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.
Pat Biggs – AOA Executive Director Address
LINK TO PAT BIGGS – AOA ED ADDRESS
Coach EducationAOA_Spring_Coaches_Debrief_Address AOA_Spring_Coaches_Debrief_Address
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
FEATURE INTERVIEW – Tim Gfeller
Inside the Norwegian Ski Team: Lessons for Canadian Alpine
A conversation with Tim Gfeller (TG), Head Coach of the Norwegian Ski Team and Camp Fortune alumni
After more than a decade leading one of the world’s most successful alpine programs, Tim Gfeller has seen it all, from grassroots coaching at Camp Fortune to Olympic podiums in Norway. We sat down with Tim to get his take on team culture, athlete development, and what Canadian skiing needs to do to close the gap at the World Cup level.
On Setting Goals: Q – What kind of goals does your team set each season? TG – Each athlete has individual goals; some aim for Olympic medals, others to break into the top 30. But we also have team goals. Our main target is to finish in the top five in the Nations Cup. We plan race-by-race, estimating points and building a season total.
On Longevity – Q –You’ve been in this role for over a decade. What keeps you motivated? TG – Passion — for skiing, competition, and winning. Longevity comes from evolving every year; you can’t stay the same and expect progress.
On Canadian Skiing – Q – Canada hasn’t had male technical skiers at the Olympics. What’s your take? TG – It’s frustrating, but it shows something needs to change. The gaps between NorAm, Europa Cup, and World Cup are big. The pathway should flow through each level. Canada needs to service that ladder better.
Want to read the full conversation with Tim, including his thoughts on Norway’s Ironman fitness culture, technical skill development, and advice for young coaches?
LINK TO FULL INTERVIEW with Tim Gfeller
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.