Karine Dazé Makes History as First Canadian Woman to Coach Olympic Halfpipe Snowboarding
In a groundbreaking moment for Canadian sports, Karine Dazé is set to become the first Canadian woman to coach halfpipe snowboarding at the Olympic level. The Quebec-born coach will travel to Italy in February for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, where she will guide Brazilian snowboarder Augustinho Teixeira through his Olympic debut.
From Childhood Passion to Olympic Coaching
Dazé's journey to this historic moment began in childhood when her cousin introduced her to snowboarding. "I just wanted to do everything my cousin did," Dazé recalled. Already a skier at age 10, she quickly transitioned to snowboarding and discovered halfpipe riding within her first year, captivated by its appeal. "I always thought that looked so cool," she said. "And I was like, I need to get in there."
Her competitive career began just a year later with local and provincial events. As a teenager, she moved to Calgary to participate in training camps and continue competing. The financial demands of competitive snowboarding eventually led her to coaching part-time, where she found herself instructing athletes at her own competitive level.
A Coaching Career Built on Experience
Over fifteen years, Dazé has accumulated extensive coaching experience across multiple levels:
- Provincial and national events
- Junior world competitions
- Youth Olympic Games
- Numerous World Cup events
Reflecting on her upcoming Olympic opportunity, Dazé described it as "pretty amazing" and a "proud moment." Her path has often involved being the only woman at snowboarding meets and the sole female coach among her peers, requiring extra effort to prove herself to young athletes.
Developing a Special Partnership
Dazé has been coaching Teixeira for three years, a partnership that began when the Brazilian athlete's younger brother joined Dazé's snowboarding club, Riders On Board, and encouraged his sibling to participate. "We just developed this really cool friendship," Dazé explained. "The way he feels the tricks, that's the way I see the tricks. Our brains are very similar in how we analyze snowboarding."
The emotional moment when Teixeira qualified for the Olympics occurred while Dazé watched his competition run via livestream from Switzerland. "When he landed his run, I just started crying because I was just so happy for him," she shared. "He worked so hard to get to where he's at."
Final Preparations for the Olympic Stage
In the days leading up to the Olympics, Dazé and Teixeira have been training intensively at Calgary's WinSport facility, utilizing both the halfpipe airbag and the actual halfpipe. Their preparation schedule includes:
- Current training in Calgary
- Travel to Switzerland on February 2 for acclimatization and training at Laax ski resort
- Final preparations in Livigno, Italy, several days before the Olympic events
This comprehensive training approach aims to optimize Teixeira's performance while helping both athlete and coach adjust to time differences and competition conditions.
Dazé's historic appointment represents a significant milestone for gender diversity in winter sports coaching and highlights the growing international recognition of Canadian coaching expertise. As she prepares for the Olympic stage, her journey from a young snowboarder inspired by her cousin to a pioneering Olympic coach serves as an inspiring narrative for aspiring athletes and coaches across Canada.
