Alan (Al) E. Raine

Alan Raine was a pioneering coach, visionary planner and community builder whose leadership transformed Canadian skiing and mountain resort development over five decades.

Raised in Vancouver, Al came to skiing relatively late — in his teens — but quickly set a goal of becoming a top-level skier and competitor. In 1962, at age 21, he travelled to Europe, where he spent three years honing his skills before returning to Canada in 1965.

He spent a winter at Red Mountain near Rossland, B.C., before moving to Montreal, where he coached the Ski Hawks in 1966 and 1967. Building a reputation for coaching excellence, Al was then hired by the Southern Ontario Ski Zone to organize and lead a junior program. His enthusiasm and strong leadership helped the Ontario team achieve impressive results, catching the attention of the national alpine association.

In 1968, Al was named head coach and program director of the Canadian national alpine ski team — a role he held until 1973.  In 1969 Al married Nancy Greene and in 1970 their two sons, Charley & Willy were born. (Both sons became excellent skiers and Willy raced for Canada at the 1992 Albertville Olympics then went on to lead and coach the Canadian Ski Cross team from 2010 to 2018, where his athletes won a total of four Olympic gold medals.)

During Al’s tenure with the National Team, Canadian athletes became a genuine force on the international stage, challenging European dominance for the first time. Betsy Clifford won the World Championships in 1970 and a decision was made for the men to concentrate on downhill.

Al introduced several innovations, including wind tunnel testing to study aerodynamics, a supplier program to ensure ongoing funding for the national team, the creation of the Can-Am series (now the Nor-Am series) in partnership with the U.S. Ski Association, and the establishment of the Nancy Greene Ski League — an introductory youth program that remains a cornerstone of Canadian alpine skiing.

He also implemented forward-thinking programs focused on fitness testing, performance incentives, psychological assessment and strategic planning. These initiatives laid the foundation for the rise of Canada’s most famous downhill team — the “Crazy Canucks.”

After stepping away from leading the ski team in 1973, Al worked as a private consultant until 1975, advising on ski area development across Canada and the western United States.

From 1975 to 1980, he served as a consultant to the British Columbia’s Ministry of Lands, where his work lead to the development of BC’s very successful Commercial Alpine Ski Policy, now the All-Season Resort Policy. His responsibilities included overseeing the public proposal call for the development of Blackcomb Mountain, and guiding the planning of what became the Resort Municipality of Whistler. While on contract to the BC Government, Al carried out site evaluations of over 45 ski areas across the province. He also served as the BC Government’s representative on the Whistler municipal council from 1975 to 1981.

In 1980, Al returned to private consulting with A.R. Resort Planning Group. Among his 11 projects were studies of the B.C. heli-ski industry, planning work for Big White and Tod Mountain (now Sun Peaks), evaluation reports for Shames Creek and Snow Basin in Utah, and a master plan for Hudson Bay Mountain in Smithers, B.C.

In 1981, he was appointed executive director of the Whistler Resort Association, responsible for marketing and public relations. He held the role until 1982, when the family took a sabbatical to Crans Montana, Switzerland so their sons could be immersed in French.

In 1984, he returned to Whistler and built and managed Nancy Greene’s Olympic Lodge in Whistler Village. He and his wife Nancy relocated to Sun Peaks in the 1994 where he played a pivotal role in transforming the resort into a world-class destination.

Al was instrumental in the incorporation of Sun Peaks as a Mountain Resort Municipality in 2010 and served as its mayor until his death. His leadership helped foster a sustainable, thriving community at the popular resort. Alan Raine died of ALS on Dec. 14, 2024. He was 83.

His unwavering passion, commitment and eternal optimism left an indelible mark on the Canadian ski industry.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 1962–1965 – Training in Europe to develop competitive skiing skills
• 1966–1968– Coach of the Ski Hawks club in Montreal & Southern Ontario Team
• 1968–1973 – Head coach and program director of the Canadian National Alpine Ski Team
• 1973–1975 – Private consultant for ski resort development in Canada and the United States
• 1975–1980 – Consultant, B.C. Ministry of Lands, Councillor Resort Municipality of Whistler
• 1980–1981 – Founder of A.R. Resort Planning Group
• 1981–1982 – General Manager of the Whistler Resort Association
• 1982–1984 – Sabbatical in Crans-Montana, Switzerland
• 1984–1993 – Developer/Owner/Manager Nancy Greene’s Olympic Lodge in Whistler
• 1994–2007 – Developer/Property Manager, Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Lodge in Sun Peaks
• 2010– 2024 – Mayor of Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality

Note: The information gathered in this biography was compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments. Copyright © Canadian Ski Hall of Fame & Museum. For personal and/or educational use only. All rights reserved.