Calgary, Alta. (October 16, 2025) — Alpine Canada today announced the coaches and staff who will be leading and supporting Canada’s National Ski Team for the 25-26 FIS World Cup season, and the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games, across the three disciples of alpine, ski cross and Para alpine. This staff represents some of the top professionals in their respective fields, all committed to best supporting our athletes on and off the snow, and to increasing podium performances for Canada.
| 25-26 CANskiteam Coaches and Support Staff | ||||||
| Alpine | ||||||
| First Name | Last Name | Role | Hometown | Province | Country | |
| Jean-François | Rapatel | Director, High Performance | Montréal | QC | CAN | |
| Melissa | Drake | Manager, Team Operations | Calgary | AB | CAN | |
| Julie | Harvey | Medical Coordinator | Matane | QC | CAN | |
| Dr. Marie-Ève | Lefebvre | Chief Medical Officer | St-Sauveur | QC | CAN | |
| Alpine Men | ||||||
| John | Kucera | Head Coach | Calgary | AB | CAN | |
| Chris | Powers | Assistant Coach, Speed | Ottawa | ON | CAN | |
| Serge | Dugas | Assistant Coach, Speed | Magog | QC | CAN | |
| Conrad | Pridy | Speed Assistant Coach & Strength & Conditioning Lead | Whistler | BC | CAN | |
| Jonas | Haehlen | Assistant Coach, Speed | Calgary | AB | CAN | |
| Ben | Black | Assistant Coach, Speed | Aspen | CO | USA | |
| Jure | Gostenčnik | Ski Service Technician | Maribor | Drava | SVN | |
| Pavel | Zurek | Ski Service Technician | Zlin | Zlin | CZE | |
| Declan | Norris | Head Therapist and Head of Performance | Dublin | Leinster | IRE | |
| Alpine Women | ||||||
| Laurent | Praz | Head Coach | La Thuile | Valle D’Aosta | ITA | |
| Francis | Royal | Lead Coach Slalom Group | Rouyn-Noranda | QC | CAN | |
| Martin | Durocher | Assistant Coach, Slalom Group | Sutton | QC | CAN | |
| Pierre | Miniotti | Lead Coach, Combi (GS/SG) | Pont-Saint-Martin | Valle D’Aosta | ITA | |
| Mary Beth | Hemphill | Assistant Coach Combi / Strength & Conditioning Assistant | Uxbridge | ON | CAN | |
| Jay | Keddy | Assistant Coach, Combi | Fredericton | NB | CAN | |
| Federico | Rauco | Ski Service Technician | Rieti | Rieti | ITA | |
| Federico | Detragiache | Ski Service Technician | Aosta | Valle D’Aosta | ITA | |
| Michael | Francioli | Ski Service Technician | Verbania | Verbano-Cusio-Ossola | ITA | |
| Nicolo | Carpentieri | Ski Service Technician | Gressan | Valle D’Aosta | ITA | |
| Alexandre | Gariépy | Head Therapist and Lead Integrated Support Team | Montréal | QC | CAN | |
| Elias | Jonsson | Strength & Conditioning Lead & Assistant Coach | Fernie | BC | CAN | |
| CAST D | ||||||
| Urban | Planisek | Head Coach, Men | Hoče | Drava | SVN | |
| Cam | McKenzie | Assistant Coach | Collingwood | ON | CAN | |
| Miha | Dolinar | Ski Service Technician, Men | Medvode | Gorenjska | SVN | |
| Pablo | Vallina | Ski service Technician, Men | Madrid | Madrid | ESP | |
| Marie-Ève | Boulianne | Head Coach, Women | Quebec City | QC | CAN | |
| Leslie | Firstbrook | Assistant Coach | Collingwood | ON | CAN | |
| Katja | Kač | Ski Service Technician, Women | Trzin | Upper Carniola | SVN | |
| Ski Cross | ||||||
| Dave | Ellis | Director, High Performance | Fernie | BC | CAN | |
| Christy | Morrison | Manager, Team Operations | Calgary | AB | CAN | |
| Stanley | Hayer | Head Coach, World Cup | Kimberley | BC | CAN | |
| Victor | Dockal | Assistant Coach, World Cup | Cochrane | AB | CAN | |
| Ben | Wilkinson | Assistant Coach, World Cup | Cochrane | AB | CAN | |
| Titouan | Olanie | Assistant Coach, NextGen | Les deux Alpes | Venosc | FRA | |
| Jordan | Williams | Return to Snow Coach | Whistler | BC | CAN | |
| James | Perks | Ski Service Technician | Calgary | AB | CAN | |
| Primoz | Vrhovnik | Ski Service Technician | Ljubljana | Osrednja | SVN | |
| Nejc | Vrhovnik | Ski Service Technician | Ljubljana | Osrednja | SVN | |
| Rod | Honey | Ski Service Technician | Sun Peaks | BC | CAN | |
| Kyle | Urvold | Ski Service Technician | Leduc | AB | CAN | |
| Jeremiah | Barnert | Lead Integrated Support Team | Okotoks | AB | CAN | |
| Cam | Grant | Lead Paramedical | Whistler | BC | CAN | |
| Alex | Hodgins | Consultant, Mental Performance | London | ON | CAN | |
| Dr. Karin | Kausky | Team Physician | Whistler | BC | CAN | |
| Dr. Brian | Benson | Team Physician | Calgary | AB | CAN | |
| Para-Alpine | ||||||
| Matt | Hallat | Director, High Performance | North Vancouver | BC | CAN | |
| Will | Marshall | Head Coach | Panorama | BC | CAN | |
| Fred | Deslongchamps | Coach, World Cup | Prévost | QC | CAN | |
| Lasse | Ericsson | Coach, World Cup | Hedemora | – | SWE | |
| Todd | Cuthbert | Ski Service Technician | Pemberton | BC | CAN | |
| AJ | Hoelke | Ski Service Technician | Durango | CO | USA | |
| Stuart | Munro | Mental Performance | Kent | UK | GBR | |
| Kayla | Dodson | Lead IST | Whistler | BC | CAN | |
| Laura | Strenger | Strength and Conditioning | Whistler | BC | CAN | |
| Joe | Franklin | Engineer Sit Ski and Special Projects | Vancouver | WA | USA | |
| Dr. Warren | Thirsk | Team Physician | Edmonton | AB | CAN | |
| Mark | Newton | Senior Manager, Para Alpine Domestic Programs and Pathways | Calgary | AB | CAN | |
| Jenny | Dea | Physiotherapist | North Vancouver | BC | CAN | |
| Glenn | Wark | Physiotherapist | Collingwood | ON | CAN | |
| John | Roberts | Physiotherapist | Calgary | AB | CAN | |
Follow Canada’s Ski Team this season on Alpine Canada’s website, across our social media accounts and subscribe to our newsletter.
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Media Contact
Mark Halliday
Alpine Canada
403 777 3204
media@alpinecanada.org
About Alpine Canada
Alpine Canada is the governing body for alpine, para-alpine, and ski cross racing in Canada, as well as for Canadian ski coaches, providing education, certification, insurance, and compliance with the coaching code of conduct. With the support of valued corporate partners and donors, along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, the Canadian Olympic Committee, and the Coaching Association of Canada, Alpine Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic, World Championship, and World Cup athletes to stimulate visibility, inspiration, and growth in the ski community.