Three more new coaches join ski club this winter
The Whistler Mountain Ski Club announced three new coaches for the coming season, including another alumnus of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team.
Ryan Oughtred, was a member of the national team from 1995 until he announced his retirement in April. This year he will be working with the club’s K2 program for kids aged 13 to14.
For the previous four seasons, the Kelowna native was frustrated by a knee injury that occurred in the Nor Am finals. Surgery and recovery kept him off skis for a year and a half, and although he was proud of his comeback, he never completely recovered.
Prior to the injury, Oughtred won the Nor Am overall giant slalom title in 1997 and was ranked 40 th in GS on the World Cup circuit. After his injury, he raced primarily in Nor Am competitions, where he was consistently in the top 10.
Outghtred currently attends Naturopath College in Vancouver, and this season plans to compete on the new international skiercross circuit, which is on its way to becoming a World Cup discipline. His first skiercross event is at the end of November in Tignes, France.
The WMSC hopes to use Oughtred’s background in skiercross to teach young skiers the ropes in this emerging sport.
Also joining the ski club is Ollie Blake, who will be joining the K1 program as the Assistant Head Coach.
Blake is from Collingwood, Ontario, where he worked with the top K1 group at the competitive Craigleith Ski Club.
"Working at a club that has shown it is committed to the progress of alpine ski racers to the highest levels and working in the mountains all contributed to my interest in the WMSC," said Blake.
In addition to skiing, Blake is an accomplished long-distance runner.
Kelly Holmes of North Bay is also joining the K1 program, after coaching at the younger J4 level.
The club has retained the core of its coaching staff.
Jordan Williams will remain as the Head Coach of the FIS team. His staff includes Brett Macfarlane and Igor Dostal, who spent last season with the B.C. Women’s Ski Team.
Pierre-Luc Drumolin and Rob Boyd will share head coach duties for the K2 programs. Boyd, who is a decorated World Cup and Olympic downhill veteran, joined the team over the summer.
Katie Dunn and Lauren Jones, who grew up skiing in Whistler, will also coach.
Sead Causevic is returning as the head coach for the K1 program, along with coaches Chris McKnight and Natalia Kaltenbruk. In addition, special teams coaches Bob Deeks and Paul Boskovich will be working with the team throughout the season.
"We have great experience and depth within our coaching staff and great leadership by our staff within the profession of coaching in Canada," said program director Nigel Cooper. "All coaches are active members of the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation and the club’s professional development program, one of the most aggressive in the country, ensures that coaches are not just up to date but also leaders amongst their peers."
