Hudec, Janyk named ACA Athletes of the Year

Jan Hudec and Britt Janyk, both winners of the first World Cup alpine ski races of their career last season, have been named Alpine Canada Alpin’s Athletes of the Year.
Jan Hudec and Britt Janyk, both winners of the first World Cup alpine ski races of their career last season, have been named Alpine Canada Alpin’s Athletes of the Year.
    In para-alpine ski racing, Lauren Woolstencroft, winner of the IPC overall crystal globe in the women’s standing category, was selected as the Para-Alpine Athlete of the Year.
    The 27-year-old Hudec — who also was named the Canadian Alpine Skier of the Year by Ski Racing — won the Bombardier Lake Louise Winterstart last November and was on the podium at a World Cup downhill in Wengen before a right knee injury cut short his 2007-08 season.
    “Last year was a very exciting year for me and to win a World Cup race in Canada was a dream come true. My knee injury made it a bit bittersweet but it’s motivated me to work hard and come back as strong as ever and that’s what I am focused on”, said Hudec, who was named 2007 Alberta Male Athlete of the Year last May.
    Janyk finished a Canadian team-best third overall in the women’s downhill standings last season, including a downhill win at Aspen.
    “This is a great honor. The whole team really had a great season and I really have a lot of respect for the girls on the team,” said Janyk, who finished a team best 12th in the women’s World Cup overall standings.
    “I have complete satisfaction with my season last year. I put a lot of hard work into it and it paid off. It even pushed me more to train this summer. To know that you are one of the best not only in Canada but in the world, that’s a great feeling. And I am not letting up, it just pushes me even more,” Janyk added.

Woolstencroft captures top para-alpine award
Woolstencroft won 13 races and was the top racer in the super G, giant slalom, slalom and super combined discipline last season, helping to lead Canada’s para-alpine to a best-ever second place finish in the Nation’s Cup standings.
    “Last season was definitely special. The entire team is reaching new heights and it’s a very exciting time to be a part of the para-alpine ski team in Canada. I was really happy with how I skied last season and am working hard to ensure that I continue to get better,” said Woolstencroft, who received the award for the fifth time since 2002.
    Kimberly Joines earned the Para-Alpine Breakthrough Athlete of the Year after earning an overall crystal globe in the women’s sit-ski category.

Yurkiw and Dawson named junior winners
2008 FIS Junior World Ski Championships medalist Larisa Yurkiw was named the top female junior athlete. She won bronze in the combined in Formigal, Spain, last February.
    Travis Dawson, who led all Canadian men in four of five events at the 2008 FIS World Junior Alpine Championships, was awarded the top male junior racer.
    The Andrzej Kozbial International Coach of the Year award is being shared this year by women’s speed team coaches Heinzpeter Platter and Rob Boyd. Canada’s women’s speed team ended last season with seven World Cup podium finishes, including two victories.
    A pair of top 10 World Cup finishes, including a fourth-place finish just 0.10 seconds from the podium in Kvitfjell, Norway, were the driving force behind Robbie Dixon being named the Breakthrough Athlete of the Year.
    In the Masters categories, the most improved male went to Andy Sykut, while Christa Jenkins received the most improved female award.

2007-08 TELUS Awards of Excellece for ACA – Athletic Awards
Male athlete of the Year: Jan Hudec
Female Athlete of the Year: Britt Janyk
Breakthrough of the Year: Robbie Dixon
Andrzej Kozbial International Coach of the Year: Heinzpeter Platter/Rob Boyd
Male Junior Athlete of the Year: Travis Dawson
Female Junior Athlete of the Year: Larisa Yurkiw
Para-alpine Athlete of the Year: Lauren Woolstencroft
Para-Alpine Breakthrough Athlete of the Year: Kimberly Joines
Most improved Male Master of the Year: Andy Sykut
Most improved Female Master of the Year: Christa Jenkins

    — Alpine Canada Alpin