Calgary, Alta. (June 11, 2020) – As we enter our 100th season Alpine Canada and the Canadian Alpine Ski Team (CAST) are excited to unveil a revamped multi-tier program offering ahead of the 2020/21 season as athletes begin to prepare for the upcoming World Championship and pre-Olympic year.
Athlete nominations to the team are based on meeting published CAST nomination criteria. The Canadian Alpine Ski Team nominations guidelines are available at AlpineCanada.org.
In total, 15 athletes met A and B level criteria and are named to the World Cup team.
2020-21 Canadian Alpine Ski Team World Cup Team
Cameron Alexander (North Vancouver, B.C./Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
James (Jack) Crawford (Toronto, ON/ Georgian Peaks Ski Club & Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Marie-Michèle Gagnon (Lac-Etchemin, QC/Mont Orignal)
Valérie Grenier (Mont-Tremblant, QC/Club de ski Mont-Tremblant)
Erin Mielzynski (Collingwood, ON/Georgian Peaks Ski Club)
Ali Nullmeyer (Toronto, ON/Georgian Peaks Ski Club)
Manuel Osborne-Paradis (Vancouver, B.C./Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Trevor Philp (Calgary, AB/Banff Alpine Racers)
Erik Read (Canmore, AB/Banff Alpine Racers)
Jeffrey Read (Canmore, AB/Banff Alpine Racers)
Roni Remme (Collingwood, ON/Alpine Ski Club)
Brodie Seger (North Vancouver, B.C./Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Amelia Smart (Invermere, B.C./Panorama Ski Club)
Laurence St-Germain (St. Ferréol-les-Neiges, QC/Club de ski Mont-Ste-Anne)
Broderick Thompson (Whistler, B.C./Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Four athletes have met C level criteria and are named to a Select Group within CAST. These athletes will compete primarily at the Continental Cup level with opportunities to compete on the World Cup based on performance and quota space. The Select Group is a new approach that will have these CAST Team members train and race with a mix of support from the CAST WC Team and the B.C. Ski Team.
2020-21 Canadian Alpine Ski Team (Select Group)
Kyle Alexander (North Vancouver, B.C./Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Asher Jordan (North Vancouver, B.C./ Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Sam Mulligan (Vancouver, B.C. /Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club)
Riley Seger (North Vancouver, B.C./Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
In addition to our World Cup and Select Group of ski racers, Alpine Canada is also happy to recognize a group of athletes to the new CAST NextGen Program. This recognition is based on new criteria that have been approved and supported by all PTSOs. This program recognizes alpine athlete’s performance and potential as ski racers in their journey towards the World Cup team.
The CAST NextGen Program recognizes our next generation of top ski racers. Sport programming will continue to be provided through the athletes PTSO, in coordination with Alpine Canada. These athletes are an important part of the CAST long-term program and we continue to support their development.
2020-21 Canadian Alpine Ski Team NextGen Program
Sarah Bennett (Stoneham, QC/Ski Québec Alpin)
Justine Clément (Bécancour, QC/Ski Québec Alpin, University of Vermont)
Stefanie Fleckenstein (Whistler, BC/University of Colorado, BC Ski Team)
Cassidy Gray (Panorama, B.C./Alberta Ski Team)
Britt Richardson (Canmore, AB/Burke Mountain Academy)
Claire Timmermann (Calgary, AB/Alberta Ski Team)
Marina Villanova (Montréal, QC/Ski Québec Alpin, University of Vermont)
Justin Alkier (Toronto, ON/Ontario Ski Team, Middlebury College)
Jamie Casselman (Cranbrook, B.C./Alberta Ski Team, Montana State University)
Simon Fournier (Montréal, QC/University of Denver)
Declan McCormack (Toronto, ON/Ontario Ski Team, University of Vermont)
Keegan Sharp (Invermere, B.C./Alberta Ski Team, Team Panorama)
More information on the CAST NextGen Program including selection criteria can be found here.
Leading the Canadian Alpine Ski Team this season is newly appointed High-Performance Director, Phil McNichol, along with the men’s head coach Mark Tilston and women’s head coach, Manuel Gamper. John Kucera will lead the men’s speed group and, the men’s technical group will be led by Dusan Grasic.
“I am excited to be a part of Alpine Canada and I have a strong belief in the ability of the athletes and staff of CAST,” said McNichol. “With a clear focus on hard work and accountability, great things can be achieved.”
Alpine Canada would also like to recognize athletes who plan to continue to pursue their racing careers outside of the CAST programming. These Athletes of National Interest are an important part of our sport and Alpine Canada will track their development and engage with them on their journey. These athletes will be competing across North America and Europe striving to qualify for World Cup, Alpine World Championships, and requalifying for CAST.
Athletes of National Interest
Benjamin Thomsen (Invermere, B.C./Windermere Ski Club)
Candace Crawford (Toronto,ON/ Georgian Peaks Ski Club)
Mikaela Tommy (Wakefield, QC/Edelweiss)
While the COVID-19 pandemic may impact the beginning of the 2020-21 season, the Canadian Alpine Ski Team will be formally introduced in the fall.
For more information or media inquiries please contact:
Whitney Hunter I Manager of Communications
[email protected] I 403-471-6032
ABOUT ALPINE CANADA
Alpine Canada is the governing body for alpine, para-alpine and ski cross racing in Canada, as well as for Canadian ski coaches, providing education, certification, insurance, and compliance with the coaching code of conduct. With the support of valued corporate partners and donors, along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Coaching Association of Canada, Alpine Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic, World Championship and World Cup athletes to stimulate visibility, inspiration, and growth in the ski community. In 2020, Alpine Canada is celebrating 100 years of rich tradition in competitive skiing in Canada.
