Ingemar Walder has been hired in a contract position as the new coach to support the National Alpine Program to be based in Europe
The Alpine Snowboard Program for the past year has been predominantly European based due to travel challenges and the discipline being centred around the European Alps. The bulk of the Alpine World Cups are held in European countries and Canada’s Alpine National Team coach, Hannes Mutschlechner is based in the Italian Dolomites. The Canadian Team spends most of the winter based in and around the Dolomites, both as a training hub and for ease of travel to European events. Canada Snowboard has recently contracted Ingmar Walder to work with the national program to focus on the development and technical training of our Next Gen riders. Ingemar lives just over the Austrian border of the Dolomites and has a long pedigree as a high-performance Alpine competitor and coach. His knowledge, connections, and experience in that region of Europe combined with his high-performance background will help the current upward trajectory of the Canadian Alpine Team Program and its riders. We look forward to a long and prosperous future with our new and highly experienced Alpine coaching team.
“In April 2014 I retired from snowboard racing for Austria and jumped straight into coaching as the Head Coach of Team Switzerland. After 2 years in Switzerland, I got back to my roots and became the coach of the Austrian Team for 3 Seasons. The Year before Covid appeared I coached the Japanese Team, but due to Covid things changed very quickly. Last season I managed with my own private team, and I coached athletes from different countries and Levels.
After 15 years of being a professional Athlete I know how hard life can be on the tour. Ups and downs, injuries and a lot of other things have made me what I am now. I have learned a lot from ‘Sports for life’ and I am happy that I have been able to share this experience with my teams and athletes. Follow your passion and never give up, was always my quote.
I’m really looking forward to working with the Canadian Team as I know all the athletes and their potential. I’ve competed against strong Canadian athletes, World Cup winners and medallists during my career and it is a goal for me now to bring the next generation/young-guns back up to old strength of the Canada Snowboard Alpine Team.”
