The Canadian Ski Racing Awards recognize the best in Canadian ski racing performances and contributions over the past season. As our community continues working through the peaks and valleys of the last two years, we want to pause and recognize those who have excelled despite the challenging circumstances.
“As always, the nominees for the Canadian Ski Racing Awards challenge the selection committee to choose clear winners,” says Nigel Cooper, committee chair. “The truth is that all of them deserve accolades, but the winners are part of a very special group of recipients from over the years that our committee is really proud to name.”
The Nancy Greene Builder Award has been posthumously awarded to Conrad Guay who passed in October 2021. The ski racing pioneer and hard-working coach helped many ski racers reach milestones and develop into champions, including his own son Erik – a two-time world champion with 25 World Cup medals.
The Sam Ousher Switzer Award is new this year thanks to the generous support of the Sam Ousher Switzer Charitable Foundation; the Foundation’s goal is to improve the quality of lives of Calgarians and Albertans, in this case through access to advanced education. The recipient of the award will receive $5,000 to help cover tuition costs.
Additionally, this year the Minogue Award of Excellence will be awarded to both a male and female recipient. This award recognizes one emerging ACA athlete who demonstrates excellence in all aspects of their current athletic year. All athletes with three years or less as a member of the National or Development Team, are eligible candidates. The winners of the Minogue Award of Excellence will receive a bursary of $10,000.
This year’s Volunteer of the Year, Gwen Binsfield, has been a pillar of the para-alpine community, and works hard to advise and support Alpine Ontario as it works to build more robust and stable para programs.
“Congratulations to all the great Canadians that will have their names etched in history as 2022 recipients but also to the excellent nominees and those who put names forward,” says Nigel. “As a committee, Georgia, Lauren, Louis Pierre, Max and I were honoured to have played a small part as the ski racing awards selection committee. We’re fans too!”
