ALPINE:

Riml leaves Alpine Canada to rejoin USSA

March 25, 2011 — Alpine Canada     ♦ Photo: Patrick Riml (Alpine Canada) 

Athletic director Patrick Riml is leaving Alpine Canada to return to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, ACA President Max Gartner confirmed Friday.

Riml came to Alpine Canada from the USSA prior to the start of the 2008-09 season and leaves on a high, only a few weeks after Erik Guay's world championship-winning downhill run in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

The native of Soelden, Austria, originally joined the U.S. Ski Team in 2001 as Europa Cup head coach before becoming women's head coach in 2003. He worked closely with U.S. superstars Julia Mancuso and Lindsey Vonn and rejoins the organization as alpine program director.

"I wish Alpine Canada Alpin and all the athletes all the best going forward," said Riml. "Canada has huge talent and they've showed that in the last couple of weeks, winning the world downhill championship."

Gartner thanked Riml for his work with Alpine Canada and wished him well in his new role, which is effective immediately.

"Patrick brought a lot to our program," said Gartner. "His intimate knowledge of World Cup ski racing in Europe and his relationships helped our program on a lot of different levels. He was instrumental in developing our European home base in Kirchberg, Austria. We will miss Patrick but wish him all the best in his new role with the USSA.

"Going forward on the alpine side, we will have an interim management team of managing director Robert Rousselle, men's head coach Paul Kristofic and ladies' head coach Hugues Ansermoz."