It’s time to celebrate six amazing athletes graduating from the Cypress U16 Ski Racing Team!
Cypress Ski Club athlete graduates Inaya Salari, Derek Rosell, Alex Van Dyk and Rhys Williams have been skiing together since U8—nearly a full decade! They were joined by Leo Lee in 2021, and by Marta Esteban for this last season.
Between them, they have accumulated more than 40+ seasons with Cypress filled with frosty chairlift rides, rainy training sessions, epic wipeouts, unforgettable race-day moments, and too many DNFs to count! They’ve shared countless early mornings to train at many BC ski hills, the frigid slopes of Mount Sima and the sunny runs of Les Deux Alpes! From Nancy Green Festivals to Provincials and Canada Western Championships, these racers have truly experienced every side of the sport.
Along the way, they’ve collected impressive achievements, including several medals, top-10 finishes, and qualification to BC Winter Games and Whistler Cup, to name only a few. But beyond the results, these athletes have been great role models for younger racers—demonstrating sportsmanship, resilience, teamwork, and just the right amount of team-travel chaos along the way. Most importantly, they developed something that sits at the heart of the Cypress Ski Club philosophy: a genuine love of skiing. Whether they continue racing, pursue new goals, or simply enjoy a few well-earned sleep-ins, we know they’ll carry forward true Cypress ski racer grit—along with a lifetime of memories, friendships and lessons built on the mountain.
We’re also excited to see Inaya Salari continue her ski racing journey in FIS next season with the Vancouver Ski Team. We wish her the best of luck as she trades U16 bibs for longer skis, faster courses, and even more team-travel adventures.
We are incredibly proud of all of you.
Ferdi’s Message:
Fulfilling the Cypress Ski Club Mission – The 2010 Generation!
The 2010 Cypress generation is the group I started working with when they were in U14. It was my first season as U14 Head Coach after spending three seasons coaching U16. I followed this generation for almost four years, except during their first year of U16.
The group evolved over the years and lost a few members along the way, but the core group from that first U14 season stayed together and continued skiing all the way through their second year of U16.
What always stood out about this group was their unity. They got along extremely well and quickly understood the importance of attending training sessions, challenging themselves, and taking risks in order to improve. Thanks to them, I learned a great deal about coaching younger athletes. They pushed me, as a coach, to break down technical learning and continually find new ways to help them progress.
I feel a special connection with these athletes. I particularly remember Leo, Inaya, Rhys, and Derek during their very first U14 season when they travelled to France for a ten-day training camp. They were still very young and far from their families, yet they embraced the experience without hesitation. That trip helped them grow, brought them even closer together, and shaped the identity of the group.
Over the years, they grew together, learned together, and pushed their limits together. They turned every challenge into an opportunity to improve. Year after year, they sought to get better, perform at a higher level, and develop a deeper understanding of their ski technique and the sport itself.
Watching them mature — not only as athletes but as young people — has been incredibly rewarding. Their journey reflects not only their talent, but above all commitment, courage, consistency and team spirit.
At Cypress Ski Club, we often speak about “Inspiring Skiers for Life.” This generation is a perfect example of what that truly means. Their development was never only about results; it was about building character, resilience, independence, and a lifelong connection to skiing and community.
I believe the club has truly fulfilled its development mission with this generation.
I hope some of them will continue skiing next year and eventually feel inspired to pass on their experience to younger athletes through coaching and mentorship in the future.
Graduating Athletes’ Reflections
As these athletes move into their next chapter, their reflections capture many of the values that define the Cypress Ski Club experience — discipline, resilience, teamwork, personal growth, and, above all, a love for the sport.
Life Lessons
“A life lesson I take from this is that in order to achieve a goal, I need discipline and consistency, but also to never forget that the journey is meant to be enjoyed and to have fun.”
“One life lesson is to push through the pain of things like dryland to get better as an athlete.”
“Ski as much and as hard as you can.”
Habits Developed Through Ski Racing
“One habit I have developed while being in this club is taking care of myself and my equipment so that I can do everything possible to improve my results.”
“One habit is to take very good care of the things I own.”
“Having well-tuned skis changes how you can ski that day.”
Favourite Memories
“My best memories are the competition days, when we all support each other as a team even though each of us has to deal with our own emotions and stay focused on our race.”
“One memory is probably just the time I spent with my team.”
“One memory I will always take with me is our last trip as a U16 group at Canada Westerns in Castle Mountain. It was such a great group.”
Advice for Younger Athletes
“Never stop enjoying this sport and, in the most difficult moments, try to find something positive to focus on.”
“Listen to your coach. They are always doing everything they can to help you improve. If you screw around, or don’t listen, or don’t work hard, the coaches will stop trying to help you. When the coaches are mad at you, it is because they care, and if they stop talking to you or giving you advice, that is the warning sign that the coaches don’t care anymore.”
“Keep ski racing as long as possible and try your hardest because you don’t want to have regrets in the future.”
These reflections are a reminder that the impact of ski racing extends far beyond competition results. The habits, friendships, resilience, and confidence developed through the sport become lessons that athletes carry with them for life.
Raul’s Message:
Trust the Process, Never Give Up
Our U16 graduates this season truly embody the spirit of our club, forged over the many years they have been with us.
Cypress Ski Club strives to instill values that will carry them through life with dignity, compassion and the ability to work with others to achieve common goals. Understanding that individual responsibility is the core of teamwork is a valuable skill to have. Our club strives to provide the guidance, coaching, and resources needed to help athletes work toward achievable goals.
I have had the honour of witnessing their growth over all these years, and it always amazes me to see how they flourish and shine as they become young adults. What a privilege it has been for me to witness this process and contribute to it.
None of the above would be possible without the support, commitment, and effort of your parents and families. Never forget that, and always be thankful.
The journey, however, continues – whether by pursuing new goals and activities or by spending a few more seasons with us. Always remember that results are a consequence of the process, so do not become blinded by chasing them alone. Focus on the process, enjoy the journey, and Never Give Up.
See you…
The Legacy They Leave Behind
Long after the race results are forgotten, this generation will be remembered for the way they supported one another, embraced challenges, and represented what it truly means to be a Cypress skier. The mountain has a way of bringing people back together, and no matter where life leads them, they will always have a home in the CSC community.
The tracks they leave behind will continue to inspire generations to come.
