downhill world cup on home soil. Rob has generously agreed to support a bursary for continuing U18/U21 athletes as well as aspiring 2nd year U16 athletes who are moving into U18/U21. The Rob Boyd Bursary will be awarded to one athlete of each gender in the amount of $1,000 each.

Nominations may be made by teammates or coaches in writing. Athletes, if you train with a friend that embodies the qualities above, please send your nominations now to bursaries@wmsc.info

Nominations should be received by Monday, April 20th

Dave Murray Bursary

Dave Murray is well known as one of the Crazy Canucks! He ski raced in the same hills as our athletes race today. He left us a legacy: The Dave Murray Bursary of $750 and plaque or trophy awarded to one racer, either gender.

Nominations will be made by coaches for 2nd year U16 athletes moving to U18, U18 or U21 racers with financial need, committed to the the sport; that shows athletic ability and potential to rise in alpine ski racing.

Jordan Schick Bursary

Jordan Schick Bursary of $750 and plaque will be awarded to one racer, either gender

The family of Jordan Schick awards this bursary to a racer at WMSC in Jordan’s memory. Jordan lost his life in a car accident while he was a WMSC racer.

Nominations will be made by Coaches and the bursary will be awarded to one racer in the 2nd year U16 moving to U18, U18 or U21 program

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Dear all

​It is with very mixed emotions that I move on from my position with the Whistler Mountain Ski Club. The WMSC is so much more than a ski club. The community that is the club, and the wider communities that the club are involved with have led me to meet and learn from an incredible range of champions in life.

There is no doubt that it is a big ship to steer, yet with the many incredible staff, members, volunteers and partners it has been an incredibly enjoyable and rewarding experience and since day one it has felt like a team effort.

I cannot express enough gratitude and appreciation to all the staff, volunteers and partners who work tirelessly to keep evolving the club, the programmes and the events that we deliver. It would simply be impossible without such great people and I have certainly benefited from the support at every turn. I have learnt an incredible amount from all of you and I endeavour to take the lessons learnt and the enthusiasm to keep learning forwards with me.

This past season has been particularly challenging, and the club has shown its true colours. With the lack of snow at the start of the year, followed by the inundation of snow, health challenges for key staff members and their families and now the Coronavirus, the team has stepped up, rallied and made the very best of every situation.

I have been truly humbled to work with the entire team that we have. From the athletes who turn up every day to make the most of every opportunity and continually give their best, to the coaches who’s enthusiasm and passion for the sport and their tireless efforts in their pursuit of personal excellence and that of their athletes is remarkable.

One area where I have learnt a great deal and built an enormous respect in my time at Whistler Mountain Ski Club is for everything that goes on behind the scenes. The admin staff who work round the clock to make it all happen, the parents who give enormous support to their athletes, the volunteers who get up in the dark to go on hill or the race office and organise everything from lunches to start lists. You are all true champions in life.

I have received a great amount of support and I am incredibly grateful for the guidance from the Executive Committee and the Board of directors over the last years, and none more so than through the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenge and complexities that this has been, and continues to be creating in the world.

Of course, I am delighted that I will be passing the ‘keys’ back to Bob Armstrong when I leave. Bob transitioned me in and the fact that he will transition me back out shows the level of loyalty, knowledge and passion that Bob has, and I know that together with the board the club is in very good hands particularly in these difficult times.

It is never easy to move on from something that you are completely invested in and there would never be a good time to step away, and with the current challenges it makes it even harder. However, I am very reassured in the knowledge that Bob, Blanca and the coaching team, particularly the Lead Coaches and Athletic co-ordinator, Conrad, Drew, Henry, Mat & Richard will continue to develop the club.

I look forwards to watching the team evolve along with the club and the continued development of Champions in Life and Sport in the years to come and you will be hearing from this team directly in the next few days regarding the transition into next season along with initiatives to be taken over the next several months to strengthen the physical & psychological readiness with the technical and tactical understanding.

Finally however, I am incredibly excited about the challenging journey that lies ahead of me, I will maintain contact with the club and look forwards to see you all again soon (whenever we are allowed to interact).

From the bottom of my heart, thank you all.

Your sincerely

Mark Tilston