STRATEGIC PLAN 2015-2018 JUNE 2015 ALPINE CANADA ALPIN - STRATEGIC PLAN 2015-2018 PG 1
AT A GLANCE OUR VISION CANADA IS A WORLD LEADER IN ALPINE, PARA-ALPINE AND SKI CROSS RACING AMBITIONS SHORT TERM To evolve Alpine Canada Alpin s ( ACA s ) business model to a model that creates funding stability and sustainability today for growth tomorrow To support our current development & national team athletes and coaches by providing them with the best possible training environment To maximize performance at every major international competition To develop a dialogue with Provincial and Territory Ski Organizations on a new, more collaborative approach to build our sport and improve the depth of our ski racing and ski cross talent To improve policies and practices for athlete safety - both on and off snow LONG TERM To develop and grow the pool of talent athletes, coaches and staff from which our high performance programs can draw To have a reliable, predictable and growing revenue base that allows us to invest in our programs, our athletes and coaches and the growth of the sport overall To grow the number of ski racers and increase the number of high performance athletes racing nationally and internationally To create a culture in our sport where everyone contributes to and shares in the success of our athletes and coaches through strong and viable partnerships To achieve consistent podium performances at all World Cup and World Championship events and at the Olympic & Paralympic Games STRATEGIC PRIORITIES EVOLVE ACA FINANCIAL & ORGANIZATIONAL MODEL Stability, sustainability and growth in revenue Best team aligned, engaged and accountable Trusted advisor, valued partner Executional excellence - Done right every time HIGH PERFORMANCE ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT Achieve consistent podium performances Building the next generations of ski racers Enhance the development pathway for Para-Alpine and Ski Cross programs Accelerate a pathway to the podium for identified athletes U14+ Alpine eco-system is ALL IN to support athletic programs and events COACH DEVELOPMENT Resources and programs to grow skills and coaches leadership World-class coaches in every level of the high performance pipeline (U14+) Mentorship and career opportunities ALIGN PTSO/ACA RELATIONSHIP Mutual respect, valued partnership Co-create domestic standards, programming and race competition calendar Improve business practices and clarity of roles More kids racing, better skilled athletes and coaches developed together PASSION PERSEVERANCE PRIDE TEAMWORK ALPINE CANADA ALPIN - STRATEGIC PLAN 2015-2018 PG 2
OUR STRATEGY DEEPENING THE HIGH PERFORMANCE PIPELINE TO DEVELOP AND GROW THE POOL OF TALENT ATHLETES, COACHES AND STAFF FROM WHICH OUR ELITE PROGRAMS CAN DRAW Focus on the best at all levels: We are choosing to increase our focus domestically and in partnership with the Provincial and Territory Ski Organizations (PTSOs) to improve the depth of our talent pool across all three disciplines: Alpine, Para-Alpine and Ski Cross. Our long term plan focuses on developing the technical and tactical skills, athleticism, critical competition experience and leadership support (coaches, technical experts and tools) for elite, high performance ski racers at the following stages of their ski racing careers: Pre-provincial teams (emerging high performance athletes 14-16 years of age) U18/U21 & provincial team program National development team program National team program Proactive Planning: The future of our national team is challenged athletically unless we creatively and collaboratively re-focus on the overall skill level of our athletic pipeline. We want to lead the conversation and to co-create the development of domestic standards and programming with the PTSOs to increase the quality, performance and visibility of talent, along with best in class programs at the club and provincial levels in Alpine, Para-alpine and Ski Cross. Internally: Our strategy is to become operationally excellent in enhancing and deploying our programs, tools, people and resources to support the growth and development of athletes, coaches and high performance programming. We must evolve and become a knowledge hub providing best in class support, information, training and development to our provincial partners. We recognize the need to find ways to increase revenue to enhance ACA s high performance programs and their alignment and integration with the provinces. Externally: We want to engage sponsors, resorts, sport institutes, college athletic programs, equipment suppliers and alumni in a broader discussion about creating athletic excellence. Critical to this strategy s success is also how we work together to expand our thinking and programming for coach development. There is an opportunity to think bigger, tap into the wisdom and experience of current Canadian World Cup coaches and develop tools and programs that PTSOs and clubs can integrate and implement. We want to be able to recognize, recruit and retain best-in-class in our own country using recognition and reward as incentive for everyone to raise the bar and strive for better results every year. We want to explore ideas to hothouse the best emerging new ski racers in our country. We will commit to the long term creation of funding to invest in innovative and smart emerging talent programs putting the right support system and coaching in place to challenge and nurture future champions as they progress in their development. ALPINE CANADA ALPIN - STRATEGIC PLAN 2015-2018 PG 3
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES STRATEGIC PRIORITY #1 EVOLVE THE ACA FINANCIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL MODEL: FUNDING HIGH PERFORMANCE & GROWTH WHAT WE MEAN: We must develop creative solutions to evolve Alpine Canada Alpin s business model to create sustainable and stable funding. This will be priority number ONE for every member of the executive team. We will develop new initiatives to grow current revenue streams beyond today s levels. We will find new and different secure sources of revenue. We will execute our plans with careful cost management on and off snow, both efficiently and effectively. We will do what we say we will. We will enhance our use of metrics to make short and long term decisions in the best interest of our athletic programs and ACA as a whole. Most importantly for us, will be making sure we have the BEST people at ACA passionate about our sport, our athletes, and our programs on and off snow. They will be key to creating the relationships and partnerships with PTSOs, suppliers, sponsors, resorts, sports institutes and donors required to fuel our success. OUR AMBITIONS (2015-2018) WE HAVE: Earned the reputation as best in class by our stakeholders - we are an organization people are proud to be a part of and/or partner with Grown sponsorship and philanthropic revenue by 5% year-over-year and we have money in the bank Established an ACA endowment fund OUR FOCUS FOR 2016 Sign new revenue partners and create new revenue channels Create new assets and revenue generating campaigns with and for our partners (and potential partners) Develop strong relationships and long-term agreements with key resort operators in Canada Establish an organizational structure with staff roles aligned to executing our strategic plan with everyone focused and understanding their role in supporting Canada as a world leader in Alpine, Para-Alpine and Ski Cross. Communicate and connect this strategic plan across the system, creating a culture where our stakeholders are all in to co-creating its success ALPINE CANADA ALPIN - STRATEGIC PLAN 2015-2018 PG 4
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES STRATEGIC PRIORITY #2 HIGH PERFORMANCE ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT: DEEPEN THE PIPELINE WHAT WE MEAN: We have an opportunity to better connect the dots on the athlete pathway between our provincial U14, U16, FIS and national team programs. We will find a way to increase our funding to our national teams especially our development programs. We will plan for the re-establishment of a women s dedicated speed team with a goal to establish a standalone team by 2018. We will measure our athletic performance based on critical international performance benchmarks. We will study and replicate best practices in Canada to accelerate the pathway to podium opportunities for all our targeted athletes. We will develop stronger plans for Alpine, Para-Alpine and Ski Cross to deepen the development pipeline of athletes in these disciplines. OUR AMBITIONS (2015-2018) WE HAVE: Found opportunities to create synergy and efficiency in managing three High Performance programs ALPINE: 21 World Cup podiums 3 World Championship medals 3 Olympic medals A women s national speed team The next generation of racers: 12 World Junior podiums A sustained development team that allows for ongoing growth and support of ACA development team athletes ALPINE: Achieve 7 World Cup podium results Achieve 3 World Junior podium results PARA-ALPINE: OUR FOCUS FOR 2016 10 World Championship medals 9 Paralympic medals Develop World Cup and Paralympic podium contenders for both men s and women s teams A strong athlete recruitment program that increases our team depth in targeted disciplines, supported by a podium pathway and gold medal profile World class equipment, research and innovation program for sit ski PARA-ALPINE: Achieve 20 World Cup podium results Grow and develop our younger team Expand youth competition opportunities in partnership with the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing (CADS) Sit ski innovation and design program SKI CROSS: 2 Olympic medals 2 World Championship medals 30 World Cup podiums 2 Ski Cross Overall titles 1 Nations Cup The next generation of racers: 4 World Junior podiums A development team program that is centralized, staffed, funded and supported by a talent ID program that brings in at least one new male and one new female athlete each year to the team SKI CROSS: 10 World Cup podiums National, FIS and Nor-Am events hosted in targeted provinces Officials and coaching certification program Course building and resort partnerships ALPINE CANADA ALPIN - STRATEGIC PLAN 2015-2018 PG 5
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES STRATEGIC PRIORITY #3 COACH DEVELOPMENT: DEVELOPING LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS OF OUR SPORT WHAT WE MEAN: We understand that in order to attract, develop and retain great athletes in our system, we need the best coaches and sport leaders at every level. Athletic success and podium performances are directly linked to coaching excellence. We will work to move beyond the status quo to improve the current curriculum through enhanced technology and training tools, making it easier for PTSOs to deliver to provincial teams, clubs and ski schools respectively. We will focus on identifying, recognizing and rewarding the best coaches in our country for their leadership, ethics and technical skills. We will look for ways to create mentorship opportunities for the best coaches and a career pathway that makes coaching at the provincial and national level an attractive career. OUR AMBITIONS (2015-2018) WE HAVE: Successfully evolved the relationship with the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation (CSCF) The coach Gold Medal Profile is the standard by which we evaluate, develop, select and recognize the best coaches in Canada A coach succession and career pathway that is coordinated to put the best people in the best roles at the club, provincial and national level Formalized and implemented a system wide coach mentorship program A world-class coaching development curriculum and learning program Developed CSCF Ski Cross modules for levels 2 and 3 Top Canadian coaches in our high performance programs that are recognized worldwide as best in class OUR FOCUS FOR 2016 Create and communicate the Coach Gold Medal Profile, outlining required leadership, technical and tactical skills Ongoing review of athlete safety policies and coaches code of conduct - both on and off snow Complete the first ever PTSO YTP (yearly training plan) review of high performance programs identifying the baseline of our current coaching bench strength, training opportunities, and identifying the top 10-20 coaches in the country Create and pilot a coach mentorship program in 2016 for identified top coaches - this is to be integrated with the national training calendar to provide critical experiences, both on and off snow ALPINE CANADA ALPIN - STRATEGIC PLAN 2015-2018 PG 6
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES STRATEGIC PRIORITY #4 ALIGN PTSO/ACA RELATIONSHIP: WORKING BETTER TOGETHER WHAT WE MEAN: We have an opportunity to create stronger relationships. We believe it starts with collaborating and improving the way ACA works with its provincial partners. Together we can connect the broader alpine ecosystem. We believe there is an opportunity for us to lean into the conversation in a new way meeting face-to-face more often, clarifying who does what and solving some of the biggest challenges we all face developing athletes, coaches and high performance teams. We will improve communication, trust, and mutual respect to strengthen the business practices in our sport. We have created clarity beyond the conversation through contracts or co-created memorandums of understanding. We are driven by a desire to leverage co-created opportunities to attract aspiring ski racers, find promising athletes and coaches, and share in their athletic develop and podium success along the way. OUR AMBITIONS (2015-2018) WE HAVE: More athletes staying within each age category of our system through to provincial teams Created educational pathways and partnerships to enable those elite athletes who want to train and study to remain in the sport Transparency and understanding of the value ACA creates with membership fees, insurance premiums and other financial arrangements An ACA/PTSO program that recognizes those coaches and clubs who adhere to the national standards for safety, coach excellence and athlete development at each stage of the pathway A fully coordinated race competition calendar that includes a National Championships series for the following age groups U16, U18, U21; including Whistler Cup and Topolino Implemented a plan for continued success for both Para-Alpine and Ski Cross supported by shared PTSO programming A PTSO-YTP (yearly training plan) review process integrated as an ACA/PTSO collaboration tool for year-over-year high performance program improvement planning province to province OUR FOCUS FOR 2016 Develop an operational framework in how ACA and each PTSO works together to improve athlete development and how we mutually fund and support the business of our sport (i.e. events, national championships, membership fees, policy and program development, insurance, etc.) Agree on and develop a strengthened set of safety protocols and policies - both on and off snow Create a written agreement that exists between ACA and each PTSO on roles, accountabilities and mutual funding agreements Co-create a national competition and events calendar for next year s race season Ensure PTSO high performance yearly training plan (HP-YTP) reviews are completed and work together to create measurable improvements in each provincial high performance program ALPINE CANADA ALPIN - STRATEGIC PLAN 2015-2018 PG 7
STRATEGIC PLAN - IN SUMMARY CANADA IS A WORLD LEADER IN ALPINE, PARA-ALPINE AND SKI CROSS RACING OUR AMBITIONS ARE BOLD. ACA is leading the creation of an ALL IN culture in alpine sport - we work together. We are driven by our shared passion for the sport and shared vision that Canada can and should be recognized as a world leader in Alpine, Para-Alpine and Ski Cross. We are proud to contribute to the development of world-class athletes who are internationally ranked, respected, and rewarded in competition. We build partnerships and relationships that work. Together we have deepened national pride for our athletes: when they win, we all celebrate together! We take pride in knowing that our collective contributions create the best. We have developed the best coaches, technical support staff and leaders nationally and provincially, who partner with resorts, clubs, suppliers and sports institutes to create ideal training environments, working collaboratively to develop high caliber athletes who consistently perform in all domestic and international events. We are properly funded and have created a business model that is sustainable and invests in growing our high performance programs. Our sustained podium performances foster a love of ski racing, attracting aspiring young ski racers and families into ski programs and clubs coast-to-coast. We will measure our success against all our strategic priorities and we will hold ourselves accountable to achieve our goals. Most importantly, we must achieve success at major international competitions if we are to be a leader in alpine, para-alpine and ski cross racing. Our goals in this regard are as follows. KEY MEASURE OF SUCCESS PODIUM PERFORMANCES (2015 2018) ALPINE 21 World Cup podiums 3 World Championship medals A women s national speed team 12 World Junior podiums PARA-ALPINE 2 Crystal Globes 10 World Championship medals SKI CROSS 30 World Cup podiums 2 World Championship medals 2 Ski Cross Overall titles 4 World Junior podiums 2018 PYEONGCHANG WINTER OLYMPICS 3 Medals in Alpine 9 Medals in Para-Alpine 2 Medals in Ski Cross LONG TERM To consistently podium at the Olympic and Paralympic Games To podium at every major international competition for our junior and senior Alpine, Para-Alpine & Ski Cross Canadian Teams ALPINE CANADA ALPIN - STRATEGIC PLAN 2015-2018 PG 8