Jim Forsyth has been named the recipient of the Al Brennan Memorial Trophy for Coach of the year for 2019.
Forsyth began as a self-taught combined skier (aerials, moguls and “acro”) in the 1970s, then transitioned to coaching after his athletic career was over.
“I was always a bit of a daredevil,” noted Forsyth, “and when North Bay hosted the Ontario Winter Games, I became hooked on freestyle skiing.”
Forsyth was responsible for growing the sport in North Bay and area in the late 80s and early 90s, and he continues to coach to this day.
He was the first coach of three-time Olympic aerialist and World Champion Steve Omischl, who was attracted to the sport as a result of an aerials demonstration event at the Provincial Championships held at Laurentian Ski Club.
That beautiful sunny day, Ski Club Road was completely blocked with traffic as drivers and passengers stopped to observe the spectacle. Subsequent Provincial Championships were held at the Mattawa Ski Club (Mt. Antoine) in which Omischl was a competitor. Omischl and Forsyth are still very good friends, and most recently they co-coached a freestyle camp last summer at Whistler.
"You could see it in his eyes that he had the confidence, the fearless determination, and the right personality to be successful in the sport," Forsyth said about what he saw in Omischl.
"Steve rose to national and international levels of competition very quickly as he was fortunate that the right people and circumstances fell in line at just the right moment for him.”
Following the closure of Mattawa in 1997, Jim restarted the club in North Bay. Since that time, Jim has continued to coach on weekends and has been a fixture on the local hill. Forsyth’s athletes have been regular podium finishers in almost every age category. He has accompanied 5 athletes to Junior National Championships in recent years.
Forsyth recently returned from a National Canada Cup Competition with four of his athletes, the youngest being 12 years of age.
Three of his athletes have been selected to the Ontario Mogul Team (Aidan Matthews, Alex Mysko, and Mya Cousineau). Aidan and Alex are still on the team, and Mya has retired from active competition to attend university.
Forsyth is very candid about his success as a coach.
“It is not about me, it is about the athletes. I just point their skis down the hill. Having respect for all of your athletes is key. I am a very technical coach, and I like to start working 'technique' with young athletes. This approach has shown noticeable success as the athletes get older and stronger.”
Forsyth has the ability to bring his entire team together in a mutually supportive environment. Other teams and coaches have admired how close the North Bay squad in terms of their camaraderie.
“It is pretty special to observe a group of young athletes cheering on a teammate who has just completed his first backflip,” noted Forsyth.
"It is no wonder that an unusually large number of local athletes have risen to provincial, national and international levels of competition. Perhaps the best way to describe Forsyth’s coaching style is through a story. Years ago, at Mt. Antoine, a fellow coach was being interviewed by the press, and he was asked where “the other coach” (Jim) was.
That person said, “he is still on the hill working with the athletes.” The moniker “the other coach” suits Jim just fine, and it has stuck. He would prefer to be on the hill with the athletes rather than in the limelight.
When asked why he has remained in the sport so long Forsyth is quick to respond, “it is a way to give back to the sport I love, a way for me to stay active and involved, and I had lots of opportunity growing up so I want to make sure others enjoy the same opportunities. Pass it on!”
And Forsyth has also been giving back through coaching development. A certified Level 4 technical coach in aerials and moguls (the highest level possible through the National Coaching Certification Program), he has delivered at least 20 NCCP courses in North Bay and beyond. Forsyth has also successfully lobbied for coaches to receive the athletes’ scorecards (from the judges) at the conclusion of the competition so that they are able to review scores and deductions with their athletes.
“Identifying deductions for errors has tremendously assisted athletes to improve their performances," notes Forsyth.
To further their understanding of the judging process, Forsyth encourages his athletes to take a judging course. Forsyth has garnered the respect of his fellow coaches across the country. Many of Forsyth’s colleagues offered much praise for his positive impact on the sport:
The best example is Sarah Burke, who he encouraged to combine her athletic and scholastic endeavours. As an aerialist, Burke completed her first 1080 (three full 360° rotations) at Mt. Antoine at the Provincial Championships.
Forsyth has difficulty identifying just one highlight of his lengthy coaching career, but one story is particularly meaningful.
“I recall Steve’s (Omischl) first world championship, and he had won a medal. At the time, I was staying with a friend in Southern Ontario as I was giving a coaching course. During dinner, the phone rang. It was Steve, he was talking on the phone with me while walking to the podium for the medal presentation, relaying to me what he was feeling at that special moment.”
The Board of Directors of the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame are advising the 40th Annual Induction and Awards Dinner scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2020 has been cancelled. The four individuals scheduled to be inducted will be inducted at next year’s dinner. The 2019 Hall of Fame Award Winners will be recognized and presented their awards at a later date this year. Any questions regarding ticket refunds should be directed to Chair Bill Jacko at 705-492-3961.
