May 02, 2013 – FIS Ski Jumping Race Director Walter Hofer took some time to share his reflections on the past competitive season. Overall, Hofer is pleased with the 2012/13 season and offers some constructive feedback to making next year’s competitions even better.

Looking back, what is your overall evaluation of the past 2012/13 season?
Walter Hofer: First of all it was one of the most successful World Cup seasons ever. It was mainly based on the excellent organisation by our various organisers and overall good external conditions. Only one competition day had to be cancelled due to strong winds.

What were your personal highlights?
WH: From a sporting point of view, it was great to see that the restrictions with regard to jumping suits worked out extremely well. We never had so many close and exciting finals in any of the events. Many more athletes and nations were able to gain podium places compared to the years before. The fluctuation among the winners is a very positive sign with Austria’s Gregor Schlierenzauer once again showing an outstanding performance. Especially the number of possible winners in team events has increased.

On the road to the next season …
WH: Our season analysis has detected the need to better communicate the information to spectators especially with regard to the evaluation of the individual performance of the jumps. In this respect, we are going to completely review the single interval of an athlete´s run down in order to make the calculation of the final score more transparent and more easily understandable to the audience. The upcoming FIS Ski Jumping Summer Grand Prix series should give us the right tool to test out these details.

April 01, 2013 (Regina, SK) – Cross Country Saskatchewan is looking for a uniquely independent spirited technical director / high performance coach to inspire young skiers to experience success while carving new innovative futures.

Cross Country Saskatchewan is looking to hire a skilled, dedicated and passionate provincial technical director / high performance coach to lead the Saskatchewan ski team into the 2015 Canada Winter Games. As the technical director/provincial coach you will be provided with the opportunity to shape, develop and nurture athletes in the Learning-to-Train to Learning-to-Compete stages of development, while creating the framework of a sustainable provincial ski program. Saskatchewan currently has 6 clubs with active racing skiers with dozens of developmental skiers ready to benefit from an enthusiastic leader. Clubs are supported by an eager and committed volunteer base ready and willing to support the position. The successful independent candidate will be required to work from their own home in the province of Saskatchewan.

General competencies:
– Organizational and environmental awareness
– Result orientated
– Developing Others
– Flexible
– Innovative thinking
– Planning and organizing
– Team leadership
– Strong communication skills

Functional competencies:
– Current knowledge of ski technique
– Knowledge of the principles of training
– Knowledge of coaching
– Knowledge of the CCC LTAD
– Lead a team in competition
– Ability to use office technology, software & applications

General Responsibilities:
The Coach/Technical Director is accountable for all aspects of the delivery and growth of the provincial High Performance program. In collaboration with the CCS Executive, the technical director / high performance coach will be responsible for the following performance measures:

– Create the infrastructure to support a sustainable High Performance Program;
– Support the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of a provincial High Performance program;
– Demonstrate an improvement in the number and performance of Saskatchewan skiers participating at divisionally and nationally sanctioned events and improved athlete placing at the 2015 CWG;
– Ensure the coordination of single and multi-year periodized training and development programs and camps, competition schedules and integrated sports medicine plans for High Performance athletes;
– Mentor, advice and support club coaches in an effort to grow club programs aimed at encouraging the development of Saskatchewan skiers;
– Ensure individualized athlete mentoring and monitoring to High Performance athletes;
– Ensure the coordination of logistics for provincial training events and competitions, including transportation, accommodation arrangements and attendance when identified by the High Performance Committee;
– Ensure clubs work with the Coach/Technical Director regarding the coordination of activities involved in the preparation of a provincial team for any out of province event;
– Encourage coaches support of the implementation of the Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) program within the province;
– Foster the development of certified provincial coaches by supporting the coordination and delivery of NCCP training courses and other professional development activities including mentoring of club coaches;
– Support the establishment and viability of clubs and High Performance athletes training with these clubs through the development and implementation of a support plan.

Qualifications:
– A demonstrated coaching qualifications such as the NCCP Certification or equivalent certification
– Post-secondary education in a physical education or sports administration field is an asset
– Familiarity with Saskatchewan Cross Country skiing environment
– Car is required with a valid Class 5 License
– Current CPR and First Aid
– High speed internet is required

Need to know information: Competitive salary and benefits package for a 3-year term

Travel is an essential part of the position

Interested applicants can send resume to the CCS office at ccs@sasktel.net

March 13, 2013 (Ottawa, ON) – Own the Podium is an innovative independent organization that was created to bring together the key partners involved in leading and funding high performance sport in Canada. The mandate of Own the Podium is to help more Canadian athletes win more medals at the Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Own the Podium provides technical expertise and advice to national sport organziations in support of Canada’s podium performance goals.

Position: Director, Winter Sport
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Location: Calgary, AB
Application Deadline: 15 April 2013
Term: 4 year contract, start date negotiable

Scope of Position:
Individual responsible for leading the planning and implementation of ‘excellence’ programs for targeted winter sports.

Core Competencies:
• Demonstrates a sense of direction and purpose aligned with OTP’s vision, guiding principles and goals
• Driven by excellence in all facets, strives to be leading edge in own area of expertise and embraces opportunity for continuous improvement
• Continually makes efforts to understand client needs in an inclusive, outreaching, and adaptable manner
• Behaves in an open, transparent, respectful and fair manner and demonstrates these traits through ability to develop effective relationships with diverse groups of people
• Effective at leading and building teams
• Self-monitors work to ensure quality and accuracy

Roles and Responsibilities
1. Manage and mentor the winter high-performance advisors, as they undertake their responsibilities with NSOs, CSIs, ISTs and others
2. Assist with OTP interventions with client groups when and where appropriate.
3. Manage technical specialists (i.e. video analysts) working with the winter program
4. Build working partnerships with the winter sports to ensure common vision, goals and strategies to achieve excellence in targeted sports
5. Work effectively with Sport Canada, the COC,CPC, CSC/CSIs, IST staff and others to accomplish various tasks
6. Contribute to the establishment of annual business plans and be accountable for implementing these plans.
7. Work effectively with and under the direction of the CEO and with colleagues in other parts of the program, and specifically with the summer OTP program to ensure common approaches, policies and unified leadership for high-performance sport
8. Ensure staff reporting to the Director are fully integrated into sport science, medicine, research, technology, coaching and other OTP initiatives, and promote these opportunities to client groups
9. Formulate funding recommendations; lead the annual and other reviews of the winter sports (and assist with CSI and CSC reviews) to identify priorities that will produce podium results.
10. With others, develop new policies and programs that will assist achieving excellence at the Olympic and Paralympic Games
11. Promote excellence in Canadian sport and contribute to national communications strategies and programs to do so.
12. Undertake program evaluations during Games, training camps and competitions
13. Undertake intelligence gathering on international issues, trends, results etc.

Qualifications
• University Degree or College Diploma.
• Over ten years of experience working at a senior level in the Canadian high-performance sport system.
• Computer Skills and knowledge of the MS Office Suite is required
• Bilingualism is a preferred asset

Compensation
The compensation package will be based on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Application Process
Apply in confidence by sending your cover letter resume by Monday, 15 April 2013 to careers@ownthepodium.org or by mail to:

Own the Podium
Attention: Director, Planning & Operations
Suite 120, 700 Industrial Avenue
Ottawa, ON K1G 0Y9

We thank all applicants for their interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.