Helen Bourchier

MASTERS CHAMPION - CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
Helen has participated and excelled in sports and athletics since her high school years. While attending Rossland High School, she participated in both junior and senior teams in basketball, volleyball, curling and bowling, track and field, and swimming.
She continued her athletic endeavours while attending Normal school in Vancouver, playing on the volleyball, basketball, and bowling teams.

As a teacher, she has coached a variety of sports teams, including the J.L. Crowe girls’ basketball team that was second in the BC Provincials.

At 46 years of age, Helen returned to competitive skiing, an activity started with her parents at the age of 3 or 4. Helen started to participate in local competitions, BC Winter Games, Western American Championship, the Western Canadian and National Championships, earning success at each level.

Helen has recently become a World Champion in Masters Cross Country Skiing, competing in Quebec, Alaska and Switzerland. She has attended 6 World Championships and has won a total of 7 Gold medals, 7 Silver medals and 4 Bronze medals. In 1999, she won the Gold medal and 2 Silvers in the World Masters Cross Country Skiing Championships in Switzerland; in 2000, she won 2 Gold medals in the World Championships in Sweden, and just recently this year won 3 Silvers in the World Championships in Austria.

Helen has also competed in 10 BC Seniors Games in the cycling events, winning 14 Gold, 12 Silver and 2 Bronze medals.
Helen is quoted as saying “If it’s nice, I like to ski everyday.” She skis 15 to 20 km every time out to keep in shape for her competitive distances. When the snow leaves, she gets out her bicycle and puts on two hours a day. Her Masters World Championships attract over 1,000 athletes from 23 countries, and Helen has been fending them off since 1989. It is her stamina, dedication and consistent excellence that makes her a marvel.

Helen is married to Pete and has 3 daughters.