Currie Chapman has hit the ground running as the new program
director for the Whistler Mountain Ski Club, launching new programs while
making sure the club’s high-performance athletes get off to an early start on
the snow. Ensuring that the club benefits from the 2010 Games is also a
priority, and Chapman is confident that the club will see that when all the
decisions are made.
“We’d like to get going on snow here, it’s starting to get a
little late, but we have a small team that went to Europe to train at Bormio…
and a group of 19 athletes that went to Colorado,” he said last week. “We’re in
contact with the coaches and they’re getting in some good training in both
places. In Bormio they’re actually training with the Italian team, so that’s an
incredible opportunity for the young racers.”
The Bormio crew includes some of the older club members, aged
18 to 20, while the crew in Copper Mountain, Colorado from Nov. 7 to 16 were
accompanied by four coaches and a cook, and training both GS and slalom.
You may have also seen a group of kids running around Creekside
recently, with athletes getting in some last minute dryland training before the
snow flies. The club held its dryland testing day in North Vancouver on Nov. 9
to assess the overall fitness of racers.
Chapman says the club’s J1, J2 and FIS athletes have been
training through the summer for the most part, and other programs have been
held for the younger kids. The goal is not just to podium at the regional and
provincial level, but at the national level as well.
The Canadian Alpine Ski Team currently has four WMSC alumni,
siblings Britt and Mike Janyk, Robbie Dixon, and Manuel Osborne-Paradis. The
B.C. Ski Team currently has three WMSC alumni, brothers Conrad and Morgan
Pridy, and Victoria Whitney.
Currie is a veteran with over 35 years of experience competing
and coaching, and was hired to replace Nigel Cooper after last season. One of
the projects that Chapman inherited was working with Whistler-Blackcomb and
VANOC to secure Olympic legacies for alpine skiing in Whistler. That may mean a
dedicated training facility on Whistler Mountain, equipment, training for
volunteers and officials, and beds in the athletes’ village for skiers visiting
from outside Whistler.
“We’re still very much working on that, but it’s a bit quiet at
the moment because we’re waiting for the powers that be to settle a few things
before we really get into the topic of legacies,” he said. “I can say that both
(VANOC and Whistler-Blackcomb) have been very supportive, and that it’s looking
very good, and we’re certainly hoping that we get a wonderful legacy, and a
dedicated training area for years to come.”
Another legacy that looks like it’s going to come to fruition
is the opportunity for WMSC skiers to participate in the alpine events at the
2010 Games as volunteers. Previously, you needed to be 19 or older by Sept. 1,
2008 to volunteer at Olympic events, but VANOC is allowing some younger volunteers
to apply to get clubs involved.
“We’re definitely trying to get our kids involved, and we have
to commend VANOC for working to allow youth to participate in some way within
the Games. I think it’s all going to come about,” said Chapman. “It’s just a
matter of figuring out the logistics and risk management side of things, and
then I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to have a large part of our membership
involved, parents, kids, and FIS-aged kids who will be able to volunteer inside
the fence.”
Another priority for the WMSC this year is hosting the B.C. ski
cross program, which will be affiliated with the Canadian National Skier X
Team. Greg Frechette was hired as the head coach, and has already signed a
dozen skiers between the ages of 15 and 20.
“Basically this year it’s more of a program and not so much an
elite team,” said Frechette. “Basically anyone 15 or older that applies is
eligible. What we’re trying to do is start at the grass roots, get kids
introduced to the sport, and get them training specifically for it.”
Frechette says the ski cross-specific training includes time on
ski cross courses in Whistler and possibly Cypress, time in the terrain park
getting used to air and terrain features, and big mountain skiing where skiers
have to make quick decisions to keep their flow.
“There’s a misconception that all ski cross athletes come from
alpine skiing, and that’s not the case,” said Frechette. “A lot of them are
park skiers, or big mountain skiers. Aleisha Cline was a big mountain skier,
for example, and she’s one of the fastest women in the world in ski cross.”
The team will compete in three or more events this year,
including both Atomic Cross races in Whistler, plus an event at Red Mountain,
and possibly others in the Okanagan.
Right now other alpine clubs don’t have ski cross programs, but
that is the goal said Frechette.
“Right now there are not a lot of racers at the club level, but
that’s going to change because of what’s happening at the resort level where
mountains are starting to put in tracks and keep them there for the whole
winter,” he said. “There’s one at Big White, Sun Peaks is talking about it,
there’s the 2010 course at Cypress, the one on Blackcomb — more and more
every year. The biggest hurdle for ski cross programs has been venues, and once
those are in it will be much easier to develop the sport at the club level.”
Registration is still open for the program. All athletes need
to take part is a full-face helmet, a spine protector and a good set of giant
slalom race skis.
“Right now our oldest racer is 20, but with the Olympics right
around the corner it’s not realistic to imagine any of these kids in 2010,
although a few will definitely be trying,” he said. “These kids are on a path
for 2014, 2018.”
This is the 40
th
anniversary for the WMSC, which is
hosting a variety of events to celebrate this milestone. Last Friday they held
a Ruby Anniversary dinner and auction to raise money for programs, inviting
former WMSC athlete, recent WMSC coach, and the current coach for the women’s
alpine speed team Rob Boyd as a guest speaker.
On Dec. 20, the WMSC is hosting an Alumni Members Reunion. More information is posted at www.wmsc.info.
