Canada announces alpine team

The Canadian Alpine Ski Team was officially announced today (Oct. 26) by Alpine Canada Alpin at the Panasonic Theatre in Toronto, Ontario.

The 25-member team is led by 19 Olympians including five World Cup winners and three FIS World Championships medalists. Heading the list is defending World cup super G title holder Erik Guay

Guay and Manuel Osborne-Paradis combined last season to win four World Cup races, the most victories for Canada in one season since 1984. John Kucera, the 2009 World downhill champion, is progressing toward a return to snow after suffering a leg injury last season. Michael Janyk, another 2009 World Championship medalist (bronze slalom), leads a deep men’s technical team while sister Britt Janyk, a World Cup race winner in 2007, will provide a veteran presence to a young Canadian women’s alpine team.

“We have a talented and motivated group of top athletes that are just entering their prime in terms of ski racing experience,” said Patrick Riml, in his first season as athletic director after two seasons as women’s head coach. “Our men’s speed team has proven themselves in the last few years as being very capable of competing for podium spots week in and week out,” he added. “Then we have some younger athletes that will be challenging for World Cup spots through Nor-Am competition and we also have some key athletes who are working hard to return to snow after injuries. They are working with some of the top medical professionals and training staff in the country to return to the World Cup as strong as ever,” Riml said.

The World Cup season official got underway over the weekend in Solden, AUT. The upcoming season is highlighted by the 2011 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships taking place in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany from February 8 to 20.

The Bombardier Lake Louise Winterstart in November and December will bring the top ski racers in the world back to Canada for the first time since the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

“This is a significant year for Canadian ski racing off the snow as we focus our attention on pursuing the resources required for our athletes to be successful,” said ACA President Max Gartner. “Our corporate partners have done a tremendous job, helping boost alpine ski racing in Canada to new heights with the most successful Olympic cycle in our history, producing World Championship medalists and a Crystal Globe winner.”

“Today we applaud the efforts of our partners and look forward to continuing our success on the slopes with the team unveiled today. And off the slopes with our valued partners,” Gartner said.

Canada’s able-bodied and para-alpine ski teams completed last season with 22 World Cup victories, and 44 World Cup podiums.

The alpine team finished the 2009/2010 season with four World Cup victories and eight World Cup podiums, including an impressive three top 3 results in Lake Louise. Guay also became the first Canadian since Steve Podborski in 1982 to win a discipline title, winning the men’s super-G Crystal Globe on the final day of competition.

The Canada Ski Cross Team will be announced next month while Canada’s Para-Alpine Ski Team was announced earlier this season.

CANADIAN ALPINE SKI TEAM
 
Men’s Team (residence/ski club)
Francois Bourque – L’Ange Gardien, QC (Pin Rouge)
Dustin Cook – Lac Sainte Marie, QC (Mont Ste-Marie)
Julien Cousineau – Lachute, QC (Mont-Tremblant)
Robbie Dixon – Whistler, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Erik Guay – Mont-Tremblant, QC (Mont-Tremblant)
Kelby Halbert – Bradford, ON (Toronto Ski Club)
Louis-Pierre Helie – Berthierville, QC (Mont-Ste-Anne)
Jan Hudec – Calgary, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)
Michael Janyk – Whistler, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
John Kucera – Calgary, AB (Calgary Alpine Racing Club)
Tyler Nella – Toronto, ON (Georgian Peaks)
Manuel Osborne-Paradis – Vancouver, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Jean-Philippe Roy – Ste-Flavie, QC / Gatineau, QC (Mont-Comi)
Brad Spence – Calgary, AB (NATC – Team Panorama)
Trevor White – Calgary, AB (NATC – Fortress Alpine Ski Team)
 
Women’s Team (residence/ski club)
Marie-Michele Gagnon – Lac-Etchemin, QC (Mont Orignal)
Anna Goodman – Pointe Claire, QC (Mont-Tremblant)
Britt Janyk – Whistler, BC (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Kelly McBroom – Canmore, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)
Erin Mielzynski – Guelph, ON (Georgian Peaks Ski Club)
Brittany Phelan – Mont Tremblant, QC (Mont-Tremblant Ski Club)
Marie-Pier Prefontaine – Saint-Sauveur, QC (Club Chanteclerc)
Eve Routhier – Sherbrooke, QC (Mont Orford)
Kelly VanderBeek – Kitchener, ON (Chicopee Ski Club)
Larisa Yurkiw – Owen Sound, ON (Georgian Peaks Ski Club)