National Coaches Week is September 23-30. An initiative of the Coaches Association of Canada and the Provincial and Territorial coaching organizations, this week celebrates the tremendous positive impact coaches have on athletes and communities across Canada. This week is an opportunity to recognize coaches for the integral role they play by simply saying #ThanksCoach.
The BC Games and Team BC are part of BC’s athlete development pathway, but also provide an important opportunity for coaching development. Organizations like BC Alpine Skiing have seen the progression and success of their coaches through these programs.
In honour of National Coaches Week, we are profiling some outstanding coaches who are part of the BC Games.
Montana Molyneux, Kamloops / Sun Peaks
- Alpine Skiing Coach
- Sun Peaks Racers Program Director
- 2014 and 2018 BC Winter Games Coach
- Performance Level-Trained through the Canadian Ski Coach Federation
- Masters of Kinesiology (focus on Coaching Sciences and Physiology)
- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
Coaching Style: Passionate, Athlete-centered, Interactive
Inspirational quote: “The way you do anything is the way you do everything" from Tom Waits
Motivational song: Learn to Fly / Walk (Foo Fighters)
Athlete motivation:
When athletes come to training, I expect them to work hard and try their best. Cinnamon Bun challenges go a long way (Sun Peaks has great big ones).
We have the "game time" award which is a giant clock on a chain necklace (think Flava-Flav) - the award is decided every weekend by the coach for a number of different skills (teamwork, effort, fastest time, most fun, best crash etc.)
Best part of the BC Games:
Best part of BCWG is the athletes reaching outside of their comfort zones to make new friends, perform on snow, experience new coaches. I'm looking forward to running a top-level race and event for the 2018 BC Winter Games at Sun Peaks Alpine Club and Sun Peaks Resort with our amazing coaches, volunteer crew and athletes.
Best coaching moments:
Top coaching moment was at U16 Nationals, in Feb 2017, as one of 5 BC team coaches. We had 28 kids that really wanted to be there, supporting and pushing each other. That desire is infectious in a group that size and it was amazing to be a part of it.
Future coaching goals:
My future goal as a coach is to ignite a passion for skiing and hard work in as many athletes I can.