Over the past couple of months, Cycling BC has been engaged in a search for a Provincial Head Coach to provide leadership, mentoring, and supervision to the team of Cycling BC provincial coaches and affiliate coaches with the goal of building robust high performance and development programs for athletes across all cycling disciplines. The Head Coach will take on the responsibility of developing and administering Cycling BC’s athlete development programs including:
- establishing targeted athlete and provincial team criteria,
- training camps, testing,
- increasing skill development,
- setting performance targets,
- pathway alignment across disciplines, and more.
Throughout the process, the search committee consisting of Cycling BC’s Athlete Pathway Manager, regional provincial coaches, Head of Coach Development, and CEO, met with several impressive and qualified candidates from across the province. One candidate stood out from the rest and Cycling BC is pleased to announce Joel Harwood as the new Head Coach for Cycling BC, effective April 5, 2022.
Joel has been coaching mountain biking for close to 20 years in the Sea to Sky corridor and has been part of Cycling BC’s High-Performance program as a regional coach for mountain bike since 2017. Joel has a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from McMaster University, a Bachelor of Education and Teaching from Western University, and most recently completed a Master’s degree in Education from Simon Fraser University in 2021. Joel has been an educator in the Squamish school district for over 15 years teaching science, physical health & education, and outdoor leadership.
As a coach, Joel has a proven track record for helping athletes achieve their very best and reach world-level status. Joel has coached individual athletes who have gone on to race and podium for the Canadian national team at world championships and other international competitions. Joel is a certified NCCP Club Coach, NCCP Performance Coach, and NCCP Learning Facilitator and has helped Cycling BC lead NCCP Basic Cycling Skills and Mtn Bike Skills courses for the broader coaching community.
Joel’s holistic & long-term approach to coaching puts every aspect of the athlete into consideration—strength, conditioning, skill development, cross-training, flexibility—balanced with work, school, family, and recovery. Supportive, guiding, and fun-loving, Joel has gained the trust and confidence of his fellow coaches, athletes and their parents.
Joel has been a tremendous resource for the cycling community and we look forward to having him join Cycling BC as a full-time coach. Joel’s experience in athlete development and his understanding of Cycling BC’s mission and values gives me great confidence that he will help grow and strengthen our program for years to come. I look forward to watching the program flourish under his leadership.
Please join me in congratulating Joel and wishing him the greatest success in this new role.
Sincerely,
Erin Waugh
CEO