Whistler Adaptive Sports Program

BC Para-Alpine Championships return to Whistler April 25th

The Disabled Skiers Association of BC (DSABC), is pleased to announce that it has once again partnered with the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program (WASP) and the Rotary Clubs of Whistler and Pemberton to showcase BC’s local and provincial disabled skiers in this years BC Para-Alpine Championships and Rotary Giant Slalom on April 25, 2009.

The BC Para-Alpine Championships caps off a hugely successful winter season for DSABC’s Provincial High Performance Program. This race will see race teams compete from Vancouver Island Adaptive Snowsports, Silver Star Adaptive Snowsports, Vancouver Adaptive Snowsports as well as the host program Whistler Adaptive Sports Program, alongside the BC Disabled Alpine Ski Team.

“The majority of the BC Disabled Alpine Ski Team athletes all learned to ski through grassroots programs across BC such as WASP,” says Sian Blyth, High Performance Director with the Disabled Skiers Association of BC. “This is an opportunity for the best in BC to inspire new and up and coming athletes.”

Joining the race will be young aspiring junior athletes, (all of whom are National Team potentials), from across Canada who will have been taking part in a ‘youth training’ camp on April 23rd and 24th, hosted by Alpine Canada Alpin, (ACA). Mike Clarke, Head Coach of the National Development Team is bringing selected athletes from Alberta, Ontario and BC to take part in this camp. “The camp gives coaches a chance to work with juniors from across the country, and allows the athletes to train, compete in the BC Para-Alpine Championships and get to know their peers in the sport. This is strong group and shows a bright future for Para-Alpine Skiing in Canada, ”said Mike Clarke, Head Coach of the National Development Team.

“DSABC is excited to have the opportunity to once again partner on this event with WASP. To bring our top Provincial racers all together into Whistler, the Host Mountain Resort for the Paralympics in 2010, is an incredible opportunity,” said Blyth. “The participating skiers and snowboarders are an inspiration to us all. This is a great opportunity for us to celebrate their achievements and support the all the Provincial programs contributing to their development.”

Thanks to the support of the TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival, the race will feature a Bib-Draw on the Pontiac Stage in Village Square starting at 7pm on April 24th. Spectators are welcome to cheer on the athletes as they tackle the GS format race on Ego Bowl. First run starts at 10:45am. BC’s best will receive awards at 6:30pm on April 25th in Whistler Village.

This years’ race is made possible through the generous financial and volunteer support of the Rotary Clubs of Whistler and Pemberton. Joining Rotary as supporters of the race are Whistler-Blackcomb, the Delta Whistler Village Suites, the Westin Resort and Spa, TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival, and the Whistler Mountain Ski Club. DSABC’s High Performance Program is supported by Avis, the Canadian National Sports Centre Pacific and Pacific Coastal Airlines.

“We are really pleased to welcome back, for a third year, some of the brightest athletes in BC,” said Chelsey Walker, Executive Director of WASP. “Events such as the BC Para-Alpine Championships and Rotary GS showcase the tremendous community support that we have in Whistler for adaptive sports. We look forward to hosting many similar sport tourism events well into the future.”