Viednesday, December 9, 1992 ~ North Shore News - 15

ees L ci eet a eae ae |

Tyee ski club trains tomorrow’s racers

Grouse Mountain organization
one of the largest in province

IN THE competitive sport of ski racing the slightest

miscalculation can result in serious injury and even death.

To watch a Wortd Cup ski race
is to watch some « ‘he best con-
ditioned and trained athletes in
the world pushing themselves to
speeds that far exceed the limits
placed on the seatbelt-and-airbag
protected motorist.

Obviously, these daredevil
women and men didn’t just start
out going this fast. All of them
learned how to ski by putting in
thousands of hours on the slopes
with local ski clubs and junior
racing programs.

The North Shore is home to one
of the oldest ski clubs in British
Columbia, dating back to 1927
when the Grouse Mountain ski
club was formed.

Forty years later the club ‘oined

44 The Tyee Ski
Club is proud of its

grassroots appeal. 99

— club alpine chairman
Maryann Hartley

forces with the Tyee Ski Runners
(established in 1935) to form what
is now the second largest ski club
in the province. wo.

The Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski
Club currently boasts an active ski
program with over 200 racers
ranging from age six to 60.

“The Tyee ski chub is proud of
its grassroots appeal,”’ said ciub
alpine chairman Maryann Hartley.
“We are able to introduce
children to the sport of ski racing
at a very reasonable cost and yet
at the same time ensure the best
possible training for the elite
athletes without major disruptions
to their academic or family

lifestyle.’’

By A.P. McCredie
Sports Reporter

misgivings about their young son’s
involvement in the expensive sport
of ski racing, but his ascent
through the Grouse Mountain
Tyee Ski Club racing program
enabled him to capture his dream
of skiing for the Canadian
downhill World Cup team.

Other Tyee ski club graduates
who have made their mark on the
international ski scene include
Wade Christie, Scott Wooley, Rod
Hebron, Andre Jannik, Bob
Stylan and Kent Willis.

The current coaching staff is
headed by former aational team
member Hans Edbjad and is
assisted by Ann Taciuk and Susie
Schwartz — also former national
team members.

Young skiers (six- to 12-year-
olds) at the club learn team racing
through the ‘Nancy Greene Ski
League’’ program, then graduate
to the ‘‘Carded Junior Racing’’
program, where skiers aged 12 to
20 learn advanced ski racing tech-
niques aad participate in a
number of regional and provincial
races.

The ‘*Adult Advanced’’ pro-
gram teaches and trains athletes
for the Masters Series racing
league.

The club caters also to recre-
ational skiers of ail ages, offering
social-oriented ‘‘Teen Ski’’ and
“Adult Improvement’’ programs.

This year Grouse Mountain will
be the site of three zone race
weekends, giving young racers a
chance to qualify to represent
their clubs at the provincial
championships.

This Saturday (Dec. 12) the club
will have a registration booth set
up at the base of the Grouse
Mountain Skyride between 10
am. and 2 p.m. to provide in-
formation about the club pro-
grams and to register both young
and old skiers to competitive or
recreational programs.

For more information about the

NEWS phcio Neil Lucants

Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club MEMBERS OF the Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club show their enthusiasm outside the club’s moun-

The parents of current national
call 980-5575. tain cabin.

team member Roman Torn had

CHI

“GUARANTEED SERVICE”

LYNN VALLEY CENTRE
7199 LYNN VALLEY RD.

980-9211