Fernie's FAST Growing Alpine Presence
Growing up in Edmonton, AB, I never really had the terrain around me to become a world class skier, that and the fact that I probably only skied a handful of times until I moved to Banff at age 22. However, being a self proclaimed sports nerd one might have guessed I am a huge ski racing fan. Ski racing holds a special place in my heart as I spent seven years working at Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA), which is the governing organization for the Canadian National Ski Team and ski racing throughout Canada.
I started at ACA as Crazy Canuck Ken Read’s assistant and what I lacked in ski racing knowledge I excelled in passion for the sport and the ability to learn quickly. It is hard to not be passionate and learn about ski racing when you work with Ken. I remember even my father bragging to his buddies that I was working for Ken Read, it was much better than telling them I was a waitress at a sports bar. I moved my way up through the organization and then made the difficult decision in the year leading to the home Olympics to quit the weekly commute and move to Fernie full time and delve into the world of T-shirts.
I still follow the Canadian Alpine Ski team. As I write this article I am constantly checking the live timing updates on the World Cup Ladies Slalom in Flachau, AUT (where Canadian Anna Goodman has just turned in a top 15 finish). The Canadian team has been plagued by injury as of late but there is still so much talent that hopefully at the upcoming World Ski Championships in Germany, in February 8-20 we will see some Canadians on the podium. Some names to watch: BC boy Manuel Osborne-Paradis and reigning Super G Crystal Globe winner Erik Guay (if he can overcome a nagging back injury) in the speed events and any one of four or five Canadians in the Slalom - Brad Spence, Mike Janyk, Julien Cousineau, or Trevor White to name a few. With long time local and international favorite speed queen Emily Brydon retired from competition, BC girl Brit Janyk has had to shoulder the load. While she had a rough start to the season she just had an excellent top ten result last month.
I am always rooting for the Canadians, but in a sport like ski racing it is hard not to notice some of the other country’s talent especially when it comes in the form of 6’2 hulking Norwegian, Aksel Lund Svindal or 6’3 dark and handsome Austrian, Michael Walchofer. I still remember my first trip to the Men’s World Cup in Lake Louise. I wondered the halls of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and admired the views, and not the ones of the Victoria Glacier.
Fernie has quite a presence with ACA and the Canadian National Team. Fernie Alpine Ski Team (FAST) alumni Emily Brydon, Danielle Poleschuk, Travis Dawson, Jennifer Delich, Julia Delich and Ralph Socher have all raced with the national development or national team. Danielle is currently on the national ski cross team, having competed in the 2010 games for Canada. Head coach Rod Timm, was named last year’s Jason Lapierre domestic coach of the year by ACA, not to mention ACA President, Max Gartner has called Fernie home. Current ACA Board member Mike Delich is a long time ski racing volunteer and official while still maintaining a prominent Fernie business and former FAST president Chris Slubicki is a new member of the ACA Board.
FAST has grown into one of the largest clubs in BC and was named the best Canadian club by Ski Racing Magazine in 2007. Its members are from the Elk Valley as well as Calgary, Lethbridge and other surrounding areas. After chatting with FAST E2 coach Katie Joyce I definitely wished I had been part of a ski racing club (the terrain might not have been amazing in Edmonton, but they do still have ski racing programs). She talked about the benefits of ski racing which include discipline, an active lifestyle, lifelong friendships and the ability to rip on snow. Local freeskiing gurus Aaron Scmidt and Luke Nelson both came through the FAST program and now can be found slaying sick lines at the Subaru Canadian Freeskiing Championships (in which Schmidt earned himself a top 5 result).
Many Fernie residents are here for the love of skiing and it is fantastic that they have Fernie Alpine Ski Team programs for their ski loving children.
Previous Columns
About the Author
