Alpine Canada reorganizes disabled skiing program

Alpine Canada reorganizes disabled skiing program{mosimage}CALGARY, (Alberta), January 5, 2005 — Alpine Canada Alpin announced today changes designed to strongly support the continuing success of the Canadian Disabled Alpine Ski Team (CDAST), currently ranked fourth on the international World Cup circuit.

Leslie Clarke has assumed the head coaching role with the team, replacing Ozzie Sawicki, who will focus on external relations and also organize the first ever national-calibre series of races for disabled skiers in Canada.

Mr. Sawicki’s role as program director will be assumed by Al Matile, the former team manager who has been an Alpine Canada Alpin board member since the disabled team was integrated with the national team four years ago.

Former Canadian Alpine Ski racer Dana Williams has been hired as assistant coach of the CDAST team.

“To achieve our goals in 2010, we must have world-leading able bodied and disabled teams at both the Winter Games and the Paralympic Games,” said Ken Read, President, Alpine Canada Alpin. “The establishment of a national points racing series for disabled skiers is an important step towards developing athletes across the country.”

Mr. Sawicki will continue to a lead role in dealing with international sports federations, the Canadian Paralympic Committee, and organizers of the 2010 Paralympic Games, the first time they have been held in Canada.
Additionally, he has been contracted to co-ordinate the 2005 National Series of races in Nova Scotia, Quebec, and British Columbia, culminating in the
2005 Canadian Disabled Alpine Ski Championships at Sunshine Village in Banff in April.

“My objective is to continue the momentum of the World Cup team while also working with the provincial organizations at the grassroots level to build the sport and the number of athletes participating in it,” said Mr. Motile, who assumes the role on an honorarium basis. “These changes support further integration of our teams within Alpine Canada Alpin. I am a firm believer a coach’s role is to coach and the changes focus our coaching resources where they can impact results.”

CDAST opens the World Cup season in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Jan 11, with athletes returning home for the only World Cup for disabled athletes in Canada at Kimberly, B.C. Jan 18-21 in the lead-up season to the 2006 Winter Paralympic Games in Torino, Italy. Last season the CDAST team had 13 podium results in World Cup competition.