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Richard Prokopanko and Don Appelle in the Ride to Conquer CancerThe Whistler Weasel Workers is an organization of volunteer ski race workers dedicated to the advancement of alpine ski racing in Whistler and throughout Canada. Over the years, Weasels have worked on Olympic, World Championship, World Cup, NorAm and National Championship ski races in Whistler, Nakiska, Salt  Lake,  Bormio, Beaver Creek, Lake Louise and elsewhere.

Mike Janyk of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team at the World Alpine Ski ChampionshipsBrowse through our Web site to learn about our activities,  our history, and upcoming events.  With time, we hope to gather stories and photos from many similar groups engaged in ski racing, throughout the world.  Follow the activity of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team on the World Cup and Nor-Am ski racing circuits.

Manuel Osborne-Paradis wins at Kvitjell  World CupIn February, 2008 the Weasels were engaged in the 2008 version of the Pontiac GMC Canadian Alpine Ski Championships, followed by four Telus Whistler World Cup ski races.  In between, were  qualifying races for Canadian youth wishing to represent Canada at the World Junior Championships.

After a 10 year absence, the FIS World Cup ski racing returned to Whistler.  The 2008 Whistler World Cup ski races were run on two separate tracks, the world famous Dave Murray Downhill  for the Men's WC races and the brand new Ladies Olympic Downhill on Whistler Mountain's Franz's Run, for the "Canadians" and the Ladies WC races.   The new Franz's Downhill has been developed for the 2010 Winter Olympic games, and our 2008 races were the first on this challenging new ski racing track.  These two tracks were built and maintained  concurrently by volunteers.

In 2008, the Weasels welcomed to Whistler more ski race workers than  for any earlier event.    Many old members returned from afar and many newcomers joined us to learn our terrain, to develop or hone their skills and to become part of the Weasel team. 

Whistler Weasel Workers at World Cup 2008Although the weather for the 2008 Pontiac GMC Canadian Alpine Ski Championships presented a challenge, the Telus Whistler World Cup races came off without a hitch. We had good weather and the tracks were in great shape.    Well done Weasels!   

As expected, the new Ladies Olympic Downhill on Franz's Run proved to be a great course, one that athletes and coaches now look on as a favorite.   Congratulations to John Kucera, Britt Janyk,  Emily Brydon and all of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team for its great performance.

Thanks to all of our members who travelled so far and worked so hard to bring these races to such a successful conclusion.   We had Talon Crew from Beaver Creek, Sled Dogs from Alberta, Marmots from Mt Washington, Sun Dogs from the Okanagan, members of Team 44, and a host of other volunteers from many points in Canada, the USA, New Zealand, Australia and Europe.    They came together and blended into a very effective Weasel crew that made volunteer history by concurrently building two side-by-side world-class tracks.  Special thanks to those Weasels who worked so late after the  Ladies Combined to tear down the track which, by the end of the day, was open to the public. The Beer Tent is lomg gone from the Creekside parkade, leaving many echoes of new friendships and good memories. Thanks to Maria and hula-skirted Natalie for the  Margaritas behind the Equipment Cans and to Owen who hosted a "last hurrah" at Dusty's.

Whistler Weasel Workers at the Whistler World Cup 2008In 2009,  the Weasels built and maintained the track for the Canadian Junior (J1) National Championships. SG, SC, GS, SL, were run on the Dave Murray track under world-class conditions. Also in 2009, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Disabled Alpine Skiing World Cup was held on Franz's Downhill. This was the first exposure for the Weasels to IPC disabled ski racing and we were filled with awe by the athleticism and skill of the disabled athletes.

All of these 2009 ski races allowed us one more chance to hone our team before heading into the Big Winter Olympic "Party" in 2010.  The Weasels also turned out to set up saftey systems on the two downhill tracks to help the CAST to train on the Olympic Downhill Courses, important steps to "Owing the Podium". 

In addition to these races in Whistler, a crew of Weasels were active again at Lake Louise for the Winterstart WC downhill in December and a small group of Weasels travelled to France to assist with the 2009 FIS World Championships in Val d’Isere.  

Whistler Weasel Workers expect to work long days, to have fun, and to make many good friends.  Join us and take home a “perk” package that identifies you among Canada’s world-class ski racing community!    Help us support our National and Development Ski Teams.  They're on fire!  Come to Whistler, watch our world-class racers in action and get a preview of Canada's next generation of ski racers.

Whistler Weaasel Workers morning meetingMen's (left) and Women's Olympic Downhills on Whistler Mountain

Blackcomb Mountain at Whistler BC
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