Coaching Staff
Sugar Bowl Academy’s coaching staff provides a focused and enjoyable training environment that reflects a commitment to athlete development. Drawing on their domestic and international experiences, coaches design yearly training progressions that challenge the technical and tactical skills of each individual athlete. Coaches work in concert with the academic staff to ensure appropriate student-athlete management. As such their contribution to the SBA community extends beyond the training day.
Guenther Birgmann
Head Men's Alpine Coach
Originally from Salzburg, Austria, Guenther has extensive international coaching experience as a fully certified race coach and ski instructor from three different countries. Following his studies at the Institute of Physical Education in Innsbruck, Guenther worked for the Austrian Ski Team where he worked with Europa and World Cup athletes. Guenther’s prominence as an international coach has brought him success both within the Far West Region and through his summer camp at Treble Cone Racing Academy in New Zealand. Guenther’s tremendous experience, determination, and charisma impacts everyone at Sugar Bowl Academy.
Nate Fisher
Head Women's Coach
Originally from the east coast, Nate grew up ski racing for Ford Sayre Academy in Lyme, New Hampshire before attending Gould Academy during high school. Nate continued his passion for ski racing at the University of New Hampshire where he studied Wildlife Management. Following graduation, Nate remained involved in ski racing working as a coach at Killington Mountain School and Gould Academy. Nate’s experience working with elite athletes and competing at regional and national championship events, make him a valuable member of the SBA coaching staff. Nate draws on his degree in Wildlife Management through his passions for fishing and hunting in the off season.
Bryce Hubner
Head J3 Coach
Bryce is a graduate of Bates College and Burke Mountain Academy. He was among the nation's top-ranked junior racers throughout high school and, as a freshman at Bates, he was the youngest male alpine racer at the NCAA Skiing Championships. Bryce returned to Burke Mountain Academy as a staff member, working as a men's F.I.S. alpine coach, men's varsity soccer coach, and English and Humanities teacher. Bryce and his wife, Kim, arrive at Sugar Bowl Academy by way of the San Francisco Bay, where Bryce most recently worked as a journalist covering, among many things, some the world’s biggest ski racing events for a variety outdoor and sports publications.
Jeff Schloss
Head Nordic Coach
Jeff has been passionately coaching XC ski racers for 21 years in the Tahoe area. He coached the Truckee High School Nordic Team to five State Championships before taking over the head Nordic coaching position at the University of Nevada, Reno. At UNR he helped bring the team from a club sport to an NCAA Division 1 team and to a top 10 ranking in the nation. After coaching at UNR, Jeff became the head Nordic coach for the Auburn Ski Club and the Far West Division. He coached Far West juniors to six different Junior National Championships and help place Junior Matt Gelso on the US Ski team. In 2006 Jeff coached the US Ski Team at the Junior World Championships and at the Under 23 World Championships. He loves outdoor adventure and is active in rock climbing, kayaking, triathlon, and masters XC ski racing.
Jim Hudson
Director of Athletic Conditioning & Head J4/5 Coach
An NCAA All-American and member of the U.S. Development Team, Jim comes from a family of skiers. Jim has skied, raced, and coached in California his whole life and his passion for the sport is contagious. Jim was named the Far West Coach of the Year in 1998 and continues his professional growth by coaching at Mt. Hood, Whistler, New Zealand, and Chile during the summer months. Jim and his wife, Ellen, enjoy their new home in Penn Valley with 30 fruit trees and a large garden.
Candice Brooks
Director of Athlete Conditioning
Candice is an internationally known fitness expert and lecturer, and is a past IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year. She has authored four fitness books and has been featured in more than 25 DVDs. As a consultant to several fitness equipment companies, Candice creates exercise programming for athletes and the general public. Her areas of expertise include integrated core programs, stability ball and BOSU programming, sport stretch and yoga, agility and cardiovascular conditioning.
Douglas Brooks
Director of Athlete Conditioning
Douglas holds a Master's degree in exercise physiology. As an author, lecturer, trainer, coach and video personality, his knowledge of fitness is recognized by professionals and the public worldwide. He is the author of eight major books, as well as numerous publications relating to the science of sport conditioning. He conducts lectures and workshops on exercise physiology and strength training across the globe, and conducts product research and development for several sport equipment companies. Douglas is the consulting physiologist and strength/conditioning coach for a number of teams and athletes. In 2007, he was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame, and is a Twist Sport Conditioning Master Coach.
Martin Benes
Nordic Coach, Dorm Parent
Martin returns to the Truckee area this year after several years as a student and coach on the east coast. After graduating from Bates College with a degree in Classical and Medieval Studies, Martin went on to coach Nordic skiing at Dartmouth College and Bates. His enthusiasm for the Sierra Nevada Mountains brought Martin back to the Truckee area this summer and to Sugar Bowl Academy. Martin’s experience coaching and racing at the NCAA level makes him an asset to our young program.
Devin Gill
J1/2 Men's Coach, Dorm Parent
Devin grew up in the great state of Maine in a small town just north of Portland. His youth skiing days took place at beautiful Wildcat Mountain in New Hampshire and continued at Sugarloaf during his four years at the University of Maine at Farmington. At UMF Devin participated in both baseball and alpine skiing. During his four years at UMF Devin coached for Sugarloaf and Carrabassett Valley Academy as a J3 and J1/2 coach. In 2008, Devin graduated with a degree in Community Health, a minor in coaching, and a certificate in the Ski Industries Program and moved westward to Sugar Bowl Academy. He also thoroughly enjoys baseball, mountain biking, and hanging out on the docks of Donner Lake.
Sarah Gley
Athletic Trainer
Sarah joins the Sugar Bowl Academy community this year from Salt Lake City, UT where she was the Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer for the University of Utah Ski Team. She earned a B.S. in Kinesiology with the Athletic Training option from California State University, Fresno (2007) and an M.S. in Sport Psychology from the University of Utah (2009). She has been nationally certified as an athletic trainer since 2007. She enjoys working with children and adults of all ages to prevent, treat, and rehabilitate sports related injuries.
Katharina Golik
J1/2/3 Alpine Coach
Katharina joins the SBA staff with over ten years of national and international competition experience with the German Ski Team. She holds a Master’s degree in sports science and a National Ski Coach Certification from the German Ski Federation. Her prior experiences as an alpine ski coach and with sport physical therapy, sport massage, and strength and conditioning make Katharina an asset to our staff. Most recently from Aspen, Katharina adds a tremendous amount of athletic experience and knowledge to our team. She understands and has a great passion for our mission as well as the triumphs and challenges ski racing provides.
Jeff Kai
J1/2/3 Alpine Coach
Jeff returns to the Western Region this year after a five year stint as the Alpine Director of the Aspen Valley Ski Club. Prior to role at Aspen, Jeff was the Western Region Alpine Competition/Development Manager where he helped start the trend of Western Region juniors being selected to the U.S. Ski Team. During his six years with USSA, Jeff taught several coaches’ clinics and earned his own level 500 coach certificate. A avid cyclist and runner, Jeff brings valuable regional and national experience to the SBA staff.
Lesley LeMasurier
J3 Alpine Coach
A Burke Mountain Academy graduate and former U.S. Development Team member, Lesley grew up skiing and racing Nastar at Wintergreen Resort in Virginia. Her passion for the sport of ski racing led Lesley and her family to found a junior race program at Wintergreen before moving on to Burke Mountain Academy for high school. After skiing with the U.S. Development Team, Lesley attended the University of Colorado, Boulder from where she graduated as an Academic All-American with a degree in English. Lesley’s first-hand experience at a ski academy and experiences with the U.S. Ski Team make her an asset to our J3 program. When not skiing, Lesley is oft found writing, surfing, hiking, biking, or fly fishing.
