New ski academy in British Columbia accepting applications{mosimage}The Red Mountain Racers Ski Academy is now open and accepting applications and it will begin operations on December 12, 2005.

The academy, a partnership between one of the most successful race programs in Canada, an award winning school and western Canada's original 'big mountain' ski resort, has the goal of developing young athletes into champion ski racers. By capitalizing on the strengths of each of the partners this academy intends to challenge the best programs in the world for Ski Racing Gold and academic success.

'We are being realistic when we say we can win' states head coach Sean Valentine. 'There are years of success here that we can capitalize on including Olympic and World Cup Medal wins.'

The Racers from Red have won 2 Olympic gold medals, one Olympic silver medal, two World Cup titles, 27 World Cup medals and one World Junior Championship gold medal. Thirty-eight of its alumni have raced for either the Canadian or U.S. national ski teams and 13 have raced at the Olympics.

Bernie Hofmann, the District Principal for SD20 added, 'There were a number of years of discussion about how a ski academy could benefit student athletes. Our schools have been successfully supporting these kids for all this time. Now we've come up with a better model where the athletes ski in the morning and go to school in the afternoon. We're using the latest teaching techniques and technology. Even while they are on the road racing they are accessing their studies online and working with their teachers.'