Shana Sweitzer
Garrett Lodge
Mary Gunesch
Alice Bouchard
Jessica Altman
Allison Anderson
kelsie Erkkila
Jerry Moore
Alpine Director and Head U14/U16 Coach
Shana Sweitzer
NICKNAME: Old lady Sweitzer, Shandar, Woman of the hills, Mud Women
HOMETOWN / WHERE I GREW UP: St. Marys, ID
EDUCATION: Whitman College, University of Oregon
- Bachelor of Science: Biology
- Masters of Community and Regional Planning
- Masters of Public Administration
- Teachers Certificate for Secondary Education – Biology and Chemistry
AWARDS / ACCOLADES:
- US Ski Team Member from 1992-1998
- Junior National Downhill Champion
- Noram Downhill Champion
- PNSA Coach of the Year 2019
WHAT YEAR DID YOU START COACHING AT CSAT? 2011
WHY DO YOU COACH?
- The next 30 years will require leaders with exceptional integrity, grit and a growth mindset. Nothing teaches and prepare you for life like competition and the mountain.
COACHING CERTIFICATIONS:
- Level 200 USSS / Level 200 PSIA
SKIING BACKGROUND:
- I grew up skiing at Ski Bowl with Cascade Ski Club, until my father bought a small skier area in Northern Idaho. In Idaho I skied and snowmobiled until the sun dropped every night. I went to a ski academy, MBSEF, when I was a freshman in high school until I was named to the USST at age 17.
WHEN I WAS 8 YEARS OLD, I WAS PRETTY SURE I’D BE A – On the US ski team
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I LEARNED BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL WAS – Being on time is essential to success.
U12 Coach
Garrett Lodge
NICKNAME: G
HOMETOWN / WHERE I GREW UP: Boise, ID
EDUCATION: Linfield
AWARDS / ACCOLADES:
- 2021 Coach of the Year / 2022 Good Samaritan
WHAT YEAR DID YOU START COACHING AT CSAT? 2020-2021
WHY DO YOU COACH? I coach to make sure kids from a younger generation had as much fun as I did
COACHING CERTIFICATIONS:
- Level 100 USSS / Level 200 USSS / Level 100 BICP
SKIING BACKGROUND:
- Ski racing through FIS
WHEN I WAS 5 YEARS OLD, I WAS PRETTY SURE I’D BE A…cowboy
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I LEARNED BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL WAS, to stay low and drive your feet
Head Competition and Training Team Coach
Mary Gunesch
NICKNAME: Mama G
HOMETOWN / WHERE I GREW UP: Portland, Oregon
EDUCATION:
- Master’s Degree, Lewis and Clark College
- Bachelor’s degree with Honors, University of Wyoming
AWARDS / ACCOLADES:
- Graduated Phi Beta Kappa while competing as an NCAA Division 1 athlete
- Awarded Pacific Northwest Division’s NORRIE LAMSON AWARD “For outstanding service to Juniors and Jr Race Program over a period of several years.”
WHAT YEAR DID YOU START COACHING AT CSAT? 2019
WHY DO YOU COACH? I love kids, ski racing, teaching, and coaching. It’s great to get to help kids accomplish their goals, increase their self-confidence, and learn that, with grit and passion, they can do just about anything!
COACHING CERTIFICATIONS:
- USSA Level 400
SKIING BACKGROUND:
Mary grew up ski racing on Mt. Hood. She was Overall NW Cup Champion, Junior National Champion, and went on to race Nor-Ams and NCAA Division 1. After graduating college, she earned a master’s degree in education and started a ski academy. Over the past 30 years she has coached many outstanding athletes, including numerous Junior Championship winners and international competitors.
Mary loves to find creative ways to help athletes accomplish their goals, not only for the sake of their futures in skiing, but also to help them build confidence and skills that enable them to achieve their goals in any future domain.
WHEN I WAS 5 YEARS OLD, I WAS PRETTY SURE I’D BE A…
A girl who started soccer teams for girls because, at the time, only boys could play on the team.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I LEARNED BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL WAS :
I researched how to create flexible schooling.
U14/U16 Coach
Alice Bouchard
NICKNAME: Malice
HOMETOWN / WHERE I GREW UP: Bend, OR
EDUCATION
- Mt Hood Academy, Oregon State University
AWARDS / ACCOLADES
- CSAT hottest coach 2022/2023, NWC winner 2021, PNSA team 2018-2022
WHAT YEAR DID YOU START COACHING AT CSAT? 2022/2023
WHY DO YOU COACH?
- I coach because I believe children need sports in their key developmental years, and ski racing teaches so many good lessons, both physically and mentally
COACHING CERTIFICATIONS:
- Level 100 USSS
SKIING BACKGROUND:
- Ski racing through FIS at MBSEF and Mt Hood Academy
WHEN I WAS 5 YEARS OLD, I WAS PRETTY SURE I’D BE A – downhiller on the US ski team.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I LEARNED BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL WAS – as long as you think you’re funny, you can do anything.
U10 Competition Team Coach
Jessica Altman
NICKNAME:
HOMETOWN / WHERE I GREW UP: Welches, OR
EDUCATION:
- Rocky Mountain College-B.A. Accounting and Finance
AWARDS / ACCOLADES:
- 2022 CSAT coach of the year
WHAT YEAR DID YOU START COACHING AT CSAT? 2018
WHY DO YOU COACH?
- To pass on my love of skiing. It is also lots of fun to ski with kids. They are full of energy and drive to have fun.
COACHING CERTIFICATIONS:
- Level 100 USSS
SKIING BACKGROUND:
- I grew up skiing race on Mt. Hood. I raced for Rocky Mountain College. I coached for Mammoth Mountain race team for a couple of seasons. Then I was head coach for the Hood River Ski Team for 5 years.
WHEN I WAS 5 YEARS OLD, I WAS PRETTY SURE I’D BE A…cowgirl
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I LEARNED BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL WAS : A love for outdoor activities
Allison Anderson
Role: Devo Coach
Name: Allison Anderson
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Education: Dartmouth College, Hanover NH
Awards / Accolades: Makes the shoe bubble at Nike
What year did you start coaching at CSAT? 2022-23
Why do you coach? I coach to share my love for the sport of skiing and to help young athletes gain the confidence and perseverance that comes from tackling a challenge. As a young athlete, I was lucky to have some influential coaches who helped me achieve more than I ever thought I could, and I hope to do the same for the next generation of competitors!
Coaching Certifications: US Ski & Snowboard Registered Coach
Skiing Background: I learned to ski when I was about 3 years old and was quickly racing my sisters down the mountain. My love for competition drew me to organized racing which I did for 6 years or so up north of Toronto where I grew up. My family loved travelling to Vermont to get to ski some longer runs and I would sneak away to ski in New Hampshire as much as I could between school and track/xc running practice at Dartmouth. I moved to Portland in 2020 and have loved exploring and learning to powder ski on the bigger West Coast mountains!
When I was 5 years old, I was pretty sure I’d be an: Olympian!
The most important thing I learned before high school was: Dream big and work hard to get there!
kelsie Erkkila
Name Kelsi Erkkila
NICKNAME: Killa K
HOMETOWN / WHERE I GREW UP: Corvallis, Oregon
EDUCATION:
- BA in History
- MA in Teaching
AWARDS / ACCOLADES:
- 2022 Cooper Spur Coach of the Year
WHAT YEAR DID YOU START COACHING AT CSAT?
WHY DO YOU COACH?
- I love working with kids and helping them see the joy of skiing. As the improve their skills, their enjoyment grows and the smiles get bigger. I feel privileged to be part of that.
COACHING CERTIFICATIONS:
- PSIA Level II instructor
SKIING BACKGROUND:
- I grew up skiing in the Pacific Northwest. I started at 6 at Mount Bachelor and skied with my family through my youth. In high school, I raced for my school and found a love for it. The deciding factor for choosing my college was that it had a ski racing team that I joined for my 4 years there. Out of college, I taught skiing at Mount Bachelor for many years and also for Mount Bachelor Ski Education Foundation. When I moved to the Columbia Gorge, I was recruited to work for Cooper and have enjoyed it ever since.
WHEN I WAS 5 YEARS OLD, I WAS PRETTY SURE I’D BE A ballerina
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I LEARNED BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL WAS, to take responsibility for my mistakes and work harder for what I want.
Jerry Moore
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