
About the Team
The UBC Thunderbirds Alpine Ski Sport Club is a competitive ski team that races throughout North America in the United States Collegiate Ski Association (USCSA) circuit. From East to West Coast we compete in Slalom and Giant Slalom in team scored races. Our season includes Carnival Style weekend Conference Races in the USCSA Northwest Conference, Regional Championships, and the ultimate goal of returning to the National Championships each year in late March. Our roster includes both a travel competitive team and a training development team.
The UBC Alpine Ski Team recruits NorAm/FIS/USSA/International athletes as well as athletes with limited racing experience who are looking to improve their skills. Training starts at the beginning of September with dry land transitioning to on-snow in gates at our pre-season camp and ongoing training with Grouse Mountain.
Want to learn more? Email our team at alpineski.sc@ubc.ca
Subscribe to our newsletter here!
A big thanks to our sponsors – Grouse Mountain, Grouse TYEE, Patagonia – and UBC alumni whose continued support makes UBC Alpine’s success possible!
We are one of the best Canadian University Ski Teams in the USCSA. All members are passionate about skiing and want to continue to race throughout University. You will get the opportunity to travel to the United States for competitions. Above all, the UBC Alpine Ski Sport Club is a great environment to train your fitness, improve skills, learn leadership skills by taking up an executive position, and build friendships with like-minded people who want to stay on the slopes as much as possible.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum Racing Experience – FIS/NCAA/USSA/NorAM/Club Teams/School Teams
- Commitment to Fall Dry Land Training: 2 times per week
- Commitment to Pre-Season Camp and training weekends
- Travel Commitment of 3 to 4 Weekends for Conference Races, Regionals, and Nationals
Try Outs:
Come meet your future teammates at UBC’s Imagine Day (September 5, 2023) to find out more.
Questions? email alpineski.sc@ubc.ca
Team Fees:
- $300 Base Team Fee includes:
- Team Shirt, Dryland, Team Building Events, Alumni Events, USCSA Registration Fees, Seasons Training Pass to Grouse Mountain
- $135 for only training option
- $100-$300 Apparel Fee includes (optional):
- Patagonia team apparel.
- $600 Fundraising Goal covers: Travel, Race Fees, Accommodation, and Flights.* Fee is dependent on which race series the athletes qualifies for and attends.
- $350 per Qualifier race, $500 Regional Championships
Practice Schedule:
Fall Dry Land Training:
- Sundays (7:00-8:30pm) – @ Birdcoop
- Thursdays at the field (location and time TBD)
- Must attend a minimum of 75% of drylands
- Dryland starts mid September
Winter Training:
- Date: Wednesday from January to March of 2020
- Time: 3:00pm to 8:00pm
- Location: Grouse Mountain
Pre-Season Camps: Whistler Blackcomb mid January
Competition Schedule:
Check out http://www.uscsanw.org/ for more information about the conference and for updates on team and individual standings throughout the season! Information about our Conference Races and Nationals will be posted once it becomes available.
Nationals:
2023-24
- Lake Placid (New York), March 8th-14th
2022-23
SILVER MOUNTAIN, ID
DAY ONE
WOMENS TEAM – 6TH PLACE
Malia Hodgkinson – 12th
MENS TEAM – 2ND PLACE
Nelson Fretenburg – 4th
Marko Smitran – 6th
John Forssander – 8th
Brogan Themens – 11th
DAY TWO
WOMENS TEAM – 5TH PLACE
Malia Hodgkinson – 9th
Anika Prasad – 18th
MENS TEAM – 2ND PLACE
Nelson Fretenburg – 2nd
Marko Smitran – 7th
John Forssander – 8th
Brogan Themens – 13th
SNOQUALMIE PASS, WA
DAY ONE
WOMENS TEAM – 4TH PLACE
Malia Hodgkinson – 12th
Emma Fontaine – 17th
MENS TEAM – 2ND PLACE
Marcus Athans – 1st
Nelson Fretenburg – 4th
Brogan Themens – 9th
John Forssander – 14th
Marko Smitran – 15th
DAY TWO
WOMENS TEAM – 5TH PLACE
Malia Hodgkinson – 11th
Anika Prasad – 16th
MENS TEAM – 1ST PLACE
Marcus Athans – 1st
Brogan Themens – 7th
Nelson Fretenburg – 8th
John Forssander – 10th
Marko Smitran – 16th
REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
GS
WOMENS TEAM – 12TH
MENS TEAM – 6TH
Nelson Fretenburg – 14th
SL
WOMENS TEAM – 12TH
MENS TEAM – 8TH
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
SL
MENS TEAM – 14TH
2019-20
MCCALL, ID
DAY ONE
WOMENS TEAM – 3RD PLACE
Anastasia Kiku – 3rd
Maija Wootton – 8th
Emilie McGuire – 9th
Isabella Gigone – 10th
Sophie Sargent – 11th
Paloma Green – 18th
MENS TEAM – 3RD PLACE
Massimiliano Duso – 4th
Brogan Themens – 11th
Devon Lister – 12th
Oscar Schemmann – 14th
Nicolai Van Kruijsdijk – 15th
Victor Samyn – 17th
WALLACE, ID
DAY ONE
WOMENS TEAM – 3RD PLACE
Isabella Gigone – 5th
MENS TEAM – 8TH PLACE
Jake Klonsky – 7th
DAY TWO
WOMENS TEAM – 1ST PLACE
Isabella Gigone – 1st
Anastasia Kiku – 4th
Sophie Sargent – 11th
MENS TEAM – 5TH PLACE
John Forssander – 6th
Jake Klonsky – 9th
WHITE PASS, WA
DAY ONE
WOMENS TEAM – 1ST PLACE
Isabella Gigone – 3rd
Samantha Boughner – 5th
Anastasia Kiku – 7th
Maija Wootton – 8th
MENS TEAM – 4TH PLACE
Jake Klonsky – 8th
Devon Lister – 9th
Nicolai Van Kruijsdijk – 19th
DAY TWO
WOMENS TEAM – 2ND PLACE
Isabella Gigone – 2nd
Anastasia Kiku – 3rd
Samantha Boughner – 9th
Sophie Sargent – 10th
Maija Wootton – 12th
MENS TEAM – 3RD PLACE
Jake Klonsky – 8th
Devon Lister – 11th
Massimiliano Duso – 19th
GOVERNMENT CAMP, OR
DAY ONE
WOMENS TEAM – 1ST PLACE
Isabella Gigone – 1st
Anastasia Kiku – 6th
Sophie Sargent – 9th
Emilie McGuire – 11th
Maija Wootton – 13th
MENS TEAM – 3RD PLACE
Brogan Themens – 9th
Jake Klonsky – 10th
Devon Lister – 15th
Massimiliano Duso – 17th
DAY TWO
WOMENS TEAM – 1ST PLACE
Isabella Gigone – 4th
Anastasia Kiku – 5th
Sophie Sargent – 7th
Emilie McGuire – 11th
Maija Wootton – 12th
MENS TEAM – 2ND PLACE
Massimiliano Duso – 4th
Brogan Themens – 6th
Jake Klonsky – 7th
Devon Lister– 9th
Hartl Luis – 13th
Victor Samyn – 14th
Oscar Schemmann – 17th
REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
GS
WOMENS TEAM – 5TH
Sophie Sargent – 11th
Anastasia Kiku – 12th
MENS TEAM – 6TH
SL
WOMENS TEAM – 3RD
Isabella Gigone – 7th
Anastasia Kiku – 8th
Sophie Sargent – 16th
MENS TEAM – 7TH
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
GS
WOMENS TEAM – 7TH
Isabella Gigone – 15th
MENS TEAM – 20TH
SL
WOMENS TEAM – 13TH
MENS TEAM – 18TH
2019-20
LOOKOUT PASS
DAY ONE
WOMENS TEAM – 3RD PLACE
Isabella Gigone – 5th
MENS TEAM – 8TH PLACE
Jake Klonsky – 7th
DAY TWO
WOMENS TEAM – 1ST PLACE
Isabella Gigone – 1st
Anastasia Kiku – 4th
Sophie Sargent – 11th
MENS TEAM – 5TH PLACE
John Forssander – 6th
Jake Klonsky – 9th
BRUNDAGE MOUNTAIN
WOMENS TEAM – 3RD PLACE
Anastasia Kiku – 3rd
Maija Wootton – 8th
Emilie McGuire – 9th
Isabella Gigone – 10th
Sophie Sargent – 11th
MENS TEAM – 3RD PLACE
Max Duso – 4th
Brogan Themens – 11th
Devon Lister – 12th
2018-2019
Brundage Mountain, Idaho
Women’s team – 1st place
Michelle Warner – 1st
Helena Newboult – 4th
Anastasia Kiku – 5th
2017-2018 Results
Brundage Mountain, Idaho
Day 1
- Women’s team – 1st place
- Samantha Boughner – 2nd place
- Anastsasia Kiku – 6th place
- Cameron Hale – 4th place
Day 2
- Anastsasia Kiku – 2nd place
- Michele Warner – 5th place
- Cameron Hale – 3rd place
2016-2017 Results
USCSA Nationals in Bend, OR
- Womens Ski Cross – 3rd Team Overall
- Womens GS – 9th Overall
- Womens SL – 9th Overall
2015-16 Results
Pre-Season Training Camp hosted by Big White Resort
Mount. Bachelor, Oregon
- Maria Bjork – 3rd Place
- Jordan Fitzgerald – 6th Place
SL Regionals
- Jordan Fitzgerald – 6th Place
GS Mount Bachelor, Oregon
- Sandy Gerlich – 5th Place
Regionals Overall Finish
- 3rd Place for both the Men and Women’s Alpine Ski Teams
SkiCross, Nationals in Lake Placid, NY
- Jordan Fitzgerald – 3rd Place
Honorable Mention:
- UBC Thunderbird Sport Clubs Female Student Leadership Award: Kayla Johnston, Alpine Ski Club Lead (2015-16)
- UBC Thunderbird Sport Club Athlete of the Year: Cameron Hale, (2017-2018)
It all began in 1920 with the creation of the Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC). This club was involved in many outdoor activities, including skiing, and was student run. By 1928, it was among the most popular clubs on campus.
1934 UBC Inter Collegiate Ski Team
In the Spring of 1930, the first alpine competition was introduced, an intramural event that included both a downhill and a cross-country skiing component.
Then late in the 1930’s, the UBC Ski Team separated from the VOC and began racing in the Northwest against teams such as the University of Washington.
1955 UBC Men’s Ski Team
By the 1950’s, UBC had become a popular and competitive team. Al Fisher joined as a volunteer coach in 1956 and was later inducted into the UBC Athletics Hall of Fame (2003). Fisher combined a passion for fitness and skiing to get the most out of the athletes and, over the years, led some of the University’s most successful ski teams.
Since the 1950’s, strong Alumni support and a desire to keep a collegiate team in Canada has kept the Skibirds going.
Until 2015, the UBC Alpine Ski Team was a Varsity Team at UBC, competing in the USCSA circuit. Since then, the team has restructured to a UBC Thunderbirds Sport Club and remains competitive in the USCSA, placing in the Top 3 of Regionals in the 2015-16 Season and one of the strongest UBC showings at Nationals in Lake Placid, New York. More recently, they have returned from the pandemic in form – placing top 3 in qualifier races and qualifying for the USCSA National Championships in Mammoth Lakes, California.
2022 UBC Men’s Alpine Ski Team at USCSA National Championships
For updates about the team throughout the season and Alumni information please check out the team blog posts seen at the bottom of the page!
To support UBC TSC Alpine Skiing head to our Give UBC page and select “Alpine Skiing”.
UBC Thunderbird Sports Clubs Scholarships
Thunderbird Alpine Skiing Endowment
- One or more awards, which may range from a minimum value of $500 each to the maximum allowable under athletic association regulations, are offered to outstanding members of the Thunderbird Alpine Ski Team in any year of study. Awards are made on the nomination of the President’s Athletic Awards Committee
- The Gifts will be given to the top male and top female student athlete or student leader who performs competitively and has results during the season, demonstrates good leadership, has good academic standings and is a positive ambassador of the team and the sport.
Al Fisher Skiing Award
- One or more awards under athletic association regulations, are offered to outstanding members of the Thunderbird Alpine or Nordic Ski Team in any year of study. The awards are made on the recommendation of the President’s Athletic Awards Committee.
- The gifts will be used to honour student-athletes who exhibit competitive attitude and track record, pursue the highest level of competition, displays outstanding leadership qualities by example and through coaching, provides an organized approach to training and competition, and academic studies, is in good academic standing, demonstrates a passion for sport and fitness and the desire to inspire others, and demonstrates financial need in pursuit of competition.
Harry C. and M. Cecilia Miller Memorial Skiing Award
- One or more, which may range from a minimum of $500 each to the maximum allowable under athletic association regulations, are offered to members of the UBC Women’s Alpine Ski Team in any year of study, through an endowment established by the Harry C. and M. Cecelia Miller Trust. The awards are made on the recommendation of the President’s Athletic Awards Committee.
- The gifts will be used to honour female student-athletes who are committed and dedicated to the team, training and competition, are in good academic standing, contributes to the Alpine Ski Sports Club as an athlete and a teammate, takes initiative, and invests in making the team better
UBC Thunderbirds Sport Clubs - Alpine Skiing
6000 Student Union Blvd.
Student Recreation Centre
Vancouver, BC
V6T 1Z1
604-822-3683 alpineski.sc@ubc.ca
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