Alpine Canada names McBride, Kelble head speed coaches

Alpine Canada announced today (May 12) that John McBride and Frank Kelble have been named head coaches of Canada’s men’s and women’s alpine speed teams, respectively.
 
McBride, better known around the White Circus a “Johno,” was part of the coaching staff last season that led the Canadian Cowboys to four World Cup victories, the most ever by Canada’s men’s ski team. Erik Guay also won the men’s super-G Crystal Globe, becoming the first Canadian man to win an overall discipline title since in 1982.
 
“I’m very excited. We have a great staff with Marc Gagnon and Serge Dugas sticking around and we have a talented team,” said McBride. “I think that with a little bit of luck and a little bit of hard work we will be in good shape.”
 
McBride, a resident of Snowmass, Colo., joined the Canadian team coaching staff last November. Prior to joining the Canadian team, McBride coached U.S. Ski Team athletes to Olympic and World Cup medals for more than a decade, leading Bode Miller to Olympic silver medal performances in 2002 and the overall Crystal Globe in 2005 and 2008 as well as Daron Rahlves to an impressive 12 World Cup victories.

“The timing is right and my family supports it, that was kind of the biggest thing for me,” said McBride. “So with my family supporting it and understanding that it is something that I am passionate about, I thought it was an amazing opportunity.” 
 
On the ladies side, Frank Kelble is taking over as the head coach of the speed team. Kelble worked with the U.S. women’s speed team over the past five years, leading talented ski racers such as Lindsay Vonn and Julia Mancuso to an impressive four Olympic medals, five World Championship podiums, three overall titles, six discipline globes as well as 68 World Cup podiums and 34 victories over that span.
 
“I am really excited about joining the Alpine Canada team. The organization has a great group of people who are moving forward together, in a real positive direction,” said Kelble. “I like the athletes, the coaches and the administration. I worked for Patrick Riml (CAST Athletic Director) before and have a lot of respect for him. Hugues Ansermoz (women’s team head coach) brings a lot of experience and success to the table as well.
 
“Personally, this is great opportunity for me and I was ready for a change. Change brings new challenges and different problems, but athletics is all about overcoming challenges. Canada’s women’s speed team has some tremendous athletes and a history of success,” said Kelble, who has 19 years experience coaching with the U.S. Ski Team and coached at the University of Colorado prior to that.
 
David White, who has past experience coaching with the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, is returning as an assistant coach on the women’s speed team.
 
“Both Johno and Frank are experienced leaders who are used to coaching champions and know exactly what it takes to put ski racers on the podium,” said Alpine Canada Chief Athletics Officer Max Gartner.
 
“The men’s speed team got a real sense of how Johno coaches and they learned how to interact and build a relationship with him,” Gartner added. “His enthusiasm and personality is definitely something that sets him apart as well. He brought a positive energy to the team last season which is a huge asset,”
 
Alpine Canada also announced that experienced World Cup coach Rewk Patten has joined the staff of Canada’s men’s speed team.
 
Dusan Grasic remains the head coach of the Canadian men’s technical team while Jim Pollock returns as ladies technical team head coach.

Image of Kelble by Jonathan Selkowitz