Awards
Sport Yukon Major Awards
The 32nd Annual Sport Yukon Awards Night was held November 23, 2007. Several members of Cross Country Yukon were honoured for their achievements in racing, coaching, administration and officiating during the 2006/2007 season.
From Left To Right Holding Plaques: Club of the Year: Lorne Mountain Community Club (accepted by Karen McKenna - Club President), Most Improved Male Athlete of the Year: Sam Lindsey (accepted by Claire Lindsey), Most Improved Female Athlete of the Year: Heidi O'Connor Brook
Club Of The Year
Lorne Mountain Community Club
Most Improved Male Athlete of the Year
Sam Lindsey
Most Improved Female Athlete of the Year
Heidi O'Connor Brook
Team of the Year
Emily Nishikawa, Janelle Greer, Bryn Knight and Heidi O’Connor-Brook
Athlete of the Year
David Greer and Bryn Knight were selected as the Male and Female Athlete of the Year
David's Thank You Speech read by his mom, Lorrie Greer
I would like to thank the sport governing body, Cross Country Yukon, who nominated me for this award. XC skiers are lucky to have such organized and supportive people representing them. Also, I want to thank the Sport & Rec Dept of YTG, who help support us financially with High Performance Athlete Grants; I don't know if it would have been possible for me to be living in Quebec and training with Jr National team this year if it wasn't for that financial boost.
Last ski season was a super season for me. Things could not have gone any better for me, it was absolutely perfect and I couldn’t have asked for more. But I really must thank the awesome coaching staff for the Yukon Ski Team who really helped me through the season, especially my coach, Alain Masson.
I would also like to thank the entire Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club and the Yukon Ski Team, who make training and racing in the Yukon a pure joy and helped me develop to where I am today. I love representing the Yukon when racing throughout Canada and will continue to chase my dreams as long as possible.
Thank you,
David Greer
Bryn's Thank You Speech read by her sister, Rhiannon Jones
The Yukon Ski Team had an amazing season last winter that couldn’t have happened without the support of many people that I would like to acknowledge.
Thanks to the Government of Yukon, Sport Yukon, and YRAC for all their sport funding, and CCY, Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club and all their members for their support of cross country skiing.
Thank you to my coaches, especially Alain Masson, to everyone else who has worked with me in the last few years, and to my teammates for making training so much fun. I would also like to acknowledge Tracey Bilsky for work sport psychology sessions that allowed me to develop a positive mental attitude that is so essential for competitive sport.
And of course thanks to my parents and sister for always being there for everything. I'm extremely lucky to be able to follow my dream this year by training full-time at a Development Centre so thanks to everyone who has helped make this a reality.
Thank You
Bryn Knight
Coach of the Year
Gary Bailie, was selected as Coach of the Year. Gary is a club member but is also the coach for Kwanlin Coyotes Ski Club. He has spent several years building trails and a chalet for the Coyotes and has spent many hours coaching and mentoring kids in skiing, bush skills and life skills.
Sara Nielsen was also nominated as a Coach of the Year for her work with the Yukon Ski Team as a volunteer coach. Sara was an assistant coach for the Canada Winter Games and National Championships.
Administrator of the Year
Claude Chabot was awarded Administrator of the Year in recognition of his hard work on the Canada Winter Games and many years on the Cross Country Yukon Board.
Awards of Excellence
Skiers who have competed at National or International events are honoured with these awards.
From Left to Right: Emily Nishikawa (accepted by Joan Stanton), Logan Potter, Janelle Greer, Bryn Knight (accepted by her sister Rhiannon Jones), Dahria Beatty, Heidi O'Connor Brook, Graham Nishikawa (accepted by Bob Nishikawa), and David Greer (accepted by Bill Greer).
Ski Club Active Member Awards
Each year the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club selects volunteers to be honoured at the Sport Yukon Awards Night. This year the awards were presented to: Bill Greer – Trailworker of the Year, Mike Gladish – Event Volunteer of the Year, Scott Gilbert – Skier of the Year and jointly to Amanda Deuling, Kim Winnicky and Marc Champagne as Administrators of the Year for their work on the ski playground.
