Local Sports

It was, as far as ski mountaineering competitions go, almost a utopia. Morning temperatures at the start line were cool, but not cold. Blue skies gifted inspirational views. And fresh powder made the downhill legs of the race delightfully enjoyable.

Norwegian Tor-Arne Hetland is out as one of Canada’s cross-country ski team coaches, while head coaches Justin Wadsworth and Louis Bouchard received a vote of confidence to lead Canada’s world cup teams next season.

No sports program has brought more glory to Banff than BCHS rugby in recent years.

Slopes of Europe, brace yourself. Banff snowboarder Michelle Locke has become the first Canadian woman to earn a spot on the Free Ride World Tour.

With the departure of hometown Olympian Stefan Kuhn, the Alberta World Cup Academy has tapped Pavlina Sudrich of Whitehorse to join the elite cross-country ski team’s coaching staff. Sudrich will work alongside Chris Jeffries.

The Canmore Eagles have hired Barry Sawchuk as the AJHL club’s new head scout and director of player personnel.

Chalk up another win for the Panda. For the first time in his 18-year career, Banff’s Jan Hudec has been named Alberta Athlete of the Year.

Slick-skating Canmore defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker will be the lone Bow Valley resident at the biggest bantam-level tournament in the province, as Canmore hosts the 2015 ATB Alberta Cup, April 29 to May 3.

Watch out, Jane Gray. Move over, Somas sisters. Canmore has two new figure skating medallists to reckon with.

The Bow Valley’s cup runneth over with a plentitude of trail shredders.