Calgary AB, (April 4, 2023) – Alpine Canada announced today the group that will lead Canada’s World Championship and World Cup race winning women’s alpine ski team. The leadership group will include Laurent Praz who is being promoted to head coach, Pierre Miniotti who joins Alpine Canada to coach the giant slalom (GS) and super-G (SG) group, and Francis Royal, long time Ski Québec alpin coach, comes on board as the slalom (SL) group coach. 

“I am very happy with the outstanding group who will be leading our women’s team,” said Jean-Francois Rapatel, Alpine High-Performance Director. “We have tremendously talented athletes, some who have already won on the world stage and others who are on the cusp. It is important for us to build on the results from last season, and also to build on the strong culture that this team has created. I have full confidence that this leadership team to be successful working with our athletes on and off the snow.“

Canada’s women are coming off a strong 2022_23 season highlighted by Laurence St-Germain (St. Ferréol-les-Neiges, QC) taking gold in SL at the World Championships, Valérie Grenier (St-Isidore, ON) winning a World Cup GS, while finishing seventh in the GS standings, and with three women in the season ending SL top 25, St-Germain 16th, Ali Nullmeyer (Toronto, ON) 17th and Amelia Smart (Invermere, BC) 22nd. 

Alpine Canada’s Women’s Alpine Leadership Group

Laurent Praz, Head Coach Women’s Alpine: 20+ years in ski racing as an athlete and coach, including the last four seasons with Alpine Canada’s women’s team in various roles, progressing to Head coach for giant slalom and super-g.  Praz has a history of success including coaching Crystal Globe winner Federica Brignone. Praz is trilingual, speaking Italian, English and French.

Pierre Miniotti, Lead Coach Womens GS/SG Group: 20+ years in ski racing as an athlete and coach, most recently coaching the Swedish tech team, including Olympic champion Sara Hector (2022 Beijing)

Francis Royal, Lead Coach Women’s SL Group: Nearly 15 years coaching with the Quebec alpine ski team, most recently as head coach after 11 years as women’s head coach.  

Alpine Canada is committed to its vision for Canada to be a world-leading ski racing nation and its mission of increasing podium performances while inspiring the growth in participation and fans.  The recently completed 2023 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships were the best in Canadian history with Canada winning two gold and two bronze medals. 

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For more information or media inquiries please contact:
Mark Halliday, Director Brand & Communications 
mhalliday@alpinecanada.org I 403-777-3204

About Alpine Canada
Alpine Canada is the governing body for alpine, para-alpine, and ski cross racing in Canada, as well as for Canadian ski coaches, providing education, certification, insurance, and compliance with the coaching code of conduct.  With the support of valued corporate partners and donors, along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, the Canadian Olympic Committee, and the Coaching Association of Canada, Alpine Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic, World Championship, and World Cup athletes to stimulate visibility, inspiration, and growth in the ski community.