National titles were on the line last week in Kimberley, BC, when the best male and female ski racers came together to be crowned Canadian champions. Organizers woke up to 30cm of snow at the start of the week and the crew worked to provide excellent conditions for the race. As competition heats up, the national alpine championships are also a great celebration of ski racing in Canada.

Cassidy Gray (Invermere, BC), member of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, had a great race week with podium performances in all three disciplines. Gray started the week with a win in giant slalom (GS), followed by finishing second in super-G (SG) and slalom (SL).

“Canadian nationals are a very welcome home after a long European winter,” said Gray. “There’s nothing better than seeing all the faces appear at the Canadian ski race. Kimberly is very close to my actual home, so I really get the energy of the ski community there. Even with the less than ideal weather, all three National championship races took place! Big thanks to Kimberly and all the volunteers there for giving us the space to compete, it really is a very fun racing series! It was really cool because my little brother and sister also raced with me, and being able to share a race week with them was really cool.”

Britt Richardson (Canmore, AB) and Eleri Smart (Invermere, BC) have two podiums each, with Richardson winning SG and finishing second in GS. For complete results please visit the FIS website (link).

On the men’s side there have been different winners in each discipline, with six different men standing on the podium. Justin Alkier (Toronto, ON) won his first national title in GS, and finished second in SL. Riley Seger (North Vancouver, BC) secured a pair of second finishes in the GS and SG, and Sam Mulligan (Vancouver, BC) took a pair of third finishes in the GS and SG.

“It’s been great to be back with Kimberly racing in the national championships,” said Mulligan. “The mountain and race organizers do a great job providing a welcoming environment that gives everyone the opportunity to challenge themselves head-on. I feel grateful to have been able to participate and witness some of the great performances from the upcoming provincial and regional athletes! I hope we keep pushing to make events like this accessible to everyone, so we can continue to improve, and celebrate the amazing community we have!”

A big thank you to the countless Dreadnaught volunteers, BC Alpine and Kimberley Alpine Resort, whose partnership, commitment and support were instrumental in making the Canadian National Championship a success.

2023 Canadian Senior National Alps Championship photo by Steve Hilts

For further information or media inquiries, please contact:

Ashlie Avoledo | Senior Manager, Sports Services

aavoledo@alpinecanada.org I 403-918-9054

About the Canadian Alps

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 coaching codes of conduct. With support from valued corporate partners and donors, together with the Government of Canada, Podium Owners, Canadian Olympic Committee, and Canadian Coaches Association, Alpine Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic, World Championship, and World Cup athletes to stimulate visibility, inspiration, and growth in ski community. In 2020/21, Alpine Canada is celebrating 100 years of the rich tradition of competitive skiing in Canada.