Canada alpine targets more depth, podiums in 2008

The largest-ever Canadian ski team, anchored by two World Cup champions from last season as well as World Championships silver medalist Jan Hudec, will be looking to build off of last season’s record-setting performance as Canada hosts 10 World Cup alpine races in 2007-08.
THE LARGEST-EVER Canadian alpine ski team, anchored by two World Cup champions from last season as well as World Championships silver medalist Jan Hudec, will be looking to build off of last season’s record-setting performance as Canada hosts 10 World Cup alpine races in 2007-08.
    With the 44 ski racers on the roster, the Canadian team has set a goal of achieving 14 World Cup podium performances and a fifth-place finish in the Nations Cup standings this season. The team finished sixth in the standings last season.
    “We have increased the size of the Canadian team dramatically this year thanks to increased corporate support and funding from Own the Podium,” said Alpine Canada Alpin CEO Ken Read.
    “This is the year to build competitive depth within our team as we prepare for the 2009 World Championships and the 2010 Games, especially as the rest of the world keeps raising the competitive bar each and every year,” said Max Gartner, ACA’s chief athletics officer and director of Own the Podium projects.
    The Canadian team will be led by last season’s World Cup winners Erik Guay and John Kucera along with World Cup medalists Emily Brydon, Kelly VanderBeek, Michael Janyk, François Bourque and Manny Osborne-Paradis.
The team also includes 12 new faces – eight newcomers named to the women’s 2010 acceleration team and four newcomers to the men’s development team. These groups will focus on gaining experience against tough international competition.
    “We had unbelievable training this off-season and I believe spending as much time as we did training in Canada at Camp Green on Farnham Glacier will be a tremendous benefit to us as the season progresses. I believe we have a solid core of athletes who are focused on our goal to be the best,” said ACA Alpine Director Dusan Grasic.
    This World Cup season will also be highlighted by a record 10 races in Canada.
    In Lake Louise, where they have been hosting World Cup races since 1989, the speed season will get under way Nov. 24-25 with the men’s downhill and super G, while the women’s downhill and super G are scheduled for Dec. 1-2.
    World Cup alpine ski racing returns to Panorama, B.C., for the first time since 1992 with women’s giant slalom and slalom races Nov. 24-25.
    Whistler will then host the women for downhill and super combined and the Men in the super G and giant slalom from Feb. 21-24, 2008.

The 2007-08 Canadian Alpine Ski Team

SENIOR MEN – RESIDENCE (SKI CLUBS)
Scott Barrett – Toronto, ON (Osler Bluff Ski Club)
Patrick Biggs – Orleans, ON (Ottawa Ski Club)
François Bourque – New Richmond, QC (Pin Rouge)
Julien Cousineau – Lachute, QC (Mont-Tremblant)
Robbie Dixon – North Vancouver, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Jeffrey Frisch – Mont-Tremblant, QC (Mont Tremblant)
Erik Guay – Mont-Tremblant, QC (Mont-Tremblant)
Stefan Guay – Mont-Tremblant, QC (Mont-Tremblant)
Jan Hudec – Calgary, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)
Michael Janyk – Whistler, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
John Kucera – Calgary, AB (Calgary Alpine Racing Club)
Manuel Osborne-Paradis – Vancouver, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Jean-Philippe Roy – Ste-Flavie, QC / Gatineau, QC (Mont-Comi)
Ryan Semple – Montréal, QC (Mont-Tremblant)
Gareth Sine – Calgary, AB (NATC – Kananaskis Alpine Ski Club)
Brad Spence – Calgary, AB (NATC – Team Panorama)
Paul Stutz – Banff, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)

CAST INVITEE – MEN – RESIDENCE (SKI CLUBS)
Trevor White – Calgary, AB (NATC – Fortress Alpine Ski Team)

CANADIAN MEN’S DEVELOPMENT TEAM – RESIDENCE (SKI CLUBS)
Dustin Cook – Lac Sainte Marie, QC (Mont Ste-Marie)
Travis Dawson – Calgary, AB (NATC – Fernie)
Louis-Pierre Hélie – Berthierville, QC (Mont-Ste-Anne)
Brady Leman – Calgary, AB (Calgary Alpine Race Club)
Tyler Nella – Toronto, ON (Georgian Peaks)
Patrick Wright – Oakville, ON (Snow Valley)

SENIOR LADIES – RESIDENCE (SKI CLUBS)
Brigitte Acton – Mont-Tremblant, QC (Mont-Tremblant)
Emily Brydon – Fernie, BC (Fernie Snow Valley Racers)
Emilie Desforges – Montréal, QC (Mont-Tremblant)
Allison Forsyth – Nanaimo, BC (Mt. Washington)
Marie-Michèle Gagnon – Lac-Etchemin, QC (Mont Orignal)
Britt Janyk – Whistler, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Sherry Lawrence – Calgary, AB (NATC – Kananaskis Alpine Ski Club)
Christina Lustenberger – Invermere, BC (Windermere Ski Club)
Shona Rubens – Canmore, AB (Lake Louise / Sunshine Ski Club)
Geneviève Simard – Val-Morin, QC (Montcalm (Val-St-Côme)
Kelly VanderBeek – Kitchener, ON (Chicopee Ski Club)
Larisa Yurkiw – Owen Sound, ON (Georgian Peaks Ski Club)

CAST INVITEES – LADIES – RESIDENCE (SKI CLUBS)
Anna Goodman – Pointe Claire, QC (Mont-Tremblant)
Gail Kelly – Ste-Anges de Beauce, QC (Le Relais)
Megan Ryley – Toronto, ON (Craigleith Ski Club)
Danielle Poleschuk – Calgary, AB (Fernie Alpine Ski Team)

LADIES 2010 ACCELERATION TEAM – RESIDENCE (SKI CLUBS)
Marie-Élaine Lépine – St-Colomban,QC (Mont Tremblant)
Kelly McBroom – Canmore, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)
Alexandra Parker – Calgary, AB (Sunshine Ski Club)
Eve Routhier – Sherbrooke, QC (Mont Orford)
Kate Ryley – Toronto, ON (Craigleith Ski Club)
Kelsey Serwa – Kelowna, BC (Big White Racers)
Georgia Simmerling – West Vancouver, BC (Grouse Tyee Ski Club)
Elli Terwiel – Heffley Creek, BC (Sun Peaks Alpine Club)
Marie-Pier Préfontaine – St-Sauveur, QC (Club Chantecler)