Submitted by SODST Coaching Staff….”The SODST is about halfway through its on-snow season. The team has been divided in three these last few weeks – the girls in the Collingwood Nor-Am Cup, some boys out west with Bebe at the Kimberley Speed events and some boys at home training with me (Jacques). Training at home means we rely on the Escarpment clubs to host us and for that, I  would like to thank the clubs and their program leaders for their support this winter. When at these clubs, it’s a great chance for SOD to promote the team and the FIS (U19) competitive level in general. We’ve been to several clubs, Craigleith, Osler, The Peaks and Beaver Valley who went overboard to welcome Duncan Waugh home (see photo of Duncan here). This club truly had a welcome committee in place and they rolled out the red carpet for us!  Seeing the little kids line up along our training course and asking the boys for autographs made us all realize we are role models in this crazy sport and it’s a privilege for our teens to give back to the younger racers. Thank you Beaver Valley and Chris Daniels!

With this training block behind us, we are now in Quebec training for the Bromont, Quebec Super Series that run Feb 15-18. These series include some of the best skiers in North America so it will be a good test for us mid-way through the season. At the end of the month, we will compete in a similar series in Ottawa followed by the FIS races back home in Collingwood in March. We hope some of you can come out and cheer us on in the Ottawa and Collingwood races!

If you see us at your local club, please do not hesitate to say hello or ask us how it’s going. Representing the SOD Division is an exciting endeavour and we welcome U16 athletes to join in and parents to ask us questions. It’s how you learn so don’t be shy! ~ Jacques


Jenn Warren, Women’s Coach

My advice to the girls on the first GS day at Georgian Peaks was “Eyes wide open…” Be a sponge of information, watch and learn from all of these accomplished women athletes.  Watch their start routine, their warmup, their inspection, their mental preparation and what they eat in the lodge.  Every part of the Raymond James Nor-Am was a learning experience for the women of the SOD Ski team, including myself.  It was the first Nor-Am for each of us, and I can’t express enough what an incredible experience it was. Being part of such a huge event illuminated the importance of active engagement and real-time experiences in learning.

It is through reflection that we learn the most about our experiences, after some time and reflection I hope the girls are proud of themselves and their performance, I certainly am.  The SODST girls competed at the highest level.  They brought tenacity and intensity to each race day, they were focused and positive.  Not every turn, or every run, or every day was perfect, but that is okay, it is a work in progress.  Two great things to take away from the Nor Ams…

“Don’t strive to be perfect, it is not real.” Erin Mielzynski
“Don’t compare yourself to the rest, do it for you.” Candace Crawford

Emma Gosselin had 3 top 60 results in Slalom (52,43,40) – pictured here, image by Herman Koeslag

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Bebe Zoricic, Men’s Coach 

Four members of the SODST returned this week from 12 days in the west on the challenging speed circuit in Kimberley and Lake Louise. After 8 races (2 downhill, 4 super g, 1 GS and 1 slalom), the boys have a few memorable results and achievements:
– Robert Doman, David Bamborough and Jamie Sills Schvarcz earned their FIS first downhill points
– David and Jamie earned their first FIS SG points
– Robert finished 8th and 10th in the Kimberley DH
– Aidan finished 6th in the Kimberley SG
– David finished a 5th in the Kimberley SL
– Aidan earned his first FIS podium finishing 3rd overall in the Lake Louise SG!
– All the boys improved their SG points significantly over the 12 days.

For more information on the SODST Program including the 2020-21 Selection Criteria please visit www.sodskiteam.ca