Canadian national team names 20 alpine athletes for 2015-16

CALGARY, Alberta – Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA) announced the members of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, Canadian Ski Cross Team and the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team for the 2015-16 season on Wednesday. This year’s group of national team members includes Olympic and Paralympic medalists, ‘Canadian Cowboy’ veterans and a promising array of talented athletes, ensuring ongoing international podium success.

“We commend each of the athletes named today for their dedication and commitment, required to meet ACA’s high performance team standard,” said Mark Rubinstein, chief executive officer of Alpine Canada Alpin. “Our roster is stocked with Olympic, Paralympic, World Championship and World Cup winners ensuring that ACA remains a world leading ski nation in all of our disciplines.”

A total of 12 men and eight women (three of whom have been named provisionally, to be confirmed by July 1) make up the alpine team, and they will chase World Cup circuit podium results on the road to the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

Dustin Cook returns to the men’s team following what he has called a “dream season,” winning the super G at World Cup Finals in Meribel, claiming silver in the World Championships super G at Vail-Beaver Creek, and finishing third at the Kvitfjell World Cup. Cook finished the 2014-15 World Cup season ranked a career-best fifth in the super G standings.

Joining Cook are Erik Guay, the most decorated Canadian alpine ski racer of all time, Olympic bronze medalist Jan Hudec, and World Cup veteran Manuel-Osborne Paradis.

The women’s alpine team includes 2015 World Championship silver medalist Erin Mielzynski (nations team event), Marie-Michèle Gagnon and Larisa Yurkiw (second in the 2015 World Cup downhill at Cortina).

The alpine development team selections will be announced on or before May 30, 2015.

Canada’s Ski Cross Team includes some of the sport’s biggest stars – five men and three women were named to the 2015-16 team.

Leading the women’s team are 2014 Olympic gold and silver medalists Marielle Thompson and Kelsey Serwa. They are joined by Georgia Simmerling, who had a breakout 2014 season finishing second at both the Nakiska and Val Thorens World Cup races.

The men’s team will be led by Brady Leman, who finished second at the Megeve World Cup, Chris Del Bosco (first at the 2014 Val Thorens World Cup), multi-podium earner Dave Duncan (first at the 2013 Innichen/San Candido World Cup), Louis-Pierre Hélie and Mathieu Leduc.

Seven athletes round out the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team, made up of four men and three women. Mac Marcoux is the youngest team member, winning an impressive three medals at the Sochi Paralympic Winter Games – one gold (giant slalom) and two bronze (downhill and super G). Kirk Schornstein (2013 Canadian national champion), Braydon Luscombe and Kurt Oatway complete the men’s team. The women’s team includes Kimberly Joines, one of the world’s best female sit-skiers, Erin Latimer and Alana Ramsay.

2015-16 Canadian Alpine Ski Team

Men

• Phil Brown – 09/11/1991 – Toronto, Ont. (Craigleith Ski Club)
• Dustin Cook – 11/02/1989 – Lac-Sainte-Marie, Que. (Mont Ste-Marie)
• Erik Guay – 05/08/1981 – Mont-Tremblant, Que. (Mont Tremblant Ski Club)
• Jan Hudec – 19/08/1981 – Calgary, Alta. (Banff Alpine Racers)
• Morgan Megarry – 26/01/1993 – Collingwood, Ont. (Craigleith Ski Club) **
• Manuel Osborne-Paradis – 08/02/1984 – Vancouver, B.C. (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
• Trevor Philp – 01/05/1992 – Calgary, Alta. (Banff Alpine Racers)
• Morgan Pridy – 09/10/1990 – Whistler, B.C. (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
• Ben Thomsen – 25/08/1987 – Invermere, B.C. (Windermere)
• Broderick Thompson – 19/04/1994 – Whistler, B.C. (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
• Tyler Werry – 22/10/1991 – Calgary, Alta. (Fernie Alpine Ski Team)
• Ford Swette – 31/01/1993 – North Vancouver, B.C. (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) **

Women

• Candace Crawford – 11/04/1994 – Toronto, Ont. (Georgian Peaks Ski Club)
• Marie-Michèle Gagnon – 25/04/1989 – Lac-Etchemin, Que. (Mont Orignal)
• Valérie Grenier – 30/10/1996 – Mont-Tremblant, Que. (Mont Tremblant Ski Club)
• Erin Mielzynski – 25/05/1990 – Guelph, Ont. (Georgian Peaks Ski Club)
• Marie-Pier Préfontaine – 18/10/1988 – St-Sauveur, Que. (Mont Saint-Sauveur)
• Laurence St. Germain – 30/05/1994 – St. Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que  (Mont Ste-Anne) **
• Mikaela Tommy – 10/05/1995 – Wakefield, Que. (Club de ski Edelweiss)
• Larisa Yurkiw – 30/03/1988 – Owen Sound, Ont. (Georgian Peaks Ski Club)

(** provisionally nominated – team status to be confirmed July 1, 2015)

2015-16 Canadian Ski Cross Team

• Chris DelBosco – 30/03/1982 – Vail, USA/Montreal, Que. (Ski & Snowboard Club Vail)
• Dave Duncan – 15/07/1982 – London, Ont. (National Ski Academy)
• Louis-Pierre Hélie – 01/01/1986 – Berthierville, Que. (Mont Ste-Anne)
• Mathieu Leduc – 14/04/1990 – Comox, B.C. (Mount Washington Ski Club)
• Brady Leman – 16/10/1986 – Calgary, Alta. (Calgary Alpine Racing Club)
• Kelsey Serwa – 01/09/1989 – Kelowna, B.C. (Big White Ski Club)
• Georgia Simmerling – 11/03/1989 – West Vancouver, B.C. (Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club)
• Marielle Thompson – 15/06/1992 – Whistler, B.C. (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)

Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team

• Braydon Luscombe – 30/11/1992 – Duncan, B.C. (B.C. Para-Alpine)
• Mac Marcoux (Guide BJ Marcoux) – 20/06/1997 – Sault-Ste Marie, Ont. (Searchmont Ski Runners)
• Kurt Oatway – 03/02/1984 – Calgary, Alta. (Regina Alpine Race Team)
• Kirk Schornstein – 19/03/1993 – Spruce Grove, Alta. (Snow Valley Racing)
• Kimberley Joines – 27/01/1981 – Rossland, B.C. (CADS Alberta)
• Alana Ramsay – 22/12/1994 – Calgary, Alta. (CADS Alberta)
• Erin Latimer – 03/07/1996 – Toronto, Ont. (Craigleith Ski Club)

Release courtesy of ACA