From First Tracks:Calgary, Canada - Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA) will hold a series of events across Canada this winter to encourage disabled communities and especially aspiring athletes to get involved in para-alpine ski racing.
“The goal of each event is to reach as far as possible into the disability community as we increase awareness, knowledge, and hopefully participation in para-alpine ski racing,” said Jean-Francois Rapatel, Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team (CPAST) High Performance Director. “We intend to engage communities, increase communication, and get more people competing in our sport.”
Each event will include on-snow opportunities to learn about para-alpine racing from certified para-alpine coaches, information sessions on equipment for all types of disabilities, and indoor presentations by CPAST athletes and coaches.Confirmed events will be held January 30 to February 1, 2009 in Wentworth, Nova Scotia at Wentworth Resort and February 21 – 22, at Asessippi Ski Area and Resort in Manitoba. The location and dates for events in Quebec and Ontario are not yet confirmed.
The final event will be held during the TELUS Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Championships in Sun Peaks, BC in March.The campaign, in its third year, entitled “Carving The Future,” is now supported by the launch of a new Web site at http://www.carvingthefuture.ca/.
“The new website will ensure that interested participants, coaches, medical professionals, and others with an interest in learning more about para-alpine
ski racing will have an information resource that is up-to-date with the latest
information on events, registration and general information on athlete development, coaching, equipment, fitness activity and other frequently asked questions,” said Ozzie Sawicki, a former CPAST coach who is assisting delivery of the Carving the Future program.
This program provides individuals who have a congenital disability or are newly disabled the opportunity to discover para-alpine ski racing.
Participants may or may not have had previous experience in alpine skiing, but have an interest in learning more about the sport in a competition or recreational racing context. This includes individual’s who have an instructional background and may have an interest in coaching as well as parents, and disability health professionals who want to learn about the potential opportunities and benefits that para-alpine racing can provide.