AOA Spring De-Brief Summary
On May 8th, we gathered the community of clubs and coaches together for our Annual Spring Debrief to reflect, reconnect, and look ahead to what’s next.
LINK TO PRESENTATION DECK
The season featured strong international performances from Ontario athletes, including Olympic medals from Michaela Gosselin, Sierra Smith, and Kalle Eriksson, along with World Cup podiums from Kevin Drury and the Schmidts. Emerging ON athletes Emma James and Jasper Williams closed out the season with dominant performances.
Coach Education
LINK TO COACH SUMMARY DECK
With 1,124 coaches supported across all levels — up year-over-year. Satisfaction rates were 97–99% and 100% of coaches reported improved ability. Four new Performance Level coaches were certified. The program’s main gaps are evaluation consistency, pathway clarity, and video delivery format.
A first-ever coach compliance verification was completed for SCUP clubs, with U12 compliance flagged as a priority area for 2026–27.
HP Director’s “State of the Union” Panel Discussion
LINK TO FULL DISCUSSION SUMMARY
Ontario ski racing faces several systemic challenges, including a shortage of high-level coaches, excessive racing at younger ages, limited collaboration across club age groups, and a weak culture around fitness, mental performance, and long-term athlete development. Discussions emphasized the need for more age-appropriate calendaring, stronger parent education, better athlete retention beyond U16, and more deliberate investment in coach development, off-snow training, and performance culture. AOA is committed to honest assessment of club effectiveness and athlete pathway outcomes, informed by competitive results from U16 Eastern’s and U14 CanAm events. U14|U16 Summer Meetings and Working Group Calls to be scheduled
Norwegian Alpine Ski Team Management Insights
LINK TO INTERVIEW SUMMARY
Tim Gfeller, a Canadian coach with 13 years of experience managing the Norwegian women’s alpine ski team, shares insights on building elite ski programs through systematic development, cultural fitness standards, and technical alignment.
Next up: U14|U16 Summer Meetings and Working Group Calls to be scheduled.
Fall Coach Conference, SAVE THE DATE, October 24, 2026, at Blue Mountain Resort.