But for all the worldly experience Forsyth has, she began her skiing career with the Mount Washington Ski Club. And you can too!
The Mount Washington Ski Club operates under the umbrella of B.C. Alpine and Alpine Canada. The Club has for 25 years offered several streams of both learning and racing, for athletes ages six to 17 in three programs: Alcan Nancy Greene Ski League, the Juvenile Racing Program, Junior Racing Program and Free Ride.
The Club maintains a clubhouse at the base of the Eagle Quad chairlift, and ski club families pay an annual fee for the privilege of using the cabin throughout the season.
The adventure begins with the Alcan Nancy Greene Ski League, which encourages participation, interaction and the development of technical skiing skills in a motivating atmosphere without the pressures of intense competition. Coaches follow the Alpine Canada “Snow Stars” program, which teaches children how to ski in seven steps.
Coaches in this league include John Trimmer in the Comox Valley and Patricia Adam in Nanaimo 250-758-5935.
The Nancy Greene program is further divided into three programs: a one-day program for ages six to eight and nine to 12, every Sunday from Jan. 7 to April 1, 2007; Junior K Stars for the same age categories, Saturdays and Sundays from Jan. 6 to April 1, 2007; and K-Stars “E2”, for ages nine to 11, which takes place Saturdays and Sundays from Dec. 28 to April 15, 2007. Some of these programs also include Christmas or spring camps.
The Juvenile and Junior racing programs are for skiers that want more training and the challenge of racing. The Juvenile programs start in September each year with dryland training, and continue through until spring with summer opportunities, as well. Snow training takes place on weekends and during holidays, with extra training available on certain weekdays.
The K-1 program is for skiers aged 11 and 12 years; they participate in three zone qualifying races as well as a provincial final. The K-2 program for 13- and 14-year-olds sees them ski in three qualifying races, a provincial final and possibly a Western Canadian or Canadian National championship.
Competition ramps up in the Junior programs – J-1 for athletes aged 15 and 16 and J-2 for athletes aged 17 and older. Racers compete at many events, from Coast National to Nor-Am, or North American races depending on racers’ abilities. Athletes at this level can also become F.I.S. carded, concentrating on racing, or National carded, concentrating on skill progression.
The club has also created a program for athletes 11–17 years who are not interested in pursuing the competitive stream of racing. The All-Mountain Skills program is for those who want to increase their knowledge and skills and challenge themselves to take skiing to new heights.
The club holds dryland training sessions and camps, and for the K1 through F.I.S. racing levels, conducts regular physical testing to enable coaches to help track athletes. These tests are B.C. Alpine and Alpine Canada sanctioned.
Off the ski hill, club members participate in fundraising activities and other fun events such as an annual golf tournament.
For more information on any of these programs, please call Program Director John Trimmer at 250-897-6058 or go online to www.mountwashington.bcalpine.com.