January
Cross-country skier Devon Kershaw made history, posting the highest-ever finish for a Canadian during Europe’s Tour de Ski, finishing fourth.
“It’s bittersweet to be fourth. In the coming days, I will appreciate it more,” Kershaw said. Alex Harvey finished 12th and Ivan Babikov finished 27th.
Banff Hockey Academy’s Mitch Humphries was selected to represent Australia at the Men’s Division II B U20 World Championship.
Biathletes Aidan Miller, Stuart Harden, Sarah Beaudry and Danielle Vrielink were all chosen to represent Canada for the Youth Olympics.
Perianne Jones and Chandra Crawford join forces to win bronze in the World Cup team sprint in Milan, Italy. The medal is the first of Jones’ career.
Fighting to escape the league basement, the AJHL’s Canmore Eagles dealt Riley Reinbolt and Zack Rassell. In return, Canmore received Wyat Haustein, Paul Lamoureaux and Hayden Dawes.
Kershaw was at it again later in the month in Estonia, winning a bronze medal in the 15-kilometre classic skate. On what is considered the hardest course on the World Cup circuit, he finished with a time of 40:37.6.
“I went out really hard today. I went for the win and I don’t regret it,” Kershaw said.
Kevin Sandau grabbed top spot in the Western Canadian Championships at the Canmore Nordic Centre, winning the mini-tour and a ticket to the World Cup. Graham Nishikawa was second, while Brent McMurtry was third. Alysson Marshall was the fastest woman after a battle with Emily Nishikawa.
Thirty-year-old Jan Hudec made his debut at legendary Kitzbuehl, finishing 10th.
Liza Pye won the Lake Louise Loppett.
February
Ski cross racer Tristan Tafel made his X Games debut, making it through to the quarter-final and finishing second in the small final behind teammate Brady Leman.
“It was a new personal best at the international level. That was huge for me,” Tafel said.
Para-Nordic athlete Chris Klebl won silver in a cross-country sitski race in Minnesota.
Devon Kershaw and Jan Hudec both struck gold on the same weekend. Kershaw became the first Canadian to win gold in a distance race since 1988, as he won the 15-km cross-country skate ski in Rybnski, Russia.
“For the first time in my career, with 400 metres to go, I knew I was going to win. I got to the top of the last climb in third and looked around and said ‘I’m going to take this one,” Kershaw said.
Meanwhile, Hudec reached the top of the podium for the first time since 2007, winning the alpine downhill in Chamonix, France.
“I never stopped believing I could be back. I obviously had no idea how long it would take or when it would happen. I could just kind of smell it. To be on the podium after all these years and all these injuries is amazing,” Hudec said.
Nathan Smith wins three gold medals in the first IBU Cup race in North American history. “I’ve trained here my whole life, so it’s pretty special,” he said.
Bow Valley athletes win 32 medals at the Alberta Winter Games.
Former Canmore Eagle Kris Foucault made his NHL debut Feb. 12 with the Minnesota Wild.
Kershaw continues his remarkable run with four World Cup medals in seven weeks, capping it off with a gold medal sprint win in Poland.
“This has been the best season of my life. I’m not over-analysing my performance like I usually do. I hold myself to a high level,” Kershaw said.
Bow Valley cyclists make a trip to Sierra Leone as part of a CAUSE Canada aid mission.
Biathlete Kurtis Wenzel won gold at the World Junior Biathlon Championship in Kontiolahti, Finland.
The worst season in Canmore Eagles history came to an end with a 3-1 loss to the Calgary Canucks. The season started when the team nearly moved, began with a horrendous 20-game opening stretch and reached bottom with the accidental death of forward Patrick Steel.
March
Relying on his patented ‘panda’s touch,’ Jan Hudec made the podium again at Crans Montana, Switzerland, winning silver in the super-G.
“It was incredible being on the podium with Didier Cuche and Benjamin Raich, two icons of skiing. Even though we’re not quite in the same league yet, it felt strangely familiar or comfortable being there with those two as I’ve know them both for such a long time,” Hudec said.
Tristan Tafel continued a rookie season hot streak by winning his first World Cup ski cross gold medal with a breakthrough performance in Goetschen, Germany.
“I’m still in shock, to be honest. I still don’t think it actually happened,” Tafel said.
Canmore biathlete Julia Ransom wins silver at the women’s youth world championship in Finland.
Figure skater Meg Ohsada and cross-country skier Shane Stewart both won double gold at the Special Olympic Games in St. Albert.
The CCHS junior varsity boys team cruised to a Zone championship with a 64-59 win over Airdrie’s Bert Church Chargers. The Crusaders went 25-6 on the year for one of the most dominant seasons in school history.
Banff gives the green light to the GranFondo road cycling event, the first of its kind in the national park.
CRPS debates beginning a sports school in Canmore. The decision is later quashed due to lack of enrolment.
Devon Kershaw finishes the best ski season in Canadian history, finishing second in World Cup standings. Kershaw won two gold, one silver and three bronze medals during his season, while Canada brought home 15 on the year.
Shane Stewart receives word he’ll compete in the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea in January 2013.
Brian McKeever and Erik Carleton swept cross-country ski events at the para-nordic finals in Vukatti, Finland. The duo beat the field by more than a minute.
Trevor Philp, a part-time Canmore resident, was crowned the Canadian slalom champ in Mont Ste.-Anne, Que.
Leighton Poidevin and Cyd Fraser both nearly broke world records at the Canmore Ski Fest at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
April
Para-biathlete Mark Arendz finished second overall in the IPC Biathlon World Cup standings for the second year in a row, posting three top-four finishes in the final week of the season in Vuokatti, Finland.
“I’m really pleased with how the season went. Coming into the year I knew I had to work on my skiing to achieve better results. My skiing is stronger now with smarter training and increased volume,” Arendz said.
Amy Gagnon and Mike Vine won the Winter Meltdown triathlon at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
Back problems cut biathlete Brendan Green’s season short, as he was forced to miss much of the summer and beginning of the season on the disabled list.
Kevin Sandau and Alysson Marshall win the 2013 Sharkfest.
Canmore’s Tristan Tafel wins the national ski cross championship at Nakiska.
Trevor White and Sherri Lawrence win the seventh annual Bozo Cup at Norquay.
Slalom specialist Paul Stutz wins double gold at a NorAm alpine event in Panorama, B.C.
Former Canadian cross-country ski coach Inge Braten died suddenly in Norway at the age of 63.
Alpine coaches Richard Jagger and Duane Baird are named co-coaches of the year, earning the Dave Murray Ski Coaches Federation award.
Abby Houck became the first Canmore provincial gymnastics champ in Edmonton, winning the gold medal by a full point.
“It means a lot. I never thought I could really do it,” Houck said. Erika Lepper won the silver in the P2 Tyro.
Alpine Canada named Pete Bosinger to head the Canadian men’s ski team, while Biathlon Canada named Roddy Ward as head of the B team athletes.
May
Liza Pye and team Tecnu Extreme Adventure racing crushed the competition at the 2012 Costa Rica Adventure Race championship.
Luke Fricker won Alberta’s Level 1 provincial gymnastics championship, winning gold in the pommel and rings, silver on the floor and high bar and bronze in the vault.
Field residents were up in arms after Parks Canada decided to close 36 kilometres of ski trail in Yoho National Park.
Vsion climbing gym owner Dung Nyugen announced he’s closing the gym and moving to Montreal.
Four Bow Valley alpine skiers: Tess Daves, Logan Thackray, Matthew Monod and Kevyn Read all earned spots on the Alberta Alpine team.
Leighton Poidevin led a large Bow Valley contingent competing in the Salty Dog Enduro-Mountain Bike race.
June
Olympic silver medallist Mike Robertson announces his retirement from snowboardcross after battling head injuries for the past year.
Canmore’s U14 girl’s soccer team captured its first President’s Cup title, winning a Tier 4-5 tournament in Calgary.
Mountain biker Liah Harvie led a strong Canmore contingent of mountain bikers at the Alberta Summer Games.
The Banff Community High School boys rugby team won their third straight zone title, defeating Strathcona-Tweedsmuir 31-29.
Judo club members Mackenzie Morgan, Erin Morgan and Laure Wanlin were all selected to represent Alberta at the Canadian National Judo Championship in Toronto.
The Canmore Collegiate High School senior soccer boys won the league and zone titles with a win over Okotoks’ Holy Trinity Academy. Paolo DeSoto scored the winning goal.
Gord Jewett of the Rundle Mountain Cycling Club grabbed third place overall in the Cat 1-2 division. Sean Crooks, Darren Anderson, Scott Manktelow, Matthew Jeffries and Keith Batsone put forth good results.
Cross-country ski legend Beckie Scott was named to the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame.
July
Matthew Jeffries was the first across the finish line in the Highwood GranFondo, while Jon Firth won the monarch of the mountain title.
Darren Anderson ruled the road while Robin Clegg slayed the time trials as Rundle Mountain Cycling Club dominated its inaugural home stage race.
Zina Kocher won the Heart of the Rockies triathlon in Invermere.
Olympic cross-country skier Drew Goldsack announced his retirement.
Patrick Humenny of Kimberley, B.C. won the 24 Hours of Adrenalin on a single speed bike.
Sandor Takacs wins the Canmore Cup Tennis Championship over Jeremy Martino.
More than 5,000 participants took part in the first Mud Run in Kananaskis.
August
Bow Valley residents won all but one mountain bike race at the Alberta Summer Games in Lethbridge. Reed Godfrey, Liah Harvie, Reid McClure, Peter Hicks and Robin Pollard all won medals.
Jon Firth teamed up with Stefan Widmer to win the 388-km TransRockies open men’s championship.
“I can’t believe it. For throwing a team together two weeks before the race, this is amazing,” Firth said.
Former Canmore athlete Tara Whitten wins bronze at the 2012 London Olympics.
Danelle Kabush defended her Xterra Canmore Enduro Triathlon crown.
Andres Ambuehl, 59, was the oldest man to finish the 125-kilometre Grande Cache Death race. The butcher fuelled himself on homemade deer sausage.
Bow Valley climbers create a new indoor climbing wall home as they await the completion of Elevation Place.
Organizers of 24 Hours of Adrenalin cancel the world championships, which were to be held in Canmore.
Myron Tetrault and Margie Ritchie won the Canmore Triathlon.
About 1,500 riders took part in the inaugural Banff GranFondo. The ride was cut short after a grizzly bear and three cubs interrupted the ride.
September
Mike Vine and Danelle Kabush used local knowledge to win the Canadian National Xterra triathlon Championship at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
Canmore Eagles coach Andrew Milne predicts his team will compete for a top four spot in the league.
Lisa Mensink of Calgary, who competed in triathlon at the 2008 Beijing Games, beat nearly the entire field in the Subaru Banff Triathlon.
The Banff Rugby Bears season comes to a close with an early playoff exit.
The Canmore Eagles post a pair of wins, but the team is still in dire straits, facing a $250,000 debt.
Cross Country Canada and Biathlon Canada officially unveil their state-of-the-art roller ski treadmill at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
Quadriplegic Kuen Tang climbed Ha Ling Peak with the assistance of the Rocky Mountain Adaptive Sport Centre and Push to Open Nature.
Several Bow Valley climbers were selected to represent Canada at the World Junior Climbing Championships in Santiago, Chile. Sara Frangos, Becca Frangos, Dexter Bateman, Lucas Engel, Hunter McLaughlin, Alex Fricker, Emma Ettinger and Alison Vest were selected.
October
Callum Neff wons the 5 Peaks half marathon at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
Cyclist Robin Clegg was injured when he was struck by a vehicle while cycling outside of Calgary.
Canmore’s Phil Villeneuve won the inaugural Grizzly Ultra marathon at the Canmore Nordic Centre, finishing the 50 km race in 4:05:33. Amy Golumbia was the top women’s finisher.
Alpine champ Lindsey Vonn asked FIS if she can race against the men at the Lake Louise World Cup.
Tess Davies, Matthew Monod, Kevyn Read and Logan Thackray are all selected to ski for their home province as members of the Alberta Alpine ski team.
November
The Bow Valley Wolverines won their first playoff game in two years, upsetting Olds 19-18. The Wolverines were down 18-6 after the first half, but posted a huge comeback.
Chandra Crawford and Devon Kershaw were the fastest Canadians in the Winsport Frozen Thunder Classic at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
Figure Skater Jane Gray claimed the Alberta sectionals competition championship for her first win at the senior level.
Alpine racer Jan Hudec sponsored two athletes for the season, thanking the thousands of people who have supported him in his career.
Aksel Svindel became only the fourth man to win on consecutive days at the Lake Louise World Cup, winning the downhill and super G. Hudec was 18th in the super G and Erik Guay was 11th.
December
Lindsey Vonn continues her ridiculous string of victories at Lake Louise, winning her seventh-straight race at Lake Louise. Vonn took all three races and said the results help prove she should race against the men at the venue.
In the final cross-country ski tune up before the Alberta World Cup, four swiss sprinters dominated the field, followed by Phil Widmer and Jess Cockney. Graeme Killick and Brittany Webster were the top Canadians in the distance races.
The Canmore Eagles loss streak hits 10 games as they slide into the league basement.
Ski cross racer Tristan Tafel fails to make it through qualifiers, but Brady Leman perservered for a sixth place finish.
Devon Kershaw and Alex Harvey team up for a fifth place finish in the team sprints in Quebec.
