ACA UPDATE: COUPE GMC CUP SERIES RETURNS TO MONT ORFORD AND SKI BROMONT

Orford, QC (December 30, 2010) – Mont Orford ski resort is preparing to host the Giant Slalom events during the Quebec stop in the GMC Cup series. The Giant Slalom events take place at Mont Orford on Tuesday January 11 and Wednesday January 12, 2011. The racers will then move to Ski Bromont to compete in the Slalom portion of the Quebec series of race events on January 13 and 14.

 

As a developmental ski program sanctioned by Alpine Canada Alpin and the International Ski Federation (FIS), the Coupe GMC Cup provides the top skiers from Canada with essential competitive experience on their road to international alpine racing success. Many Cup winners and competitors have gone on to become members of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, including current members Ève Routheir of local Club de Ski Mont Orford, Victoria Stevens (Mont Tremblant, QC) (2010), and Kelby Halbert (Bradford, ON) (2010), who has been making an incredible impression in his first few months on the Nor-Am and World Cup circuit.

 

The series is the brain-child of Olympic Champion Nancy Greene Raine, who approached General Motors 40 years ago with the concept of creating a strong domestic series for up-and-coming Canadian alpine racers to compete with the best across the country. Out of it have come some of Canada’s best alpine racers—Kathy Kreiner, Gerry Sorensen, Laurie Graham, Karen Percy, and the Crazy Canucks.

 

Chief of Race at Club de Ski Orford, Camille Courchesne, promises a successful series of events, and said his group is ready to go. “This series is so important to the young racers. It is a pleasure to host this event for another year. We are looking forward to seeing all the competitors do well, and will be rooting for local skiers from the Club de Ski Mont Orford,” said Courchesne.

 

Courchesne also expressed appreciation for the important contribution made by volunteers, “As always, we will need to make sure we have enough volunteers, but as in past years we are sure the local skiing community will be out in full force to pitch in for this great race series.”

 

Peter Cornu, General Motors of Canada's Manager of Sponsorships, said "We have supported amateur athletes in fulfilling their dreams for many years and share Alpine Canada’s goal of putting more athletes on the podium in the years to come. We are pleased that the GMC Cup is part of a winning strategy focused on results, and grateful to the Mont Orford and SKI Bromont skiing communities for their continued involvement in the series."

 

 

“The Club de Ski Bromont is proud to partner with Club de Ski Sutton, Ski Quebec Alpin, Alpine Canada Alpin, and General Motors of Canada in staging this event. These races inspire our young athletes to reach their potential at high-level competition,” said Anthony Penhale, Chief of Race at Club de Ski Bromont. Penhale added that these series of races would not be possible without the entire group of incredible volunteers working hard to get things ready and thanked them for bringing their passion to the sport. 

 

The series culminates with the 2011 GMC Canadian Championships at Nakiska in Alberta from March 23-30, 2011. The best young athletes from Canada compete head-to-head against athletes from the Canadian Alpine Ski Team.

 

The Coupe GMC Cup race series was won last season by Kelby Halbert of the Toronto Ski Club (Bradford, ON) and Mont Tremblant’s Victoria Stevens (Ottawa, ON).

 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (subject to change)

08/01/11 – Men’s/Ladies Giant Slalom – Lake Louise, AB

09/01/11 – Men’s/Ladies Giant Slalom – Lake Louise, AB

10/01/11 – Men’s/Ladies Slalom – Lake Louise, AB

11/01/11 – Men’s/Ladies Slalom – Lake Louise, AB

11/01/11 – Men’s/Ladies Giant Slalom – Orford, QC

12/01/11 – Men’s/Ladies Giant Slalom – Orford, QC

13/01/11 – Men’s/Ladies Slalom – Bromont, QC

14/01/11 – Men’s/Ladies Slalom – Bromont, QC

25/02/11– Men’s/Ladies Giant Slalom – Red Mountain, BC

26/02/11– Men’s/Ladies Giant Slalom – Red Mountain, BC

27/02/11– Men’s/Ladies Downhill – Red Mountain, BC

28/02/11– Men’s/Ladies Downhill – Red Mountain, BC

04/03/11– Men’s/Ladies Slalom – Camp Fortune, ON

05/03/11– Men’s/Ladies Slalom – Camp Fortune, ONC

07/03/11– Men’s/Ladies Giant Slalom – Georgian Peaks, ON

08/03/11– Men’s/Ladies Giant Slalom – Georgian Peaks, ON

 

GMC CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

23/03/11- 30/03/11- Nakiska, AB

 

ABOUT THE COUPE GMC CUP
The Coupe GMC Cup is a developmental ski racing program sanctioned by Alpine Canada Alpin and the International Ski Federation (FIS). The series includes 32 races in three provinces this season culminating with the Coupe GMC Canadian Championships from March 23 to March 30 in Nakiska, AB. For more information, visit the Coupe GMC Cup website or join the Coupe GMC Cup Facebook page.