Remembering Al Raine, a true powder pioneer
Sun Peaks, BC "'Keep skiing and stay social,' ... it was one of the last things he said to me," explains Olympic Gold Medalist Nancy Greene Raine during the recent celebration of life for her husband Al Raine.
A master of community development, it was through Al's work and his ability to dream big that transformed the Canadian ski industry.
Al Raine was a kid who got into skiing by clipping a coupon out of one of the newspapers he was delivering back in prairie Manitoba. Now, 70 odd years later, he leaves this life as one of the most influential people in Canada's ski and tourism industries.
For those of us fortunate enough to know Al, who died this past December 2024 at 83 years of age, we experienced his eternal optimism.
For those who didn't, think back: how did you become a skier or rider? Does your story include experiences at BC ski resorts?
For many of us skiers and riders, whether you know it or not, we owe a big debt of gratitude to Al Raine.
Photo:
courtesy Whistler Museum and Archives Society
Al Raine and Nancy Greene, at Blackcomb Mountain, 1980s.
Packing big dreams, eternal optimism and a unique capacity to move past huge challenges, he worked alongside wife Nancy Greene to first develop out Whistler through the late 70s and 80s. Then through the 1990s and 2000s, on to Sun Peaks.
In the process, they layed the foundation for the rest of BC's ski tourism industry.
Born in October 1941 out of Dauphin, Manitoba, Al's passion for skiing would take him across Canada, to Austria, to building up Whistler and Sun Peaks, all while becoming a husband, a father, grandfather and this master in the art of building community through skiing.
"Twenty-two thousand people work in the ski industry across Canada," explained CWSAA's CEO Christopher Nicholson during the service.
I like to think about all those who Al and Nancy have impacted in so many good ways with their commitment to making the most memorable ski experiences available to the millions of people who have now skied either Whistler or Sun Peaks (and beyond).
The village at Sun Peaks, where Al left a big mark on the resort and the community.
"If we were in a meeting and a tour bus pulled up," explained Darcy Alexander GM of Sun Peaks Resort on working with Al and Nancy, "the meeting had to take a pause so they could get out into the parking lot to welcome the guests."
"One thing we always believe, is that what makes a ski holiday is meeting a local; that interaction allows guests to gain a glimpse into your life here," said Nancy.
Life, and skiing, according to Al Raine
As all of us learned during a great celebration of life, Al's take on life was unique and came with a series of approaches that are all his own.
Here is a list of a few "Al'ism's":
1)"He'd get off the lift and haul ass to the bottom. There are no mid-run stops when you ski with Al," explained former Sun Peaks Sales and Marketing Manager Aiden Kelly.
Last season, at 82 years of age, Al racked up 120 days on his skis.
2) "Learning to ski at six is like getting your driver's license at 16," said Willy Raine, one of Al's two sons. His brother Charley stood next to him, while he described his passion for the sport that he learned from his father. "The sense of freedom and being able to explore, looking for every single jump we could find."
Anyone who is a skier or snowboarder can attest that this sport gives you special powers, like critical thinking skills and instilling a strong sense of adventure.
3)"Look before you leap," advice Al would give his kids, applying not just to the leaps on the hill, but on the daily outside of skiing.
4) "Dream big, and use perseverance to get it done," Hugh Smythe, former president at Whistler Blackcomb, described Al's vision.
He reminisced about how during Al's Whistler chapter, he would walk around what would one day be Whistler Village with pictures from his time in Austria, of skiers catering pedestrian villages, the example for what he envisioned building in BC.
Communities like Whistler and Sun Peaks are living testaments to those, like Al Raine, who have big dreams and eternal optimism to get it done.
Al Raine's vision was instrumental in guiding development at Whistler Blackcomb (above) through the 70s and 80s.
At the service, it was interesting to have Secwépemc Elder Louis Thomas speak about the caring of the land, and how it's getting more important every day.
Raine not only wanted to care for the land in a way that brought joy to millions but also work locally to build true community. During the service, members of the Sun Peaks Municipal Council showed up on stage in new shirts reading "Be Like Al (front); Be nice (back)."
So many accomplishments to list, including the fact he was mayor till the day before his passing, having spent his 83 years on this planet dedicated to public good through the sport of skiing.
Pick up the book The Crazy Canucks by Janet Love Morrison to learn of Al's imprint on Canada's ski racing dominance across the world stage as the head coach of the Canadian National Ski Team, and the organization's director from 1968 to 1973.
Taken off his celebration of life program, Al would say "Life is for the living. Get out there and do things, and care for each other."
Thank you, Al, for challenging us to think big and to live with eternal optimism to see our big dreams come true.
The last Al'ism for us to remember "keep skiing and stay social," are truly words to live by. #ripalraine
Al Raine and Nancy Greene Raine at Sun Peaks, where Al spent the last couple decades skiing and building community.
More reading
Check out some of the ski communities where Al Raine's influence left a big legacy.
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