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Get in TouchCalgary, Alta. (October 14, 2026) —With winter just around the corner, the countdown to the 2026_27 ski season is underway. Today, Alpine Canada announced the coaches and support staff who will lead and support Canada’s National Ski Team through the FIS World Cup season and World Championships. Bringing together some of the top professionals in their respective fields, the staff is united in its commitment to helping Canadian athletes perform at their best—on and off the snow—across alpine, ski cross and Para alpine.
2026_27 CANskiteam Coaches and Support Staff
National Teams
Matt Hallat, Vice President, High Performance & National Team Programs, North Van, BC
Jean-François Rapatel, High Performance Director, Alpine Montréal, QC
Jocelyn Huot Assoc Director, High Performance Ski Cross & Para Alpine Ste-Agathe des Monts, QC
Declan Norris, Director, Athlete Health & Performance, Dublin, IRE
Julie Harvey, Manager, Athlete Health & Performance, Matane, QC
Catherine Decelles, Senior Manager, Team Operations, Cochrane, AB
Mara Bishop, Coordinator, Team Operations, Calgary, AB
Alpine Women World Cup
Martin Rufener, Women’s Head Coach, Blumenstein, SUI
Martin Durocher, Lead Coach Slalom, Sutton, QC
Pierre Miniotti, Lead Coach, Combi (Giant Slalom/Super G), Pont-Saint-Martin, ITA
Jay Keddy, Coach, Combi (Giant Slalom/Super G), Fredericton, NB
Jean-Marie Rossi, Coach, Combi (Giant Slalom/Super G), Courmayeur, ITA
Johanna Tikkanen, Coach, Slalom, Helsinki, FIN
Mauro Pini, Coach, Valérie Grenier, Airolo, SUI
Michael Francioli, Ski Service Technician, Verbania, ITA
Alberto Timon. Ski Service Technician, Bardonecchia, ITA
Simone Ventura, Ski Service Technician, Aosta, ITA
Todd Cuthbert, Ski Service Technician. Pemberton, BC
Dr. Mariève Lefebvre, Team Physician, St-Sauveur, QC
Alpine Men World Cup
John Kucera, Men’s Head Coach, Calgary, AB
Chris Powers, Lead Coach, Speed, Ottawa, ON
Cam McKenzie, Coach, Speed, Weston, ON
Serge Dugas, Coach, Speed, Magog, QC
Urban Planisek, Coach, Speed, Hoče, SVN
Jure Gostenčnik, Ski Service Technician, Maribor, SVN
Pavel Zurek, Ski Service Technician, Zlin, CZE
Elias Jonsson, Strength & Conditioning Coach, Fernie, BC
Dr. Mariève Lefebvre, Team Physician, St-Sauveur, QC
Alpine Women Development
Francis Royal, Head Coach Women’s Development, Rouyn-Noranda, QC
Lilian Pilloy, Coach, Women's Development, Montpellier, FRA
Alpine Men Development
Will Marshall, Head Coach Men’s Development, Panorama, BC
Jonathan Blanchard, Coach, Men's Development, Serre Chevalier, FRA
Pablo Vallina, Ski Service Technician, Madrid, ESP
Blake Lewis, Ski Service Technician, Canmore, AB
Ski Cross
Stanley Hayer, Head Coach World Cup, Kimberley, BC
Ben Wilkinson, Assistant Coach, World Cup, Cochrane, AB
Titouane Olanie, Head Coach, NextGen, Les deux Alpes, FRA
Zac Reynolds, Assistant Coach, NextGen, Lac-Ste-Marie, QC
James Perks, Ski Service Technician, Calgary, AB
PrimozVrhovnik, Ski Service Technician, Ljubljana, SVN
Nejc Vrhovnik, Ski Service Technician, Ljubljana, SVN
Kyle Urvold, Ski Service Technician, Leduc, AB
Jeremiah Barnert, Lead Integrated Support Team, Okotoks, AB
Alex Hodgins, Consultant, Mental Performance, London, ON
Dr Brian Benson, Team Physician, Calgary, AB
Para Alpine
Fred Deslongchamps, Head Coach, World Cup, Prévost, QC
Lasse Ericsson, Coach, World Cup, Hedemora, SWE
Leslie Firstbrooke, Coach, World Cup, Collingwood, ON
AJ Hoelke, Ski Service Technician, Durango, USA
Stuart Munro, Consultant, Mental Performance, Kent, UK
Laura Strenger, Strength and Conditioning, Whistler, BC
Joe Franklin, Engineer Sit Ski and Special Projects, Vancouver, USA
Dr. Warren Thirsk, Team Physician, Edmonton, AB
Mark Newton, Senior Manager, Domestic Programs and Pathways, Calgary, AB
Follow Canada’s Ski Team this season on Alpine Canada’s website , across our social media accounts and subscribe to our newsletter.
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For more information or media inquiries please contact:
Mark Halliday
Alpine Canada
403 777 3204
media@alpinecanada.org
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.