Report submitted by Robert Leeds, Alberta Representative.
The 2026 Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing FIS Masters World Cup (FMC) and Canadian Masters Alpine Championships (CMAC) was held at Ski Garceau in Saint-Donat Québec. There were 62 competitors from Canada (AB=7, BC=1, ON=19 & QC=13), USA (12), Austria (1), France (3), Great Britian (1), Hungary (1), Italy (3) and Switzerland (1). Four days of racing included a Super-G, two GS runs, and two days of slalom. As per FIS rules, the field was split into four categories: A (men 30-59 years old), B (men 60-89 years old), C (women 30-54 years old) and D (women 55-89 years old), while CMAC was a combination of all four races.
Day one saw competitors test themselves on a non-homologated run (not enough vertical) with an opening training run, followed by a one run race, which counted towards an overall combined CMAC result. The race started with an important gliding section, before dropping into some steep pitches, finishing with some more flats. Times ranged between 53 – 71 seconds and top speeds hovering around 75 km/h. New snow in the previous days made the initial competitors deal with softer conditions, but the track hardened as the race progressed. With crisp air temperature at -19°C, the snow was grippy, but some ice tested the competitors on the pitches of the tightly set SG course.
Day two saw competitors tackle two individual FIS Masters GS runs on the same course as the SG. The course was well designed for a GS race, with a variety of terrain features that had racers continually adjusting their centre of mass and angulation to maximize speed and turn shapes. The crisp air showed up again with the grippy snow, but more ice presented itself to provide athletes with a true East coast race surface. The sun was a welcomed feature, which allowed the day to feel warmer, as top racers hit 65 km/h on course.
Slalom welcomed the tech skiers on day three with a new run and both FIS Master courses that were relatively straight, while providing several left footers. The race started with an elevated start gate and a good down slope before showing the racers an off camber flat section. The flats were followed by a rollover onto a pitch that led to a second rollover to a steep pitch with some ice patches, which ended with flats in some loose snow.
The banquet on day three provided racers an opportunity to unwind and to solidify some newly found friends they made on the racecourse. The main organizers André and Philippe Boisclair did a fabulous job hosting the races and the banquet. All athletes felt welcomed and the transformed day lodge into banquet hall showed Ski Garceau knew how to throw a party. André Boisclair thanked Sharon Chadwick for all her behind the scenes organization since late November and doing results remotely. Lloyd Sevack & Jaime Hugessen presented the awards for all events. Lloyd also repeatedly thanked the platinum & title sponsor being Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing, the gold level sponsors AIM and Jesswood, as well as silver and bronze level sponsors. The online auction wrapped up promptly at 8 pm and raised over $11k with contributions from Mike Wiegele Heli Skiing, SQA, Tripar Inc and Garceau Boutique. Also, thanks go out to Stephane Bourque, his mother Lise, and their whole family for the maple syrup and candy given to each racer (a real treat, especially for the Europeans), as well as the two plentiful gift baskets loaded with maple products that were auctioned off during the banquet!
Day four brought the coldest temperatures with -22°C, feeling like -29°C, and although the sun poked through a couple of times, everyone agreed it was cold for slalom. The snow was dry and grippy for another relatively straight set, but with heavier left footers than day three. Both slalom days saw almost the same number of DNFs, with most competitors going out on straddles, which certainly reduced the number of CMAC overall combined participants. But as they say, you need to finish to have a chance at winning!
The event concluded with competitors back in the T-Bar lounge for final awards. The CMAC Champion of Champions awards, based on handicap results, went to Patrice Painchaud and Melanie Smith. While the CMAC overall combined awards went to:
Note: Full results for the FMC & CMAC races are published on the website.
Ski Garceau did an excellent job hosting the event from the food, the hill, the staff, the volunteers, the ROC, the CORs, and the ski patrol. New friends were made and old friends got to see each other for another fun race series. Québec hospitality was at is finest and everyone left the hill in one piece, so who could ask for anything more. We look forward to future races at Ski Garceau!
