KITCHENER, ON (April 20, 2010) - Canadian alpine skier Kelly VanderBeek (Kitchener, ON) is joining forces with parents and coaches from her home region of Kitchener, ON to keep local kids participating in competitive alpine skiing close to home.
With no similar programs offered for 13 and 14-year-old's ski racers in the area, Kelly VanderBeek Racing was born in the fall and completed its inaugural season last week.
VanderBeek, an Olympian and World Cup medalist who grew up in Kitchener learning to ski race at the small Chicopee Ski Club, started KVR this season with the help of Peter Bassin Jr., a local coach who is the son of VanderBeek's former ski coach.
They got together with local parents to provide a high performance program so local skiers didn't have to leave the community to pursue the sport.
"As a lot of people know, ski racing is a small community. I am happy to be supporting kids at this age," VanderBeek said. "It's important to have these programs at this time when competition starts to become a little bit more intense."
The team had three members in its first season with as many as six participants in various camps held through the year. The season wrapped up with one racer competing in the 2010 Whistler Cup, the only international ski race of its kind in North America for racers that age.
"We recognized the need to keep these kids in the sport because you could lose people who could be great athletes. If Chicopee did not exist when I came through, I wouldn't be where I am today. So I am hoping KVR will give other kids the same opportunity," VanderBeek said.
To assist with fundraising, VanderBeek donated a number of one-of-a-kind ski-related items that were auctioned on eBay on a weekly basis throughout the season.
"It's a not-for-profit group and we're just trying to create a healthy environment for kids to grow and learn in a sporting environment. It's really all about getting kids of that age active and outside and excited. It gives them an opportunity to advance in the sport if they choose to," she said.
This "all-in-the-family" team also includes Peter's sister Erica, who does dryland training with the young ski racers.
"Many kids are interested in pursuing the sport at a higher level. KVR is providing them with an option to pursue what they love without having to move to Collingwood. This way they can continue to develop their skills with the support of their home community," said Bassin.
While mapping out the future of KVR, VanderBeek is also busy preparing for her own return to the slopes after tearing ligaments in her left knee during training for a World Cup race in Val d'Isère, FRA in December. VanderBeek said rehabilitation is coming along, and she is aiming to be back on snow in August or September.
In February, she participated in the Olympic torch relay and provided analysis CTV during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Whistler, BC.
