Lötscher named head coach of Canadian women's development team

Lötscher named head coach of Canadian women’s development team{mosimage}CALGARY, Alberta (May 17, 2005) – Max Gartner, Chief Athletic Officer for Alpine Canada Alpin, announced today that Carlo Alexander Lötscher will bring his extensive World Cup and Europa Cup experience to the women of Canada’s Development team in their efforts to become the best in the world.

“Last season, our women’s program gained great momentum with Geneviève Simard, Allison Forsyth, and Emily Brydon clinching World Cup medals,” explained Gartner, adding, “But we are continually looking for ways to increase our successes and to do so, we must continue to ensure that our athletes are provided with the necessary resources to be competitive at the senior and development levels.”

“With Carlo joining our team, we will be able to support our development team in its quest for sustainable success,” Gartner concluded.

Lötscher, 41, was born in Switzerland where he accumulated more than 20 years of coaching experience. Kickstarting his career with the Swiss Ski Federation in 1989, Lötscher first worked with the men’s World Cup downhill team from 1991 until 1995, before moving to the women’s team from 1998 until 2005.

In his tenure with the Swiss delegation, Lötscher – a fluent German, French, Italian and English speaker – worked with the World Cup speed and technical teams, which participated in the Albertville and Lillehammer Olympics. Lötscher spent the last four years as Head Coach for the Swiss Federation’s women’s Europa Cup program.

Working under the leadership of Hugues Ansermoz, a fellow Swiss citizen who has been with the Canadian Alpine Ski Team since 1997 and who is currently Head Coach for the women’s program, Lötscher will assume the position of Head Coach for the women’s Development Team. He will work in collaboration with Don Lyon, a highly successful figure in the ski-coaching world who is entering his third season as coach of Canada’s National Development Team.

“After more than a decade with the Swiss Team, I am anxious to be starting anew with the talented Canadian Team on building a winning team,” said Lötscher. “I have noticed the Canadians gain more and more momentum on the international stage and I am looking forward to contributing and expediting the athletes’ progression from the development team to the World Cup level. I look forward to working with the athletes in their efforts to shape Canada’s skiing culture and heritage,” concluded Lötscher who will be based in Switzerland throughout the winter.

Lötscher’s first on-snow camp with the women’s development team will be at the end of July in Zermatt (SUI). Until then, both the men’s and women’s team will be involved in intense physical training in preparation for the 2005-06 Olympic season.

-press release