Nakiska has been known as a cherished family skiing destination for decades. For the Kucera family, it’s more than just a ski hill—it’s the backdrop of a lifetime of memories, spanning three generations, nearly forty years and counting.
John Kucera is a Canadian skiing World Champion and Olympian who now coaches the next generation of athletes with Alpine Canada. John and his mother, Zdena Kucera, sat down with us to talk about their love for Nakiska and what passing the love of skiing to John’s two daughters means to him and his family.
A Family Tradition Takes Root
The story begins when Zdena Kucera and her husband immigrated to Canada from Czechoslovakia (now separate countries Czechia and Slovakia). Settling in Alberta, they were drawn to Nakiska, a place that soon became their home away from home. “My husband loved skiing,” Zdena recalls. “He joined the Ski Patrol and brought the whole family into it. We spent every weekend of the winter in the mountains, first in hostels and later in our motorhome at Kananaskis Village.”
It was at Nakiska that Zdena’s son, John, first strapped on skis at just 18 months old, quickly mastering the sport. By the time he joined the Nancy Greene program, John was already outpacing his peers, skiing with a confidence that hinted at his future success as a World Champion downhill skier.
From High Performance Racer to Dad
John’s journey took him from the bunny hills to the more technical runs of Nakiska to the world stage, where he represented Canada as an Olympic and World Cup athlete. He made his World Cup debut in 2004 and two years later won his first victory and went on to compete at the 2006 Olympics in Torino. He then won gold at the 2009 World Championships in France. While John has skied at resorts and down famed runs across the globe throughout his many years of international competition, Nakiska has always remained close to his heart.
Cred: Associated Press / John Locher
“Nakiska has a family feel,” John explains. “It’s the place where I learned to ski, where my parents built a community, and now, where I bring my own kids.”
With two daughters of his own, aged six and three, John is continuing the family tradition. Both girls started skiing before they turned two, just as John did. “It’s not about racing,” John emphasizes. “It’s about having fun as a family and enjoying the outdoors.”
A Mountain for Every Generation
Zdena still joins the family on the slopes. Skiing alongside her grandchildren has brought her immense joy. “It’s wonderful to see Anna showing me the ropes on the mountain,” she says with a laugh. “I’m so happy to watch them grow up here, just like their father did.”
Nakiska’s family-friendly terrain makes it an ideal spot for multi-generational adventures. The variety of runs, from gentle green runs to thrilling black diamond runs, caters to all skill levels. “We started Anna on the bunny hill, and now she’s exploring the glades and even the black diamonds,” John shares. “It’s a mountain you can grow up on.”
A Place Like No Other
For the Kuceras, Nakiska is more than a ski resort; it’s a part of their family’s story. The memories of weekends spent skiing, the friendships formed, and the milestones celebrated here have created an unbreakable bond with the mountain.
“Every time we come back, it feels like coming home,” John reflects. “And that’s something really special.”
That second home seems to be increasingly felt by John’s daughters, the eldest is now competing at Nakiska. Says John with a chuckle “She is competing. She’d like to think that she’s faster than me, but I think I still got her…for now at least.”
As the two daughters carve their own paths on Nakiska’s slopes, the Kucera family’s legacy continues—a reminder that skiing is not just a sport, but a way of bringing generations together.
Main Photo Credit: Mario Kneisl
