Canada names members of 2004-2005 national team

Canada names members of 2004-2005 national team{mosimage}Calgary, Alta. (May 18, 2004) РThomas Grandi, Genevi̬ve Simard, and Erik Guay Рwho distinguished themselves on the World Cup circuit last season with medal-winning performances Рwill lead the Canadian Alpine Ski Team into the 2004-05 season.

Alpine Canada Alpin announced on Tuesday that 37 elite racers have been named to the 2004-05 Canadian Alpine Ski Team including Grandi, Simard, and Guay, as well as 2004 World Junior Championship medallists Fran̤ois Bourque (bronze Рdownhill and Super G, gold Рcombined), and Manuel Osborne-Paradis (silver РSuper G).

CANADIAN ALPINE SKI TEAM – SENIOR MEN
David Anderson РRossland, BC; Fran̤ois Bourque РNew Richmond, Que.; Julien Cousineau РLachute, Qu̩.; Thomas Grandi РBanff, Alta.; Erik Guay РMont Tremblant, Qu̩.; Jan Hudec РBanff, Alta.; Jeff Hume РWhistler, B.C.; Michael Janyk РWhistler, B.C.; Vincent Lavoie РCap Rouge, Qu̩.; Manuel Osborne-Paradis РVancouver, B.C.; Jean-Philippe Roy РSte-Flavie, Qu̩.; Ryan Semple РSt. Faustin Lac Carr̩, Qu̩.; Brad Spence РCalgary, Alta.

CANADIAN ALPINE SKI TEAM – SENIOR WOMEN
Brigitte Acton РMont Tremblant, Qu̩.; Emily Brydon РFernie, B.C.; Allison Forsyth РNanaimo, B.C.; Britt Janyk РWhistler, B.C.; Gail Kelly РSte-Anges de Beauce, Qu̩.; Anne-Marie Lefran̤ois РCharlesbourg, Qu̩.; Genevi̬ve Simard РVal Morin, Qu̩.; Sophie Splawinski РMontr̩al, Qu̩.; M̩lanie Turgeon РQu̩bec, Qu̩.; Kelly VanderBeek РKitchener, Ont.

Among the five new faces on this year’s team is Guay’s younger brother Stefan. He and fellow-newcomers Patrick Biggs, Trevor White, Jessica Dakers, and Julie Rabnett represented Canada at the 2004 World Junior Championships in Maribor, Slovenia, and were selected to the team based on new criteria, introduced by Alpine Canada Alpin last season, that puts more emphasis on head-to-head competition amongst up-and-coming Canadian racers within the domestic race series. They will be training and competing as part of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team’s development groups.

CANADIAN ALPINE SKI TEAM – MEN’S DEVELOPMENT GROUP
Patrick Biggs РOttawa, Ont.; Stefan Guay РMont Tremblant, Qu̩.; John Kucera РCalgary, Alta.; Paul Stutz РBanff, Alta.; Trevor White РCalgary, Alta.; Nick Zoricic РToronto, Ont.

CANADIAN ALPINE SKI TEAM – WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT GROUP
Jessica Dakers РCalgary, Alta.; Emilie Desforges РDorval, Qu̩.; Jennah Durham РTimmins, Ont.; Anna Goodman РPointe-Claire, Qu̩.; Sherry Lawrence РCalgary, Alta.; Christina Lustenberger РInvermere, B.C.; Julie Rabnett РCalgary, Alta.; Christina Risler РVancouver, B.C.

With last season barely over, the team is already back at work, having completed on-snow training camps in the Canadian Rockies through April and early May at Whistler Mountain in B.C., and Sunshine Village in Alberta.

“This year’s summer training program will really focus on a lot of dryland training,” said Max Gartner, Chief Athletics Officer, Alpine Canada Alpin. “Physical conditioning is playing an increasingly important role in the development of world-class athletes. It is an aspect that Alpine Canada Alpin and the Canadian Alpine Ski Team will be putting a larger focus on as we move forward.”

Working with the team’s conditioning coaches, the athletes have already embarked on their physical conditioning programs, which will run in both eastern and western Canada through the summer months. The athletes will be back on snow in August and September.

Alpine Canada Alpin is the governing body for ski racing in Canada. Its 27,000 members are athletes, coaches and officials, including the elite racers of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team and the Canadian Disabled Alpine Ski Team.