SLNC Welcomes Eric de Nys as new Programs Director

| Wendy Shannon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 20, 2017

With a focus on delivering a full roster of programming from Bunny Rabbits and Biathlon to Ski Academy and Masters,  Eric brings new collaborative vision to the delivery of Programming at Sovereign Lake Nordic Club.

Eric hails from the city of Prince George where he raced as a junior at Caledonia Ski Club, racing at the World Junior Championships in 1994, and becoming a medallist at both the Canada Winter Games and Canadian National Championships. Following the path of coaching once his race career ended, Eric has spent his entire adult working life immersed in Nordic sports – first as a successful athlete followed subsequently by diving into coaching and athlete development at Foothills Nordic Club based in Calgary, AB. Driven to continue on the coaching path, he enrolled in the National Coaching Institute in Calgary. Two subsequent coaching jobs with Alberta development teams led Eric to an 8 year term with Cross Country Canada as the Senior Women’s World Cup Head Coach and Assistant Head Coach on the Men’s World Cup team. As Head Coach, he lead athletes at numerous World U23 and Junior Championships, World Cups, and 2 Olympic Games. Following the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, Eric was released from Cross Country Canada following funding cutbacks.

Biathlon Canada, based in Canmore, hired Eric soon after his CCC tenure as the new High Performance Technical Director to lead the Senior World Cup Team to success at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games.  It was here that Eric held a supervisory role in the administration, long term strategizing, and planning of Biathlon World Cup Team. The world of high performance coaching at the National level is a challenging one. With Biathlon Canada also facing funding cutbacks the position was terminated effective May of 2017.

Eric offers long term vision, and a unified approach with exceptional technical, administrative, and leadership skills. As the new Programs Director, the position caters to the requirements of Programs by providing full time year round training opportunities and assists the club in the creation of short and long term targets to grow all facets of Club Programs to create a true “full service” model.  Eric will be moving his family to Vernon and will commence work with the club and athletes on September 5th. Please join us in welcoming Eric and his family to the Okanagan!