Alpine Canada names Kerr, Kristofic to head alpine programs

By Published On: April 12th, 2006Comments Off on Alpine Canada names Kerr, Kristofic to head alpine programs

Alpine Canada names Kerr, Kristofic to head alpine programs{mosimage}CALGARY, Alberta – Still fresh off its best season ever, the Canadian alpine ski team, which accumulated a record 3,060 points in the overall standings, doubled its World Cup medal count from last winter and took three wooden medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics, announced the nomination of Matt Kerr and Paul Kristofic to the positions of team managers for the women’s and men’s teams, respectively.
 
Kerr, from Whistler, began his coaching career with the Whistler Mountain Ski Club in 1996 before integrating the Canadian alpine ski team in 2000 with the women’s development team. He joined the Europa Cup and World Cup technical teams from 2002 to 2006.

In the last two seasons alone, Kerr’s athletes claimed four medals on the World Cup circuit in technical disciplines. Kerr’s new responsibilities will include mapping out training plans, managing resources and providing decisional insight to the coaches for the women’s team.
 
‘I am very excited about continuing to strive for the top step of the podium’ Kerr said. ‘My goals are to continue to supporting the World Cup team by finding the best training possible while also working more closely with the development team to help prepare these athletes for the world stage. We have a great group of committed athletes who have the ability and motivation to succeed now and through to 2010’ he concluded.
 
Kristofic, from Toronto, who began his coaching career with the Ottawa Ski Club and National Capital Division in 1988, joined Alpine Canada Alpin in 1994 in an administrative role while completing a physical education degree from the University of Ottawa.

He was integrated to the coaching staff in 1996 with the men’s technical team until 1998 and then worked with the women’s development team from 1999-2001. More recently, Kristofic coached the men’s World Cup speed team from 2001 to 2006, where five World Cup podiums were clinched by his athletes over the last two winters.

Kristofic’s new responsibilities will include overseeing logistical team needs, planning training programs, supervising resources allocation and supporting coaches in their day to day decisions for the men’s team.
 
‘My goal in this new function is to build on the current momentum to continue delivering superior programs for athletes and staff to be the best and win at every level’ Kristofic said. ‘By combining the very best human and technical resources, we will be able to turn over every rock to make the fastest skiers in the world by 2010 and beyond. We have a young men’s team as well as a committed group of partners which includes equipment suppliers, sponsors, sport scientists, staff, coaches and service personnel. All share a common vision for being the best.  I look forward to working with all these stakeholders as we strive to be number one.’
 
Effective immediately, Kerr and Kristofic will report to Dusan Grasic who was recently nominated to the position of alpine director for the entire Canadian alpine ski team.
 
‘Since joining the Canadian alpine ski team’s coaching staff, Matt and Paul have proven themselves as outstanding leaders within their respective teams’ Grasic said. ‘Their roles will be key in providing outstanding logistical and decisional support to the athletes and coaches from the national development team to the World Cup level. With their global overview of the teams’ operations, they will be able to optimize the training and racing environment while also identifying potential areas of synergies.”
 
While Kerr takes over for women’s head coach Hugues Ansermoz, Kristofic succeeds men’s head coach and World Cup speed coach, Burkhard Schaffer.
 
Ansermoz, a citizen of Switzerland, worked with the Canadian team from 1997 to 2006. After nine successful seasons with the women’s program, Ansermoz is returning to his home country to be closer to his young family and to work with the Swiss ski team.
 
Schaffer, a native of Austria, led the Canadian men’s program from 2001 to 2006. Following the attainment of several objectives, Schaffer is also returning to his home country to pursue new opportunities with the Austrian ski team.
 
‘Over the course of their tenures, Hugues and Burkhard made tremendous contributions to the Canadian alpine ski team and to ski racing in Canada’ admitted Grasic. ‘We wish them all the best in their new positions and we look forward to building on the solid foundations they’ve established over the past years.’
 
Grasic along with Kerr and Kristofic are expected to announce their respective coaching lineups for the speed and technical disciplines in the coming weeks.

– Alpine Canada Alpin

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