Alpine Canada Alpin announced this week a 14-member team to represent Canada at the 2003 World Junior Alpine ski Championships at Serre Chevalier, France.
Skiers from Quebec and the National Alpine Training Centre dominated the team selection, but a couple of racers with the B.C. Ski Team, including a former skier with the Whistler Mountain Ski Club, will represent Canada.
The team was selected based on results, but with an emphasis on recruiting a mix of veterans and newcomers.
"This combination of veterans and new racers who qualified out of provincial teams should allow a great deal of experience to be transferred to younger athletes," explains Mike Gartner, the newly appointed vice-president of the Canadian development program for Alpine Canada Alpin.
"Coming out of a successful senior World Championships in Switzerland, its important within our Podium 2010 strategy to determine where Canada sits in terms of junior depth in the world."
The womens team will be led by Kelly VanderBeek, 19, of Kitchener, Ontario. She raced for Canada at the World Championships in Switzerland, and is participating in her third junior world championship. She won bronze last year.
Christina Lustenberger of Invermere, B.C. clinched her spot with a gold medal performance in the super G at the Pontiac GMC Canadian Junior Championships at Le Massif, Quebec, on Feb. 17.
Also for B.C., former Whistler racer Manuel Osborne-Paradis of North Vancouver was consistently among the top racers in the junior championships, finishing sixth in the super G and GS, and fifth in the slalom.
World Junior Team
Women
Brigitte Acton, Sault Ste Marie ON., Mt. Tremblant Ski Club (MTSC)
Emilie Desforges, Dorval QC, MTSC
Sherry Lawrence, Calgary AB, National Alpine Training Centre (NATC)
Christina Lustenberger, Invermere BC, Windermere Ski Club
Sophie Splawinski, Montreal QC, MTSC
Kelly VanderBeek, Kitchener ON, Chicopee Ski Club
Men
Cameron Barnes, Canmore AB, Banff Alpine Racers (BAR)
Francois Bourque, New Richmond QC, St. Rouges Ski Club
John Kucera, Calgary AB, Calgary Alpine Racing Club
Manuel Osborne-Paradis, North Vancouver BC, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Gareth Sine, Calgary AB, NATC
Brad Spence, Calgary AB, NATC
Paul Stutz, Banff AB, BAR
Nick Zoricic, Toronto ON, Craigleith Ski Club