Members of the Yukon Freestyle Ski Association (YFSA) have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the upcoming season.

Not only is Mt. Sima scheduled to open later on in December, but the association's ski team will also benefit from the recent hiring of former Olympian and six-time women's moguls Canadian Champion Ann-Marie Pelchat.

Pelchat, who spent 10 years on the Canadian Freestyle Team and placed fifth at the Nagano Olympics in 1998 in women's moguls, was the most qualified applicant and will be in charge of the on-hill, gymnastics as well as dryland training for the eight membered team.

"It will be an exciting season and I think Ann-Marie will be a great fit for the kids," said freestyle ski association coach liaison and program director Laura Wilson.

"She is quite excited to be here."

Besides her experience on the slopes, Pelchat holds certificates as a freestyle coach and personal trainer. She also has a degree in Kinesiology from Laval University.

Wilson said the contract was made possible thanks to the support by Northland Beverages, which is a major sponsor of the YFSA.

Northland Beverages also helped out last season with the costs involved in travelling to competitions in Watson Lake and B.C.

Wilson is also hoping that Pelchat's hiring will increase the overall size of the team, including more female members. Currently, the ski team has two girls on it and the squad's age range is 12 to 15 years old.

Some of the major competitions coming up in the next few years for the freestyle team include the 2010 Arctic Winter Games, which will include the sport for the first time, and the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax.

The freestyle ski association expects Pelchat to be instrumental in developing the Yukon's team for both competitions.

Pelchat arrived in Whitehorse on Tuesday and on Thursday night saw the kids in action for the first time at the Polarettes and Polar Tumblers Gymnastics Club.

Pelchat said she thinks it's going to be a good fit coaching in the Yukon.

"The people are so nice here," she said. "It's fun and I think it's going to be great with the kids."

She said her only goals are for all members on the team to improve as well as be happy and passionate about freestyle skiing.

Pelchat said she is looking forward to the start of the season and plans on holding a fitness test. She said she will also have a one-on-one conference with all eight members on the team.

"I will meet them one by one and see what their goals are and try to work with other sports they do to fit that in the training program," she said. "So the start is going to be a lot of work."

This will be 13-year-old James Boyle's second season on the Yukon's Freestyle Ski Team. Boyle was excited when he found out about a former Olympian being hired as the team's head coach.

"I thought we were going to get a lot better," he said. "I think because she is an Olympian that's pretty cool."

He said Pelchat is a lot fun to work with and that he is looking to the start of the season when the ski hill opens.