On the shoulders of many fly the dreams of a few. Never was this more evident than this past winter during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. In the face of significant snow challenges, an army of volunteers transformed an almost snowless venue into a sparkling winter wonderland. Their herculean efforts made Canada proud long before our athletes took the stage to do the same.

As we close the book on Vancouver and on 2010, one thing is sure. In both victory and defeat, our team made us proud. It made Canada proud. Our athletes’ dedication and hard work have provided a foundation of inspiration for the next generation. From the start to the end, it is clear that a key to our collective success is, was, and will continue be a significant collaborative effort.

Success is a clarity of vision and a complete commitment to excellence, not just on the day, but every day. Not just by one, but by all. Canada Post, Own the Podium, Bell, RBC, Columbia Sportswear and the Government of Canada, along with numerous other supporters and suppliers, provided us with the resources we required to create a winning environment. At the same time, our parents, Board, officials, coaches, staff, volunteers and, of course, our athletes at all levels, were clearly the shoulders carrying the dream.

Nelson Mandela once said of South Africa in its quest to emerge, “This country is hungry for greatness.” This statement certainly applied to Canada on the eve of the Games. Alex Bilodeau lit the fire, and thirteen more fuelled it. There is no doubt now that Canadian Freestyle athletes, along with their counterparts from other winter sports, ignited the red mitten-wearing, flag-waving throngs and ushered in a new era of patriotism and national pride in Canadian sport and history. At the beginning of a new quadrennial, we celebrate our Olympic successes, including eight top-ten finishes, an amazing second Olympic medal for Jenn Heil and Canada’s historic first Olympic victory on home soil by Alex Bilodeau. But we are also saddened to see the departure of some of our best. Athletes like Maxime Gingras, Vincent Marquis, Kyle Nissen, and Steve Omischl have been significant contributors to the legend that is the Canadian Freestyle Team. Their legacies will live on in the next generation of champions.

Our sights are now set on this season’s Canada Post Grand Prix events in Calgary and at Ski Mont Gabriel; the FIS Freestyle World Championships in Deer Valley, UT; and towards the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. At the time of this printing, we are also looking forward to the strong possibility that Halfpipe skiing will be included into the 2014 Games and are developing a strategy for the future inclusion of Slopestyle. The FIS has supported these outcomes and we are anxiously awaiting the International Olympic Committee’s ruling on this issues.

However, high performance is only one aspect of our programming, and it’s an aspect that relies on a strong grassroots program. With our new long-term athlete development model, CAN Freestyle, and its programs we are positioned to capitalize on the post-Olympic profile of our sport with an athletic pathway designed to ensure the development of freestyle skiers of all ages and in all disciplines. Thus, our provincial partners are prepared to harness and develop the next generation of champions.

From the last quadrennial to the beginning of this new era, it is clear that a key to our collective success is, was, and will continue to be a significant collaborative effort.

When one dream is achieved, many more are born.
Peter Judge

Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Freestyle Ski Association