2010 a Wrap

The 2009/2010 season was the inaugural season of the Can-West Provincial Freestyle Ski Team. The Can-West program is an amalgamation of the BC and Alberta mogul teams into a three coach and twenty athlete program. Despite a few bumps in the road the season was a huge success. Over the course of the year each athlete on the Can-West Team saw a minimum two point increase in their overall scoring. The team podiumed at multiple events taking home hardware at provincials, Canadian Series, Nor-Am and Nationals including a number of Canadian Series grand prix medals. We have a number of Nor-Am finals finishes including a third place finish by Mike Henitiuk. This result among others qualified Mike for the Canadian National Team. A successful program is dependent on the individuals who work so hard and make many sacrifices in the name of results. The Can-West program has assembled a staff that is second to none. I would like to thank Wade Garrod (BC High Performance Director), Gord Campbell (Alberta Executive Director), Cindy Thompson (Canadian Sport Center Pacific & BC Strength and Conditioning Coach), and Mike Souster (Alberta Strength and Conditioning Coach) for the many hours of work put into our program. I cannot say enough about the coaching staff that was assembled for this program. I would like to thanks Elisa Kurylowicz and Andrew Clough for their dedication to excellence and professional approach to this program and its development. Ultimately we are here for the success of the athletes and I would like to congratulate each one of them not only on their impressive results but also on their commitment, dedication to training, and consistent pursuit of excellence. Last but not least I would like to show my appreciation to the parents and volunteers that selflessly sacrifice so much of their valuable time to support their children, run events, build the associations, etc… without volunteers we would not be able to operate. Thank you for a great season and stay tuned for continued updates as we move into the post Olympic season beginning a new quadrennial moving toward Sochi Russia in 2014.

Team heads to Apex

Hi Everyone

On the heels of the greatest mogul event I have ever had the pleasure of attending (Olympics), the Can-West Team is preparing to move into the second half of the Nor-Am tour. Unfortunately the Revelstoke Nor-Am was cancelled due to poor snow conditions on the lower mountain so the team has regrouped in Apex a week prior to the Apex Nor-Am for a mid season training camp and hopefully somewhat of a home town advantage. The course here is exceptional and Apex mountain has been amazing as always. The team is training well and we are confident moving into the second half of the season. Keep your eyes open for live streaming and scoring for the upcoming events so you can cheer for the team at home. Wish us luck!!!!

Killington Photos

Photo's are now posted from the CanWest Team at Killington. Click the link:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=185488&id=229257606928&l=9c02d32cee

CanWest Team Shreds Killington

BC Freestylers shred Killington
BC Mogul skiers complete the Single Moguls and Dual Moguls at Killington VT, USA. For complete results go to: http://urtur.com/results/

Team West competed in the first Nor-Am of the year this past weekend at Whiteface resort in Lake Placid NY. This event took place on the same course that held the last World Cup prior to the 2010 Olympic Games. 2 inches of rain on the Monday before the event posed many challenges for the organizing crew while plummeting temperatures on competition days made for a very difficult course. The mogul venue was a 245 meter 26.5 degree course with tightly spaced and extremely firm moguls. Team west had mixed results on this difficult course with some very successful performances.

Singles Day 1
Cold weather, high winds and lift issues cause numerous delays the morning of the event rendering the running of a finals impossible. Fridays event was a 1 run event. Kylie Sivell was the top team west female finishing day 1 in 20th place. Kylie skied well but made mistakes that relegated her to 20th. In the men’s category Mike Henitiuk finished in 11th place with Garret Wiltshire, Andrew Pool and Austin Hunter finishing in 31st, 32nd and 35th respectively.

Singles Day 2
Once again cold weather a difficult course and a dangerous finish area led to an organizing committee decision to run a second singles event rather than a duels. The highlight of day 2 was an impressive performance by Mike Henitiuk as he stood on his first Nor-Am podium in 3rd place with a score of 23.88. Mike came from 11th place after qualifications to finish 3rd best on the day with a fast run topped off with a Corked 7 tail grab and a flat 360 Japan grab. Congratulations to Mike. Rob Winter also had a strong day making the top 16 cut for finals in 14th place and moving up in finals to finish in 11th. Garret Witshire with another consistent run finished 32nd. Kylie Sivell was once again the top female finishing in 28th place with the remainder of the women having trouble on this difficult course.

The team is now traveling to Killington VT. For the second Nor-Am of the season. Wish us luck as we prepare to once again compete on Friday and Saturday this coming week. Thank you all for your continued support. Complete results are posted http://urtur.com/.

CanWest Team in Lake Placid

Day 2 Lake Placid Nor-am looked good for BC Freestyle skiers. Mike Henitiuk 3rd, Rob Winter 11th, Chelsea Henitiuk 12th, Eddie Hicks 22nd, Garret Wiltshire 32, Andrew Pool 44. Results @ www.urtur.com for Day 1 and 2.

Thumbs Up For Funding Sport

To BC Freestyle Members, Athletes, and Freinds,

Sorry for the mass e-mail but this is an important campaign. BC Freestyle President, Diane Vaykovich, is asking for your support of this program. Please act now to benefit sport and healthy living for decades after the Olympics. Please spread this program through your networks. READ ON AND STAY ACTIVE!

We need your help. BC Athlete Voice has launched - Thumbs Up for Funding Sport in BC!

We want to send a strong, positive message to the BC Provincial Government to continue investing and funding athletes and sport in BC beyond the 2010 Games.

To do this, we need your help at this critical time for sport in BC. You can make a difference and help in 3 easy steps:

1. Go to www.thumbsupforfundingsport.ca and complete the quick and easy E-Card to the Premier. It only takes 30 seconds!
2. Join other athletes and their supporters and send us a photo with your Thumbs Up! Email your photo to info@thumbsupforfundingsport.ca
3. Spread the word and send it 'viral'! We need you to activate your networks and tell all your friends. Click here to join the campaign on Facebook!

Help us ensure that all athletes have the opportunity to reach their own podium beyond 2010.

If you have any questions, contact BC Athlete Voice at info@bcathletevoice.ca

Thanks!!!

Hi Everyone

Global News filmed a short segment on the upcoming world cup and used Can-West Team skiers for the video. Check out the link below to see the athletes at work…

http://www.globaltvcalgary.com/video/index.html click “sports” and then click “freestyle”

CanWest Team in Calgary

As we say goodbye to the warm coco in front of the Christmas tree, the holiday baking, and the, nothing short of delicious, turkey dinners the Can-West team is ringing in the new year in World Cup Fashion. The team has regrouped in Calgary for the first North American World Cup of the season. We will been training on the rather challenging course for a few days prior to the event in which a number of Team West skiers will be selected to forerun. This is a great opportunity for our athletes to train among the best on the planet. Today’s session saw us skiing alongside 2006 Olympic Champion Jenn Heil and 2009 World Cup Grand Prix Winner Alex Biladeau. The COP World Cup promises to be a world class event with unparalleled skiing from the world best. Check out www.freestyleski.com for additional information.
Head Coach, Adrian Taggart