Boundary Bay Airport partner with Canadian National Champion Emeline Bennett
3 February 2023
Boundary Bay Executive Airport are excited to announce our partnership with Ski Cross Junior Canadian National Champion Emeline Bennett.
At Boundary Bay Airport the customer comes first. Our staff are multi-disciplined and trained to offer the highest level of service, so we understand the importance of hard work and dedication. As a convenient alternative to YVR for business aircraft we believe in our tag line of being unique, seamless, and convenient.
That’s why Vancouver’s Executive Airport is partnering with Emeline Bennett, a unique, dedicated and hardworking Ski Cross Junior Canadian National Champion this season.
Get to know this amazing athlete and her story so far below…
Hi everyone!
My name is Emeline Bennett, and I was fortunate enough to join the Alpha Aviation, Boundary Bay Airport team this year as an athlete representative! Boundary Bay Airport has stepped forward as my head sponsor for the 2022/23 season and I couldn’t be more excited. Without the generous support of partnerships like this – I wouldn’t be where I am, pursuing the sport I love. It’s their understanding of the value of sport, their confidence in me and my abilities, and their backing that allows me to take full advantage of opportunities and focus completely on my preparation, training, and competition.
Though I was born in North Vancouver and went to school there, I spent every spare second I could in Whistler. I like to tell people that Whistler is my second home and could very well be my favourite place on earth. Just like most kids from Whistler, I started my ski career in the weekend levels program and then graduated to the Mountain Adventure Program. I began to love skiing more and more and at age 11 decided to move to Alpine Racing with the Whistler Mountain Ski Club (WMSC). I had 8 seasons with that club and in my time, I met some of my best friends, most influential coaches, mentors, and a community that continues to support me even as I grow into my next chapter. When I did finally decide my time with them was done, I was in my graduation year of high school and had been accepted into my dream program, Chemical Engineering, at UBC. Though my time with the WMSC was done, I didn’t feel like I was ready to give up ski racing for academics. After some discussions with coaches and the unwavering support of my parents, I decided to pursue a new challenge in racing full-time with a move to Ski Cross. This landed me on the Evolve Ski Cross team for my first Ski Cross season (2021/2022). With that support, I decided I would give everything I had to this sport for one year, take as many opportunities as I could, and see where I ended up.
It was no surprise to anyone that I absolutely loved it! There is still so much learning to do but my alpine experience gives me the perfect foundation to grow, and the constant progression is a wonderful reminder that this is something I am capable of.
My first season was massive, it started early in Saas-Fee, Switzerland, and returned to Canada for our Nor-Am race series. After that, I was fortunate enough to be selected to return to Europe to follow the Europa Cup circuit. I got to spend two months racing my way through Europe with my team – skiing new tracks, gaining valuable experience, and exploring as much as we could on our days off while embracing the next level of competition. I had 13 race starts across 5 countries that ended in Switzerland for the 2022 World Juniors Race. In that time, I had 11 of top 10 finishes and was on the podium 3 times! Being named to the Canadian World Junior Ski Cross team and representing my country was a season highlight. After returning to Canada, we raced our final NorAm races and Canadian National Championships at Nakiska. I am happy to have closed out the season as the Junior National SX Champion and to be awarded 2nd place overall in the NorAm SX standings.
That first season was unlike anything I could have imagined. Beyond it being much more successful than anyone expected, it was also the longest training block and the most physically taxing season I have ever had. The skills I brought to the races from my alpine skiing provided the best understanding of the fundamentals of skiing, put me in a position to build on them, and kept me wanting more for the season to come.
Through the summer I was a mountain bike coach and supervisor for a North Vancouver Mountain Bike Company. A summer highlight was leading the all-girls summer program we offer. When I wasn’t at work, I spent a bunch of time in the gym getting healthy and strong for this coming season.
We just had our first Nor-Am SX race of the season, finishing up right before Christmas. I fought hard and managed to walk away with a 3rd and 4th place finish in the two races. Based on this first race and some input from coaches they made the selections for who will be skiing the Europa Cup circuit in the New Year.
I am proud to announce that this coming season I have been selected to travel and race under the Canadian Development team while following the Europa Cup series. It is a huge honour to have even been selected for this opportunity and I am very excited to put my full effort in and represent Alpha Aviation and Boundary Bay Airport as a Canadian on the European circuit.
I will be racing my way through the beautiful mountains of Europe and occasionally will have enough time to play tourist and explore what else these amazing countries have to offer. I will have a few more chances to race in Switzerland which is where my grandparents are from and holds a special place in my heart. I am also looking forward to returning to Reiteralm, Austria. It is one of my favourite venues for racing, and the races have an incredible amount of support from the community and surrounding towns – everyone comes out to watch on race day! Fortunately, we will also be there during one of the biggest alpine races on the World Cup circuit, the Schladming Night Slalom, which will be incredible to see live.
I feel so privileged to have the opportunity to travel as a professional athlete – I could have never dreamed that my favourite sport could also be my job one day. Thanks so much for your interest in my story… I hope you will continue to follow me on this journey!
Emeline
