July 06, 2015 – Cross Country BC (CCBC) is very pleased to announce it has hired Wannes Luppens as Executive Director, based in Vernon, effective May 19.  He is taking over from Georgia Manhard,  who after decades of full-time volunteering, is looking forward to retiring.

Wannes hails from Rossland BC, where he spent a dozen years volunteering for the local Black Jack Ski Club, including eight years on the club executive, three of those as club president.  Accomplishments during this time include a 40% increase in membership (to over 700 members), significant fundraising, elimination of the club debt, new and upgraded trails, additional trail lighting, a new stadium, a new snowcat, a number of NorAm competitions, and the establishment of a club legacy fund.

Wannes is an engineer by trade, having worked for a dozen years at Teck’s metallurgical smelter in Trail BC, as well as Teck’s former gold mine near Fairbanks, AK.  His work experience is primarily in project management, process & financial modeling, and byproduct sales.

In addition to cross country skiing, Wannes enjoys trail running, cycling, and swimming.  He grew up playing competitive volleyball and basketball and still plays whenever he can.  He also has fond memories of hot chocolate and cookies after cold Jackrabbit sessions growing up in northern Alberta.

CCBC would like to thank Georgia for her tireless efforts to advance the sport of cross country skiing in BC, and is pleased that she will remain involved to help with the transition to an Executive Director.