Featured Image: Marie- Ève Boulianne and Leslie Firstbrook in El Colorado, Chile.
When the Canadian women’s alpine development team opened its first training camp in Chile, the athletes weren’t the only ones beginning a new chapter. This season marks the first time the program will be led by an all-female coaching team, with Marie-Ève Boulianne returning as head coach and Leslie Firstbrook stepping in as assistant coach. Technician Katja Kač rounds out the all-female staff.
Complementary Strengths
Boulianne led the team last season on her own, and she knew that adding Leslie would elevate the program. “Leslie was my first choice,” Boulianne says. Firstbrook, stepping into the assistant role, describes their connection as seamless: “Mutual respect is what makes this relationship strong. We each bring different skills, and together we fill the gaps.”
Boulianne thrives on discussion and big-picture thinking, while Firstbrook brings structure, steady guidance, and a focus on supporting the athletes’ long-term growth.
Together, they cover all the bases, from on-snow strategy to gym sessions, creating a cohesive environment that allows the athletes to perform and develop without the friction that often comes with high-level programs.
Building More Than Skiers
The duo is clear: Success isn’t just measured in podiums. Their vision extends to life skills, resilience, and confidence.
“We are the development team, but what are we truly developing?” Boulianne asks. “It’s about more than results. These athletes should leave with the ability to take ownership of their careers and navigate challenges.”
Firstbrook echoes this focus on culture: “The athletes have to shape the values themselves. Buy-in has to come from the team, not just from us.” Their approach encourages athletes to reflect on their own video, take initiative in training, and push each other in both skiing and personal growth.
Rare Voices, Shared Purpose
Women in coaching roles remain rare, and both Boulianne and Firstbrook have felt the subtle challenges of high-performance programs.
At the highest levels, where most coaches are men, female coaches often have separate accommodations, sometimes their own room or they share with a physio, which can leave them out of informal conversations that happen when co-coaches share a room. These everyday dynamics, along with last-minute program changes, can make even experienced leaders feel out of the loop. Boulianne and Firstbrook have used these experiences to foster a more inclusive, communicative environment for their team.
“It’s never been a smooth road,” Boulianne admits. “There’s been discouragement, but that makes us stronger.” Firstbrook adds, “Marie-Ève sees me as a person—not as a female coach, not as someone filling a box—but because of what I bring to the table.”
Together, their partnership models respect, collaboration, and shared purpose, not just for athletes but for the wider ski community.
Coaching Superpowers and Team Identity
Every coach brings her own “superpower.” For Boulianne, it’s her unwavering passion and dedication to the athletes and the program. Firstbrook’s strength lies in her curiosity and relentless drive to learn, constantly finding creative ways to support the team’s growth.
If someone watched the team this season, Boulianne says, they’d see athletes who are “good people, who inspire others, and take ownership of their development.” Firstbrook adds, “A team that works hard, laughs together, and enjoys what they’re doing. That’s the Canadian women’s development team.”
What Success Looks Like
Neither coach defines success strictly by podiums. Instead, they talk about character.
“At the end of the season, if these women walk away with stronger self-confidence, if they know how to communicate and push their limits, that’s success,” says Boulianne.
Firstbrook agrees: “We’re developing people, and ski racing is the tool. Winning matters, but the bigger goal is creating resilient, well-rounded athletes who can thrive in whatever comes next.” She emphasizes the ultimate job of a coach is to equip athletes to move forward toward their goals. True development means giving them the skills and confidence to progress, not holding them back.
A Season of Possibility
With an expanded camp schedule this fall, the coaching duo is providing athletes with more stability and continuity than ever before. Each athlete comes from a different background, and the coaches embrace that diversity as an opportunity to innovate, adapt and grow.
“These are really cool people,” Boulianne says. “They all bring something unique.”
“They’ve come from different paths,” adds Firstbrook. “That shows there’s no single way to develop talent. The more open-minded we are, the stronger our team will be.”
Together, Boulianne and Firstbrook are shaping more than ski racers. They are building confident, capable young women and proving that thoughtful, collaborative leadership can transform a high-performance program from the inside out.
About the Author: Katie Twible
