Officials Education is on-going

This past week-end we attended the annual Alpine Technical Delegates "up-date" here in Whistler.  It is always a wonderful opportunity to mingle with race officials from all over Canada and the US, to learn more, and generally to discuss all things "official" in terms of alpine ski racing.  This year an added component of the week-end included a 2010 Olympic reception and presentation with time for  mingling with many of the key Games volunteers. 

Irene got together with some of the key Jury members for the ParaAlpine events where she will be Start Referee.  Being Start Ref is Irene's favourite role at alpine races so being nominated for this role at the Olympics is a real priviledge. 

Al got together with his Timing gurus and discussed ever-evolving processes and systems that can ensure greater perfection in gathering and ensuring correct results.  Al is managing the back-up timing crew for the Olympics.  (The Omega team from Switzerland runs System A.)

TD up-dates consist of two days of meetings each Fall, one meeting in the east and one in the west.  Usually we don't attend but this year the western meeting took place in Whistler so it was easy for us to join in.  Prior to the meeting homework is sent out and this homework must be handed in by active TDs or order for them to retain their licences.  We did the homework but didn't hand it in because we are "high level officials", not FIS TDs.

In order to stay "green" during the meetings no papers were circulated.  Instead, wireless internet allowed every participant to be on line and link to the many resources we needed throughout the week-end.  Picture a large meeting room with over 250 people sitting at round tables covered with 6-8 lap tops and surrounded by 6-8 intense people all focussed on the question at hand while two large screens displayed the same or similar information at the front of the room.  Roving mikes allowed for plenty of questions and discussions too.  The TD fraternity is intense and it's exicting to attend meetings where everyone is engaged.

Of course we each had our own small ICR (FIS rule book) along for doing the case studies.  When the case studies were presented these same 6-8 Officials at each table also consulted their well-thumbed rule books, finding specific rules to support decisions.  Most case studies lead to discussions and we all come away with new insights.

The race season will soon be upon us and well be putting some of this learning to the test!

Winter is coming!

Whistler is the winter home base for the Whitney family, our permanent anchorage when we are not off wandering the world on SV Darwin Sound.

Al has been skiing here since Whistler Mountain opened in mid-1960s.  In the mid-1980s we moved to our ski-in ski-out condo above Whistler village, a seasonal home between Pacific Synergies sailing charters around the world through the 1990s.  Then we moved from the condo to a "real house" and began to experience some summer months in here too.

Both Charlotte and Toria spent their early years skiing in Whistler every winter, and both earned spots on the BCAlpine Ski Team. Charlotte has since shifted her focus to academics, recently earning a degree in Conservation through the Department of Forestry at UBC.  She spent a year on the Varsity Rowing Team, then  returned to alpine skiing in her spare time, twice winning the famous Peak to Valley Race here in Whistler. She is currently based in Vancouver - now with her own sail boat - and is pursuing a Masters degree.  Toria followed in her sister's ski tracks five years later, and is still racing.  Last year Toria was the only female picked up by the Canadian Alpine Ski Team (CAST) and she is currently enjoying her full-time carreer as an athlete.


The 2010 Olympic Games are coming!  And the alpine events will be taking place in our own back yard.  Will we be involved?  Yes!  

And so, considering the many requests from family and friends about our involvement in the Games - and life in Whistler in general - we are starting this web log.  

We suggest you bookmark this page so you can easily return for photos and news....

December 25, 2008

What a wonderful family day we are having in Whistler, just the four of us for a change. Christmas day at home always begins with laughter as we search through our personal "stockings" for the funny, little gifts the "elves" have brought. We light the fire, eat Mandarin oranges and then feast on Al's Belgium waffles. Our tradition is to ski a few runs on Blackcomb, then return for a family afternoon at home.

Here we are out our deck. Charlotte, Toria, Irene & Al

Home from sailing

It's October and we are home from another season of sailing in the Med.  

more info & photos coming soon