Faculty and Staff

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia Toby learnt to ski from the age of 5 on the slopes of Perisher Blue, in Australia's Snowy Mountains. Toby graduated from The University of Sydney with a Honours in Education and has almost 20-years experience in independent schools in Australia, the United States, Asia, and the South Pacific. During this time, Toby fulfilled a number of roles including Dean of Faculty, Dean of Students, and Associate Head of School.  

Arriving at Sugar Bowl Academy Toby seeks to learn, lead, and serve with a posture and practice towards academic excellence by seeking to cultivate research-informed educational environments that refine pedagogical outcomes, cultivate the holistic formation of all student-athletes, and character development of all members of the educational community. Toby recently graduated with a doctorate in ethics and loves spending time outdoors skiing, hiking, or surfing with his wife, Kelley, and daughter Ada. He and his family return to Australia annually to see extended family while also finding time to read, explore, and write. 

Ursula is an SBSTA boomerang employee. She previously worked for the Sugar Bowl Ski Team from 2003-2007. She assisted the ED with growing the team from 200 to over 400 athletes through strategic planning and managing the business office. While the academy operated from the ASI building at the crest of Hwy. 40, the dream of building a campus at the resort was just beginning.

After leaving the organization in 2007, she honed her skills as the Director of Administration for an estate management company in the North Tahoe area, and oversaw the accounting, human resources and customer service channels.  She built upon her hospitality accounting background and her Journalism education at the University of Nevada as an independent consultant for small businesses. Upon her 2015 return to SBSTA, she was excited to see the earlier mighty mites had grown into accomplished seniors and the Academy campus dream had come true for the community. She currently manages the business operations of the organization including accounting and HR and collaborates on facilities and food services.

Ursula and her family have lived in Truckee, CA since 1996.  She moved here to snowboard with her husband, John, and stayed to raise three now young adults.  She is an avid movie-goer, crossword puzzle doer, and sneaks in occasional river walks, lake days, yoga moves, and time with close friends. She passionately serves on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Truckee Library with a vision for a new library in the region. LinkedIn Profile

Send Ursula an email at uriina@sbacademy.org.

SBSTA welcomed Branko Zagar to its team in Spring 2022. An accomplished Alpine Coach and Program Director, and former collegiate Athletic Director, Branko previously spent over a decade in the Tahoe area with various roles:

• Heavenly Ski Resort Ski Instructor and Examiner (2002-2003)

• Heavenly Ski Education Foundation J-II/III Head Coach (2002-2005)

• Diamond Peak Ski Education Foundation FIS Head Coach (2005-2007)

• Sierra Nevada College (SNC) Head Alpine Coach (2006-2017)

• SNC Winter Sports Director (2008-2011)

• SNC Director of Athletics (2011-2017)

During his time at SNC, Branko built a men’s and women’s alpine ski team that took home numerous team and individual national championships, along with establishing, supporting, and advancing several other collegiate sports. He is highly regarded and respected by his peers nationally and internationally for his accomplishments.

Other accomplishments and recognition while at SNC include:

• 2015 United States Collegiate Ski Association (USCSA) Coach of the Year

• 2015 Achievement Award from U.S. Senator Harry Reid

• Sierra Nevada College Alpine Ski Team to 9 / 10 overall USCSA National Championships, over 30 USCSA National Titles, and over 200 Collegiate National titles

• Led SNC Snowboard and Freeski teams to 13 consecutive USCSA titles

• Started eight new sports programs at Sierra Nevada College (Freeskiing, Lacrosse, Soccer, Golf, Cross Country)

From 2017 to June 2022 Branko served as the Alpine Program and Race Director at the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club in Jackson, WY.

In his role at JHSC, Branko was honored as the Intermountain Division’s (IMD) race official of the year in 2019 and received the IMD Distinguished Service Award honoring his commitment to the IMD and Western Region in 2021.

Craig started skiing for the Sugar Bowl Ski Team when he was six.  He skied for Sugar Bowl till the age of 13 when he moved to Canada for high school. After returning to Tahoe to attend the University of Nevada, Reno, he returned to Sugar Bowl to start his coaching career.  He has moved from mighty mites through the age groups where he has found a home as the U14 Head Coach.  As well as his coaching duties, Craig is heavily involved with Residential Life as the Head Residential Life Staff.  He spends his summers ski coaching and rowing a raft on the Rogue River in Oregon. Send Craig an email at ccombs@sbacademy.org.

Florjan was raised in Slovenia, where he began skiing at four and racing at six. At fifteen, Florjan became a member of the Slovenia Regional Team and progressed quickly as a development team member for the next two years. Unfortunately, he sustained a serious injury late in his second year and was forced to take two years off snow. This led Florjan to make the decision to focus on education. After several years of school, he returned to the Slovenian national team as a coach. He has since coached World Cup, World Championship, and Olympic athletes, helping them pursue and achieve their athletic dreams.

Andrew is the U16 Head Coach for Sugar Bowl Academy and Ski Team. Originally from Minnesota, growing up skiing on the small hills around the St. Croix River.

Following high school racing Andrew went on to compete for Northern Michigan University, attending USCSA Nationals twice and leading the team as Treasurer and President. While at Northern Michigan, Andrew studied Sports Science and, prior to graduation, completed some original research on alpine skiing starts and the physical traits that lead to greater success out of the gate.

After graduating, Andrew was hired as a Strength and Conditioning Intern at Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, which grew into a role as U16 alpine coach & part-time strength and conditioning coach. During this time, Andrew got to work with the likes of Lindsey Vonn, Tommy Ford, the USST Women's EC Team, work with an exchange program with the STAMS academy in Austria, and had an athlete win the Slalom at U16 Nationals.

After a number of years in that role, Andrew moved up to the FIS world, working with the men's FIS team at Ski & Snowboard Club Vail, which included 4 athletes that would all be named to the US ski team that spring.

Following this short stint working with FIS athletes, Andrew was recruited to Sugar Bowl Academy to lead the U16 Men's team as its new head coach. After three years in that position, the decision was made to combine the men’s and women’s U16 programs into one under Andrew’s leadership. More recently, Andrew led the boy's team to the strongest team finish at U16 western regionals in the spring of 2022 and, following the spring competition season, spent two weeks with the USST Men’s speed team at a spring training camp at Mammoth.

Andrew and his wife, Caitlin, live on Donner Summit with their dog, Sylvie. When Andrew isn’t on the snow, you can find him mountain biking around the Tahoe area or out on the water.

Sport-Specific Background, Experience, and Roles:

• USCSA Nationals Competitor 

• U16 Coach SSCV 5 years

• FIS Coach SSCV 1 Year

• SBA U16 - 5 Years 

• USST - Vonn / CK, Women's EC Team with Frankie, Pelkey Men’s Speed Team

• Three trips to U16 Nationals - Men’s Head Coach 2019

• 2017 - Win - Reece Bell / SL - Brought 4 of 8 girls in the group

• 2019 - Turner, Herhusky, Staudenmayer, Hart

• 2022 - Ottosson, Baker, Schrady 

• 2022 - WR U16’s more athletes in the Top 10 in each event than any other team and the same in overall 

• 2022 - Ottosson Top Western GS skier at U16 Nationals

Education, Professional Degrees, and Certifications:

• BS - Sports Science (Kinesiology/Biomechanics) - 2012

• USSA - Level 200, Strength/Conditioning & Sport Psychology, Ref/Course Official Level 1, Setting

• EXOS - Performance Mentorship 2019

• NSCA - Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist  - 2012-2015

Janet has been coaching ski racing for over twenty-five years and has worked with every age group, from 4 to 19 years old. Over the past fourteen years, she has coached U14s almost exclusively. She is passionate about working with the tween age group. Janet is our only USSA Technical Delegate on staff and holds this position at many races in the Far West throughout the season. Janet is a mom of two teenage sons and understands the dedication required to balance full-time sports and high-level academics.

Off the snow, Janet enjoys wearing flip-flops and going to the beach.

I believe in coaching all of our athletes with the same commitment, regardless of their racing experience or skill level. Being in a mentor/coach role with young athletes is a true privilege, and it goes way beyond ski racing.

Sport-Specific Background, Experience, and Roles:

• Raced for UC Davis when club-level racing was highly competitive with Sierra Nevada College and the University of Nevada, Reno

• Coached all levels from Mighty Mites thru U19

• Held leadership roles as Head Development Coach and Head J5 coach for SBST, Children’s Ski School Director at Sugar Bowl Ski Area, Head U14 Coach for AMST, and Assistant coach roles for SBSTA U14s and U16s before moving into the Head U14 Coach position

• Administrative Assistant for SBSTA Business Office

Education, Professional Degrees, and Certifications:

• Level 400 US Ski & Snowboard Coach

• Level 3 PSIA Instructor

• Level 3 US Ski & Snowboard Referee and Technical Delegate

• Level 1 US Ski & Snowboard Chief of Race, Chief of Course, and Timing & Calculations

My name is Hilari Clendenin-Governor and I am so excited to be addressing you as the new Assistant Women’s U19/FIS coach.

I’m a local girl.  Having grown up on the West shore of Lake Tahoe and graduated from North Tahoe High School, skiing was second nature. 

Through my 30 plus years of coaching, I had the pleasure of working with athletes such as Travis Ganong, Cody Townsend and Errol Kerr. All of whom skied with me as U10’s and 12’s at Squaw Valley.

Adventures and opportunities took me south to Palm Desert where I enjoyed several winters working in both Tennis and Fitness.  Clubs such as, Indian Wells Tennis Garden, The Reserve and Indian Ridge Country Club, is where you could find me laughing it up and play matches with the members!

I returned to my love of coaching two years ago by the insistence of my friend and Sugar Bowl Head U14 coach, Janet Moran. Thank you Janet!! I spent that year working with her U14’s, what a blast. This last season I was asked to head up the Mighty Might program, which again had me out doing what I love best, skiing with kiddos. In addition to the Mighty Mights, as luck would have it, I was asked to accompany the U19/FIS women to both Utah and Alaska.  That was it, I was hooked.

So, there you have it! Living the dream!!!

Sean Carey grew up skiing at Bogus Basin in Idaho. He moved to Tahoe to pursue competitive freestyle skiing. He coached for Sugar Bowl Ski Team and Academy early in his career before moving to Palisades to coach for Palisades Free. We are excited to have Sean back with SBSTA directing our Freeride programs! Send Sean an email at scarey@sbacademy.org.

Kris Thomas joins Sugar Bowl Academy as Head Freeride Coach and Mountain BIke Team Director. Born and raised in Littleton, Colorado, Kris’ parents instilled their love for the mountains at a young age. Kris found that passion and spent his youth skiing and mountain biking in the front range of the rockies. After graduating with a B.A. in Communication from the University of Colorado, Kris moved to California in 2002 to chase his dreams on snow. After years of teaching kids at Squaw Valley, competing on the IFSA tour and searching the sierra for untracked runs, Kris is excited to help inspire our athletes to achieve their dreams on snow and off.

Dave is returning as Assistant Freeride Coach and beginning a new role as Residential Life Parent. Growing up in New England with a love for all things outdoors, Dave moved west in 2000 to pursue his dreams, becoming a professional backcountry skier and whitewater rafting guide. Dave’s ski career included filming movies in the backcountry of Utah and Alaska and competing on the US Freeskiing Series. Dave spent 17 seasons guiding wilderness trips down rivers like the Salmon in Idaho and the Grand Canyon of the Colorado. Dave loves sharing his freeride experience with our young athletes and can be found on his skis nearly every day in the winter coaching or out with friends.

I am really excited to return to the Sugarbowl Academy as Assistant Freeride Coach and begin my new role in Residential Life. I grew up in Connecticut with a love for all things outdoors. In high school I attended the White Mountain School in Northern New Hampshire becoming a student leader in rock climbing, backcountry skiing and whitewater kayaking. My love for the mountains brought me out west where I became a professional telemark skier and whitewater raft guide. I began coaching for SBA in 2018 and quickly found my home and calling with the Freeride program. Sharing my love and experience for skiing and life with our young athletes is incredibly rewarding and I look forward to expanding my role as part of the Residential life program. My own boarding school experience was one of the most positive and influential periods of my life and I hope to create a similar experience here at SBA.

Will is a native of Auburn, Maine, and most recently spent 15 years at the Maine Winter Sports Center in Caribou, Maine as the Community Development Director, Head Cross-Country Coach and Director of Competition. Prior to that he served as the head coach for the Gap Year Program at Mountain Lakes Nordic. He has also coached at Carrabassett Valley Academy, Bates College, Jackson Hole Ski Club and the Auburn Middle School. He has worked as trip leader for the NENSA Junior National Team on three occasions, served as wax technician for both the US Ski Team and the US Biathlon Team, and personally coached five athletes to Olympic Winter Games teams. 

Will graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in English and Creative Writing and is a past Maine State Arts Fellow in Fiction. He spends most of his time off campus with his daughter Aesklyn, his wife Sarah Dominick, and their two springer spaniels, Castor and Pollux. He hopes to find enough time each week to write again. Send Will an email at wsweetser@sbacademy.org.

Jamey Conley is SBSTA’s Head of Strength and Conditioning. Jamey has a BS in Athletic Training from Springfield College, where he played on the Men’s Lacrosse Team. He is a Certified Athletic Trainer and Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist with experience working in collegiate and professional sports settings, as well as in the private setting working with middle school, high school, collegiate, and professional athletes. Prior to joining SBSTA, Jamey was a Performance Coach for Altis Performance and for U.S. Ski & Snowboard High Performance.

Isabel grew up in Peru, Vermont nordic skiing with her parents and siblings. After attending the Stratton Mountain School, she graduated from Dartmouth College, where she earned a BA in Earth Science and served as captain of the Women’s Nordic Team her senior year. After college, Isabel earned her MA in Teaching from the University of Vermont. Since then, Isabel has spent two years teaching middle school science in Williams, Arizona and two years teaching and coaching at the Burr and Burton Academy’s Mountain Campus, a place-based semester program in Vermont. Isabel is thrilled to be a math and science teacher at Sugar Bowl Academy. In addition to nordic skiing, Isabel enjoys hiking, biking, and spending time outside learning about the world around her. 

Karen grew up in upstate NY and attended college in Rochester where she earned her BA in Psychology as a Division 3 athlete. Seeking more sun, she moved south to attend North Carolina State University where she earned her Masters degree in School Counseling and became an avid Wolfpack and ACC fan. She has been a school counselor in a large public school, a co-director of college counseling in a highly academic private school and is thrilled to have landed at SBA where she can focus on college counseling for competitive skiers. This is her 20th year in education, she has spoken at national conferences and is an application reader for the University of California college system.  When not spreading college knowledge, she can be found paddleboarding, hiking, running with Ranger her Aussie, and waiting for the next El Nino to hit the slopes. Send Karen an email at krowe@sbacademy.org.

Genny is a graduate of Middlebury College, where she indulged her passion for literature and earned her BA in English. From there she moved west, first to acquire a MA in secondary education from the University of Colorado at Boulder and then to pursue her career in the Vail Valley. She enjoyed 12 years of teaching English Language Arts and Social Studies for Eagle County Schools before relocating with her family to the Tahoe region. Most recently, she served as a middle school Humanities teacher and crew leader at the Tahoe Expedition Academy here in Truckee. Between parenting her two children and continuing her own education, she devotes her time to telemark skiing, road and mountain biking, and reading as much as is humanly possible. Send Genny an email at gcoffey@sbacademy.org.

Originally from Oklahoma, Sam moved out to the West to attend the University of San Diego. He quickly realized that he had a preference for the mountains over the beach and spent a number of years pursuing big mountain terrain both at resorts in Colorado, British Columbia, and California and in the backcountry all over the country

. In addition to a passion for science and mathematics, Sam spends the majority of his free time exploring the wild places in the Sierra Nevada mountains, teaching avalanche classes, and working to build community in Truckee, where he lives.

Sam teaches Algebra, Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, and Physical Science; he strongly believes in the unique ability of the Sugar Bowl Academy to develop talented student-athletes and focus on their individualized learning outcomes. 

Growing up snowboarding in the Catskill Mountains of upstate NY, Richard moved to South Lake Tahoe in 2006. It was there where he fell in love with the Spanish language while working and attending Lake Tahoe Community College. Through the next couple of years, he traveled and lived in many Spanish Speaking countries like Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras. He has also attended language schools and home-stays in countries like Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, and Argentina where he deepened his language skills and learned more about these cultures.

In 2014, Richard returned to upstate NY to go back to school where he attended the University at Albany- State University of New York where he received his bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in Latin American Caribbean Studies. He then went on to receive his master’s degree in Spanish from the same school with a concentration in Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition. At the same time, he received his 300-hour TEFL (Teaching English as a foreign language) certificate and was a tutor for different students at the college level in Spanish 1-4.

Richard moved back to Tahoe in the fall of 2021 and has been tutoring students in Spanish that attend Bijou Elementary in South Lake Tahoe. In his free time, Richard loves to Snowboard, wakeboard, cliff dive, read and watch Spanish language content, exercise, and travel.

Jill grew up in Arizona. She graduated from University of San Francisco with a degree in Communications and was inspired to join the world of art while attending school in San Francisco. She attended Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara and earned a degree in advertising photography. She traveled the world as a photographer and off-the-beaten-path experiences were fun for her. Jill earned her CLAD teaching credential from SF State.

 She began her teaching career in San Francisco by building an art program from the ground up at Stuart Hall High School. 

 Along with teaching, Jill practices interior design. Jill's design preference is simple, fresh and timeless. In between her many renovation projects, Jill enjoys spending time cooking family recipes in her kitchen. Yoga soothes her soul and being with her three kids dominates all.

Ambrose has been teaching English at Sugar Bowl Academy since 2006 and coaching with the Nordic team since its inception in 2009. His current classes include AP English Language and Composition (for seniors), World Literature (for seniors), and Foundational Literature (for freshmen). On the athletic side, he has coached for the Far West Nordic division at the past three Junior Nationals competitions, as well as at the Soldier Hollow Super JNQ series, and for SBA at the Western Club Championships in Sun Valley and at Sugar Bowl. Ambrose and his wife have two children, Griffin and Marian, and live on Donner Summit in a home that they spent three years and countless hours to complete. He holds a B.S. in Biology and English (2001) from Davidson College. In addition to Nordic skiing, he enjoys trail running, backpacking, and whitewater kayaking. He has also been editor-in-chief of the American Whitewater Journal since 2002. Send Ambrose an email at atuscano@sbacademy.org.

Michaela grew up exploring the mountains and deserts around Salt Lake City by foot, on a bike, and on skis. After graduating from the Winter Sports School as a Nordic skier, she studied journalism and Spanish at the University of Arizona. She studied abroad in Guatemala and has traveled extensively in the Spanish-speaking world. Throughout college she worked at and eventually managed a student-run industrial-scale compost farm partnered with and serving the City of Tucson. She did much of her learning and growth in college by engaging in the process of problem-solving, collaboration, and activism to create lasting change.

Michaela has worked with youth in a variety of contexts, including as an instructor at Colorado Outward Bound, in a high school Spanish classroom, as a Field Mentor for Elements Wilderness Therapy, and as an English and science instructor at Adventure Risk Challenge, an immersive leadership, literacy, and wilderness program serving underserved youth in the Sierra. She spends her free time rock climbing, skiing, mountain biking, reading, and snuggling her dog.

Mike is the Head U10 Alpine Racing Coach for the Sugar Bowl Ski Team and Academy. As a child, Mike lived in Menlo Park and spent time skiing Northstar and Alpine Meadows. He graduated from Menlo-Atherton High School and went on to study at UC Davis where he earned a BS in Design and Visual Communications and was a USCSA alpine ski racer. Upon graduation, Mike moved to Truckee and obtained his K-8 multi-subject teaching credential at Sierra Nevada College. He began coaching with the Sugar Bowl Ski Team during the 2001-2002 season and has coached every season since. He is a Level 100 USSA coach and holds an alpine referee license. Mike’s focus has been primarily on U8 and U10 athletes but he has also worked with Mini Mite, U12, and U14 athletes. Mike is also a teacher at Sugar Bowl Academy where he serves as the director of the winter-term middle school and teaches several other classes during fall trimester.  When not teaching, Mike enjoys skiing, mountain biking, and sketching.

“Skiing was the first place I learned to focus, overcome obstacles, and build self-confidence. I strive to pass on these lessons and my passion for skiing to future generations of life-long skiers, making the once seemingly impossible attainable.”

Isabel grew up in Peru, Vermont nordic skiing with her parents and siblings. After attending the Stratton Mountain School, she graduated from Dartmouth College, where she earned a BA in Earth Science and served as captain of the Women’s Nordic Team her senior year. After college, Isabel earned her MA in Teaching from the University of Vermont. Since then, Isabel has spent two years teaching middle school science in Williams, Arizona and two years teaching and coaching at the Burr and Burton Academy’s Mountain Campus, a place-based semester program in Vermont. Isabel is thrilled to be a math and science teacher at Sugar Bowl Academy. In addition to nordic skiing, Isabel enjoys hiking, biking, and spending time outside learning about the world around her. 

Craig started skiing for the Sugar Bowl Ski Team when he was six.  He skied for Sugar Bowl till the age of 13 when he moved to Canada for high school. After returning to Tahoe to attend the University of Nevada, Reno, he returned to Sugar Bowl to start his coaching career.  He has moved from mighty mites through the age groups where he has found a home as the U14 Head Coach.  As well as his coaching duties, Craig is heavily involved with Residential Life as the Head Residential Life Staff.  He spends his summers ski coaching and rowing a raft on the Rogue River in Oregon. Send Craig an email at ccombs@sbacademy.org.

Originally from Oklahoma, Sam moved out to the West to attend the University of San Diego. He quickly realized that he had a preference for the mountains over the beach and spent a number of years pursuing big mountain terrain both at resorts in Colorado, British Columbia, and California and in the backcountry all over the country

. In addition to a passion for science and mathematics, Sam spends the majority of his free time exploring the wild places in the Sierra Nevada mountains, teaching avalanche classes, and working to build community in Truckee, where he lives.

Sam teaches Algebra, Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, and Physical Science; he strongly believes in the unique ability of the Sugar Bowl Academy to develop talented student-athletes and focus on their individualized learning outcomes. 

Growing up snowboarding in the Catskill Mountains of upstate NY, Richard moved to South Lake Tahoe in 2006. It was there where he fell in love with the Spanish language while working and attending Lake Tahoe Community College. Through the next couple of years, he traveled and lived in many Spanish Speaking countries like Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras. He has also attended language schools and home-stays in countries like Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, and Argentina where he deepened his language skills and learned more about these cultures.

In 2014, Richard returned to upstate NY to go back to school where he attended the University at Albany- State University of New York where he received his bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in Latin American Caribbean Studies. He then went on to receive his master’s degree in Spanish from the same school with a concentration in Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition. At the same time, he received his 300-hour TEFL (Teaching English as a foreign language) certificate and was a tutor for different students at the college level in Spanish 1-4.

Richard moved back to Tahoe in the fall of 2021 and has been tutoring students in Spanish that attend Bijou Elementary in South Lake Tahoe. In his free time, Richard loves to Snowboard, wakeboard, cliff dive, read and watch Spanish language content, exercise, and travel.

Jill grew up in Arizona. She graduated from University of San Francisco with a degree in Communications and was inspired to join the world of art while attending school in San Francisco. She attended Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara and earned a degree in advertising photography. She traveled the world as a photographer and off-the-beaten-path experiences were fun for her. Jill earned her CLAD teaching credential from SF State.

 She began her teaching career in San Francisco by building an art program from the ground up at Stuart Hall High School. 

 Along with teaching, Jill practices interior design. Jill's design preference is simple, fresh and timeless. In between her many renovation projects, Jill enjoys spending time cooking family recipes in her kitchen. Yoga soothes her soul and being with her three kids dominates all.

Teresa joined SBSTA during the memorable winter of 2016/2017. She currently supports our organization as the Accounting Assistant in the business office. Her education is in Business at California State University, Sacramento and Accounting at Sierra College. She considers herself a lifelong student and is currently working towards her degrees at CSU. Her professional experience includes the Resort at Squaw Creek and bookkeeping for several local businesses. Her passion is working for a nonprofit (she has worked for Project MANA) and continues to work with the Truckee Downtown Merchant Association through Truckee Thursdays. Teresa and her husband look forward to watching their son, Dominic, continue to be a part of the Sugar Bowl Ski Team! Send Teresa an email at tbourdeau@sbst.org.

Taylor has been in the Tahoe area for over a decade and a part of the Sugar Bowl Academy community in some capacity throughout that time. Taylor comes to us with a high level of expertise in office administration. She has served as a dorm parent at SBA and has supported our student-athletes on the road during various ski projects. Taylor has also worked as a development coach and has been a Senior Ski Patroller for for SBC for the past 8 years.

You can reach Taylor at 503-269-7401- ext.121 or tcombs@sbacademy.org

Mark spent the first 20 years of his career as an engineer and manager at Hitachi.  He grew up working with his father in the garage, woodworking and fixing just about anything.  When he and his family moved to California in 2010, he elected to homeschool his daughter Aspen, now an SBA student, and work full time on his woodworking art.  When she started 7th grade at SBA, he took a job at Mountain Forge to learn the art of metalworking to add to his artistic repertoire.  Mark loves spending time with his wife, kids, and grandkids, but is also passionate about mountains, snow, skiing, wood and metal working arts, and making his family's home and the SBA "home" a beautiful and safe place for all of us.  

Dave is returning as Assistant Freeride Coach and beginning a new role as Residential Life Parent. Growing up in New England with a love for all things outdoors, Dave moved west in 2000 to pursue his dreams, becoming a professional backcountry skier and whitewater rafting guide. Dave’s ski career included filming movies in the backcountry of Utah and Alaska and competing on the US Freeskiing Series. Dave spent 17 seasons guiding wilderness trips down rivers like the Salmon in Idaho and the Grand Canyon of the Colorado. Dave loves sharing his freeride experience with our young athletes and can be found on his skis nearly every day in the winter coaching or out with friends.

I am really excited to return to the Sugarbowl Academy as Assistant Freeride Coach and begin my new role in Residential Life. I grew up in Connecticut with a love for all things outdoors. In high school I attended the White Mountain School in Northern New Hampshire becoming a student leader in rock climbing, backcountry skiing and whitewater kayaking. My love for the mountains brought me out west where I became a professional telemark skier and whitewater raft guide. I began coaching for SBA in 2018 and quickly found my home and calling with the Freeride program. Sharing my love and experience for skiing and life with our young athletes is incredibly rewarding and I look forward to expanding my role as part of the Residential life program. My own boarding school experience was one of the most positive and influential periods of my life and I hope to create a similar experience here at SBA.

Savannah grew up in Lander, Wyoming where her love for the outdoors began. She graduated from Northern Michigan University in 2015 with a degree in Accounting. After graduating she worked for Goldman Sachs, focusing on account reconciliations and audit.

She then worked for Kuhl Clothing as Key Accounts Manager for two years. Outside of work you can find her mountain biking and spending time with her dog.

A long time resident of Donner Summit, Scott has tremendous experience in the restaurant, catering and private chef industries. He has worked for local haunts including Ice Lakes Lodge, Dragonfly and Red Truck. A proponent of using fresh, local, sustainable, seasonal foods, Scott creates healthy and tasty meals for students, athletes, faculty and staff. After earning his BA from the University of California, Davis, Scott moved to San Francisco, traveled the world and now resides in Soda Springs, CA, enjoying all of the outdoor activities the Sierras have to offer. Send Scott an email at swhite@sbacademy.org.

Growing up in Gardnerville, Cody has always loved the snow and outdoors. He found his passion for youth education while racing motocross and teaching the younger riders how to go faster. Then, in 2010, he started his career in the outdoor industry with Mt Rose in the children's ski school, he would then go on to create the Freeride program there. After moving to Sugar Bowl, he started to coach for the Freeride team and in the Residential Hall as a dorm parent.