Ken Read announced on Wednesday that he will step down as chief executive officer of Alpine Canada Alpin at the beginning of August.
    “After more than six years leading this organization I knew the day would come where I had to choose between working at Alpine Canada Alpin and my family,” said the former Crazy Canuck, who since June 2002 has played a pivotal role in the resurgence of Canadian ski racing. “That day has now come to move on from Alpine Canada Alpin, although I intend to remain actively involved as a parent volunteer, within the various positions I hold with the International Ski Federation and of course as a national team alumnus.”
    Read is currently Canada’s senior alpine representative within the FIS as a member of the FIS Alpine Committee Executive Board and Chair of both the FIS Alpine Youth and Children sub-committee and FIS Co-ordination Group for Youth and Children.
    Alpine Canada Alpin Board policy prohibits a parent of a national team racer from being employed within management of the national sports governing body. Read said he supports the policy. Read’s children are all ski racers and involved in provincial and ski club programs.
KEN READ announced on Wednesday that he will step down as chief executive officer of Alpine Canada Alpin at the beginning of August.
    “After more than six years leading this organization I knew the day would come where I had to choose between working at Alpine Canada Alpin and my family,” said the former Crazy Canuck, who since June 2002 has played a pivotal role in the resurgence of Canadian ski racing. “That day has now come to move on from Alpine Canada Alpin, although I intend to remain actively involved as a parent volunteer, within the various positions I hold with the International Ski Federation and of course as a national team alumnus.”
    Read is currently Canada’s senior alpine representative within the FIS as a member of the FIS Alpine Committee Executive Board and Chair of both the FIS Alpine Youth and Children sub-committee and FIS Coordination Group for Youth and Children.
    Alpine Canada Alpin Board policy prohibits a parent of a national team racer from being employed within management of the national sports governing body. Read said he supports the policy. Read’s children are all ski racers and involved in provincial and ski club programs.
    “Since joining Alpine Canada Alpin I have been focused on re-building the integrity and transparency of the organization. This policy further enhances the accountability and organizational strength of ACA, so the energy of our sport can focus on the right things, the most important of which is to develop the very best athletes, programs and events so Canadian ski racers can aim to be best in the world,” Read said.

Read raised the bar for athlete, fiscal performance
Read said he made the decision now in to give ACA sufficient time to find a replacement who can continue building toward having athletes win 2010 Olympic Winter Games medals at Vancouver/Whistler, which are two full ski seasons away.
    “In a performance-centered, athlete focused organization, our athletes always come first and the Canadian alpine ski teams – able-bodied and para-alpine – are now positioned to achieve excellence as we look toward the 2009 World Championships and the Games of 2010, Read said. “Through the tireless efforts of our very talented management team we have built the best financed national team programs in Canada, assembled the very best coaching staff available, conducted innovative research, developed the very best conditioning program for ski racers in the world and have worked closely with our partners to establish three national training centers.”
    The Canadian alpine team has moved from 12th in the world rankings in 2002 to sixth in 2008, with a record 14 World Cup podiums and a World Championships silver medal in 2006-07. The Canadian para-alpine ski team has risen from ninth place in 2005 to second in 2008, with a record 41 World Cup gold medals placing the team ahead of the Austrian team, which took 26 gold medals.
    “I am particularly proud of our fiscal performance,” said Read, who will return to the private sector and reactivate his business of sport and management consulting which he left  in 2002. “Alpine Canada Alpin was in dire financial trouble in 2002, but thanks to the hard work of our entire staff, our board, the commitment of our sponsors and the success of programs like the Podium Club, ACA has posted five successive years of positive financial results.”
    Dave Pym, the managing director of the Canadian Snowsports Association, also touched on Read’s strong fiscal leadership of the organization,
    “Obviously, Ken’s resignation from Alpine Canada is a huge loss, as he has done a superb job,” Pym said. “You will recall when he took over the position Alpine Canada was in a deficit position and was underperforming. Their budget was C$7 million Canadian at that time and today it is C$21 million.
    “What also should not be overlooked is Ken’s leadership within the total winter sports picture of Canada. He was responsible for developing the Own the Podium program trying to make Canada No. 1 at its own Olympic Games. He will be sorely missed.”

More praise for Read
Reid Drury is the chairman of the Alpine Canada Board of Directors.
    “Alpine Canada Alpin has been transformed under Ken’s leadership with best-ever athletic performances and innovative new projects and programs,” Drury said. “There has been full integration of our para-alpine program, world-class events, a commitment to race quality and safety. He has provided clear vision and leadership to this National Sport Organization and has energized athletes, parents, coaches, volunteers, supporters and sponsors.
    “Alpine ski racing in Canada has momentum, and the steps we have been taking further enhance our commitment to become a leading ski nation. We will continue building on our success of the past few years and work to ensure we attract the required resources that will allow us to compete against the world’s best. This will be the true legacy for Ken.”
    Max Gartner, the chief athletics officer for Alpine Canada Alpin who worked closely with Mr. Read since January 2003, described the changes brought to the sport.
    “Ken played a key leadership role in Canadian sport in the creation of Own The Podium, revitalized our Podium Club which directs financial support to our national development teams, collaborated with key supporters for the establishment of the Founders Club which supports our future legacies and brought his international insight in the creation of our “Rising Stars” athlete development system which now touches every level of our sport.
    “Perhaps most important, his vision – to win – and the sense of mission now instilled throughout the organization and our sport is  thanks to his passion for ski racing and his commitment to excellence,” Gartner added. “Alpine Canada Alpin is now seen as a leader within the International Ski Federation and Canadian sport thanks to several years of record-breaking athletic results, our track record for great World Cup events and our innovative initiatives which engage the corporate community.”

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; Ski Racing's Gary Black Jr. contributed to this report