Intense training camp includes on snow equipment testing and training
CALGARY, AB The Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team (CPAST) has begun the long process of training for the IPC World Cup season as well as the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, opening the summer training season this past week with a dryland training camp and physical testing in Calgary, AB.
Athletes also had an intense on snow session that included equipment testing and working on new exercise drills at Sunshine Village last weekend.
“I'm excited to get back going. I've enjoyed the last few weeks of rest and that rest has allowed me to reset and think of the incredible year that lies ahead of me. Getting ready for this camp has really fixed it into my mind that this is the final countdown” said Matt Hallat (Coquitlam, BC), a member of the CPAST team since 1998. “There is just 10 months to the biggest ski event of my life and it is extremely motivating to work hard all throughout the summer so that I can be at my best come March 12 next year.”
The camp included members of the national para-alpine ski team as well as several high potential development group athletes, each receiving new training programs for the summer season.
A complete list of athletes invited to participate in the CPAST summer training program will be announced later this month.
The CPAST team finished the IPC World Cup season first overall last season with 5,685 points, marking the first time in history that any team other than Austria or the USA won the overall title. Lauren Woolstencroft (Vancouver, BC / Calgary, AB) and Viviane Forest (Edmonton, AB) capped incredibly successful season’s by winning the overall Crystal Globes in their category.
The 2009/2010 season promises to be one of the most exciting in Canadian para-alpine ski racing history with IPC World Cup events scheduled for Austria and Italy in January followed by the IPC World Cup Finals in Aspen, USA in February.
The 2010 Paralympic Winter Games will highlight the season, taking place in Whistler, BC from March 6 to 22. Alpine Canada Alpin has set a goal of achieving 17 medals for Canadian ski racers at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.
ABOUT ALPINE CANADA ALPIN
Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA) is the governing body for alpine ski racing in Canada with more than 50,000 athletes, coaches, officials and volunteer members and over 200,000 supporting members. ACA manages the high performance programs for the athletes of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team and the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team who represent Canada throughout the world. For more information on Alpine Canada Alpin, visit www.canski.org.
