ALPINE:

Young guns set sights on Mike and Manny Cowboys Camp

April 13, 2010 — Alpine Canada

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WHISTLER, B.C. — Some members of the men's Canadian Alpine Ski Team are bringing the 2009-10 ski racing season to an end by holding a ski camp for deserving young ski racers in B.C.

The Mike and Manny Cowboys Camp, in its third season, is bringing 12 junior skiers to Whistler, B.C., for the camp from April 28 to May 1.

The camp is run by World Cup winner Manuel Osborne-Paradis and 2009 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships medallist Michael Janyk along with "guest coach" Robbie Dixon.

"Even though we have grown the camp from 10 kids in the first year to now accepting 12 kids from all over B.C., we still would love to bring more young racers in the coming years, as so many of them are very deserving," said Osborne-Paradis.

This camp is intended to help young racers who might otherwise be unable to attend high level off-season training. The skiers, each members of B.C. Alpine who are entering their first or second year FIS, were selected based on a short letter of 400 words to explain why they should get picked for the camp, accompanied by a letter of support from their coach.

"This year was the toughest selection year of all with almost double the number of applicants from previous years. All of the kids who wrote in had amazing stories to tell and showed great passion for the sport of skiing," said Osborne-Paradis, who had two World Cup victories in the 2009-10 season.

All the kids will live and stay under one roof and get the full experience of what it is like to be at a ski camp with members of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team. The young racers will work on slalom, giant slalom, freeskiing, drills and gate training.

"The Cowboys Ski Camp could not happen without the great support of our partners, like Whistler Blackcomb, who are providing the lift passes, Presidents Choice, who are providing the fuel for the kids, Rossignol, Uvex, Leki and other supporters of ski racing, along with Richard and Jacquie Prokopanko for providing a platform for many others in the ski racing community to join in and support the camp," said Janyk.

People who wish to support or contribute to the Manny and Mike Cowboy Camp can contact Richard and Jacquie Prokopanko at jacquiep@rogers.blackberry.net.  SRC

Mike and Manny Cowboys Camp Athletes

Boys
Alex Duchesne — Revelstoke Ski Club
Broderick Thompson — Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Julian Brumec — Parsons- Mount Seymour Ski Club
Julien Bernard — Fernie Alpine Ski Team
Kelley Humphreys — Red Mountain Racers
Nolan Walls — Kimberley North Star Racers

Girls
Alix Wells — Prince George Ski Club
Elie Taillefer — Whistler Mountain Ski Club
Emilie Tremblay — Vernon Ski Club
Hallie MacLachlan — Fernie Alpine Ski Team
Hannah Kapur — Mount Seymour Ski Club
Madison Haynes — Windermere Valley Ski Club