Team Australia K1/K2 Race camp 2006

The athletes arrived in Whistler on April 21 after a long flight from Australia ­ tired but eager to ski the racers spent the first training block finding their feet with some Technical Freeskiing in all terrain and conditions that Whistler Blackcomb could offer.

The beginning of the second training block saw the athletes training beside members of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team such as John Kucera, Thomas Grandi and Kelly Vanderbeek (just to name a few). We couldn’t have asked for better conditions and the athletes were hungry for the upcoming Whistler Cup (April 7-9th). We joined up with the Chilean Ski Team and did several race simulations as well as SG training on the Dave Murray Olympic DH course. Our afternoons were spent doing recovery dryland sessions, video analysis and ski tuning. In the evenings we did group activities such as movies, inner tubing and trips to the Sports Center.

As we got closer to the races more National teams started to arrive, bringing the total to 390 athletes from 20 nations. Every night we joined the other National teams for dinner, where the kids got a chance to make friends and trade swag for souvenirs. With the Whistler Cup 2 days away I decided to make a bet with the team, 1st podium, I dye my hair the Australian colors yellow and green. They were on a mission to make it happen! Every athlete went as hard as they could and all achieved personal bests. I have to say that I’m very proud of them.

These athletes did a great job representing Australia and produced the best results that have ever been achieved by an Australian Team at the Sierra Wireless Whistler Cup. Each of these athletes during this race camp began to show signs of brilliance and changed there thought process ­ How do you go fast? You have to want to go fast and with this they started to race and not hold anything back. We all had a great time and I look forward to skiing with them again.

Take Care,

Chris McKnight
Head Coach Australian Kinder Team
Whistler Cup

Results

Season Wrap-up

With another successful Northern Hemisphere season wrapping up, I would like to congratulate all of our racers. Special congratulations to Brynne Benbow for training very hard this season and ending the year off ranked 2nd in Canada for K2 girls.

I’ve got a little down time until I leave for New Zealand to work with FIS program at the Treble Cone Ski Academy, so I’m hanging up the skis and jumping on the road bike. I hope everyone has a great summer/winter, and check back soon for details on the 2006/07 camps.

Chris McKnight
Head Coach Australian Kinder Team
Whistler Cup

Retired ­ Lasse Kjus

March 21 2006

Lasse Kjus ended his career at Are on Thursday. Kjus was presented with a bib proclaiming “retired” in the finish area, And celebrated with cake and champagne.

Kjus can look back on a career that included: 5 Olympic medals, 3 World Championship gold’s and 8 silvers, and 18 World Cup victories. In order to honour this career, Dynastar took the opportunity to give him a pair of skis with all his victories on it.

Red Mountain U14 camp

• 30 day camp
• Jan 2 ­ Feb 1 2007

Austria Camp

• 6 weeks
• Jan - Feb 2007 - Dates TBA

Team Australia

• Whistler/Blackcomb Spring Camp
• Sierra Wireless Whistler Cup
• March 21/06 ­April 10/2006

2006/07 Budget and Prices yet to be deterimined.