MOUCHET, JEAN-MARIE - UN OBLAT EN SKI (434 - ENGLISH)
An Oblate who skied from the early age of 5, Jean-Marie Mouchet began skiing in the mountains of his native country, France. During the Second World War, he was a volunteer in the French army, les “Eclaireurs Skieurs” (The Skiers who Lit the Way). In 1946 this young Oblate arrived in Saskatchewan where he began to learn English. The he spent some time in Lower Post (British Columbia) and at Teslin in the Yukon before his congregation assigned him to Telegraph Creek in the north of British Columbia in 1947. He stayed there nine years and began to teach alpine skiing.
In 1955, he left for Old Crow in the Yukon. In this little native village situated 120 miles (193 km) north of the Arctic Circle, Father Mouchet established the program TEST (Territorial Experimental Ski Training). This program did not only aim at developing the physiological aspect of young athletes through the use of lessons in cross-country skiing, but also at developing self-respect and self love..
Early during the 1960’s in Whitehorse, Father Mouchet opened, by hand, a ski trail 6 miles (10 km) long and which is still part of the Mount McIntyre Trail. In the capital, he continued his rather heavy work of training and coaching a growing number of young Yukon athletes benefitting from the TEST program. He formed skiers who were recognized world-wide.
In 1988, he received the Meritorious National medal first established by General de Gaulle. The Whitehorse Cross-Country Ski organization notes his remarkable contribution by creating the “Pere Mouchet” (The‘Father Mouchet Prize.’) which has been given each year since 1991 to persons who have played an important role in the development of cross-country skiing. In October 1993, Father Jean-Marie Mouchet was awarded the Order of Canada.
Ref. Empreinte, vol.11, p. 120
No comments:
Post a Comment