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QU'APPELLE VALLEY SKI CLUB

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 1998/99 Q.V.S.C. SEASON

Spring 1998
QVSC Athletes Named to Provincial Teams
Ryan Cochrane has been selected to the Alpine Saskatchewan Provincial Elite Race Team. He will be attending a summer camp at Mt. Hood, Oregon with other members of the Provincial Elite/Development Team. This marks Ryan's fifth year representing Saskatchewan on various teams. After the summer camp, he will be attending a fall camp, then will move to B.C. in December to train at Panorama and Fairmont as well as compete in FIS level races throughout western Canada and U.S.A.

Saskatchewan Alpine Race Team back row (left to right) Scott Zahn (coach), Ryan Cochrane, Derek Donald front row (left to right) Lindsey Flaig, Jennifer Wilson

Saskatchewan Alpine Juvenile Team back row (left to right) Leann Zahn (coach), Teslin Donald, Brittany Simmons, Kirby Nilsen, Joel Taylor front row (left to right) Danielle Kortmeyer, Chelsea Flaig, Alex Dussault

September 1998
Annual Bike-a-thon Again a Success
This annual get together and fundraiser was once again well attended. Cyclists met at Valley Centre, then ventured out on either a 5 km, 20 km or the gruelling 35 km course, each which ended back at Valley Centre. Upon return, members participated in some games and visited to catch up on the summer's events. Hot dogs were served to everyone and prizes were given out to the lucky winners. For the Alpine Race Team, Danielle Kortmeyer raised the most money and in the Nancy Greene Ski League category, Yolandi Lombard and Brittany Mooney brought in the most funds for QVSC. Thank you to anyone who helped out in any way, and well done to everyone who completed one of the circuits.

Fall 1998
Dryland Training Gets Under Way
Members of the Alpine Race Team and the Development Team began working to improve their fitness levels for the upcoming ski season. Sessions, which are held Sundays at Bert Fox Composite High School, have been well attended. Kirk or Cory Cochrane conduct these workouts, emphasizing proper exercise techniques and the importance of maintaining a high level of fitness as related to ski racing. Agility, strength, power, aerobic and anaerobic workouts are incorporated and each athlete is individually told which of these fitness areas they most need to develop. Sessions were held each week through the end of November.

December 6-12, 1998
Nakiska Mountain Camp Kicks Off On-Snow Season
Twenty-two athletes (from the Development and Alpine Race Teams), six coaches and three chaperones loaded the bus on Sunday morning and headed west in search of early season snow to get their ski legs back for the upcoming season. Accomodation for all was at the Ribbon Creek Hostel in Kananaskis, which provides an excellent atmosphere for the athletes to come together as a team. It is great to see them interacting, helping one another with schoolwork, ski preparation, doing chores in the hostel, preparing meals, exploring the wilderness, etc. Perhaps no television helps!
Every morning began with an early wake-up call, an invigorating jog and breakfast, then on the bus again to Nakiska. Although not all runs were open, conditions at Nakiska Ski Area were great for some wide open cruising and to reinforce skills that had become a bit rusty over the summer. Athletes were split into three groups and each group skied at least one day with coaches Kirk Cochrane, Cory Cochrane or Gary Delaney. Kirk also spent one day with the three Nancy Greene Ski League coaches, Kate Grapes, Kate Wilson and John McNally, going over the Skill Awards Program as well as some coaching tecniques, ski improvement and progression exercises. Doug Wilson and Kevin Fenwick, two of our chaperones, also participated in this session.
At the end of the day, weary skiers came back to absolutely wonderful suppers prepared by Deb Hollinger. These meals were very much appreciated by all, especially the athletes who would normally have to cook supper for the whole group themselves. Evenings were filled with ski preparation, schoolwork, video analysis, playing games, going swimming and/or skating at Kananaskis, going into Banff, or just lazing about. A special thank you to Dave Milne of Engelheim Charters for delivering us to the hostel, back and forth to Nakiska, to Kananaskis, to Banff and back home again safely!

December 31/98 - January 1/99
New Year's Spent in Panorama
Seventeen members of the Alpine Race Team and two from the Development Team spent Dec. 31st and New Year's Day hard at work training Giant Slalom at Panorama, B.C. Cory and Kirk Cochrane put the athletes through two days of gate training in preparation for the upcoming GS races at Panorama. Showoff run was heavily utilized by several clubs from Saskatchewan, as well as some clubs from the mountains and the Saskatchewan Alpine Race Team, allowing each team to be able to train on only half the length of the run. All athletes improved their GS racing skills signifigantly over the two days.

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