Homegrown Athletes: Kiki Alexander and Rachael Karker

From the slopes of Sunshine Village to the Olympic Games, join us in cheering on homegrown athletes, Kiara “Kiki” Alexander and Rachael Karker, as they represent Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics!

Kiara “Kiki” Alexander, a Sunshine Alpine Racers alum who started skiing at age six at Banff Sunshine Village, will make her Olympic debut at Milano-Cortina, specializing in alpine skiing. “I don’t remember a time were going to the Olympics wasn’t my goal,” she shared on an episode of the For The Love of Winter podcast with Kendra Scurfield. But her journey to get here has been anything but easy. After overcoming a major knee injury in 2022 that required two surgeries, Kiki trained relentlessly (twice a day, six days a week) in preparation to compete on this year’s Olympic stage and earn her first medal.

Strapping on skis at just a year and a half of age, Sunshine local Rachael Karker made her Olympic debut at Beijing 2022, winning bronze in the women’s ski halfpipe alongside silver medalist teammate Cassie Sharpe. Having finished on the World Cup podium 16 times, Karker demonstrates remarkable consistency and is aiming to defend her medal in Cortina. Off the slopes, she is engaged to Calgary local and fellow freestyle skier Brendan Mackay, who is competing in the men’s halfpipe in Cortina, and chasing his first Olympic medal.

A premier training ground for talent, Banff Sunshine Village is proud to sponsor and support these extraordinary athletes as the represent Canada in the 2026 Milano Olympics and inspire the next generation of great skiers.