Sunridge Alpine Ski Team - Coaches Corner

Steve Lawrence
Head Coach

I would like to welcome all returning, and new members, to the Sunridge Ski Club for the upcoming 2007-2008 season.

I am very excited to return to Sunridge as the Head Coach for another season, and look forward to delivering a quality program on snow and off, for all ages and skill levels.

For those who are unfamiliar with me, I have been involved in ski racing now for 25 seasons, 12 as a racer and 13 as a coach. My racing days ended in 1995, and I was lucky enough to race and train throughout Europe and N. America, as a member of the Alberta Ski Team and Canadian National Development Team. During those years when I was not in the Provincial or National Team Program, I trained for 5 summer and fall seasons with the U.S. Ski Team and Norwegian Ski Team, out of Breckenridge Colorado and Mt. Hood Oregon. Those were invaluable experiences where I was exposed to different coaching and technical philosophies from the two national systems.

During my years of coaching I have been a program coach for athletes at every level, from Nancy green to elite FIS international athletes, and eventually moved to the role of Program Director/Head Coach of which I have been for the past 7 years. My certifications are as follows;
CSCF – Canadian Ski Coaches Federation: Level 3
NCCP – National Coaches Certification Program: Level 3
CSIA – Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance: Level 2
AFLCA – Alberta Fitness Leadership Certification Association –Certified Personal Trainer

In now my 13th season as a coach, I find myself in an excellent position at Sunridge to pass along my experiences and knowledge. My primary responsibility is to educate the staff on an ongoing basis. Since I do not have a group of athletes I coach all season, I am able to continually work side by side with each coach in the club, in an effort to educate, direct, assess, and improve the level of coaching across the board.
There are many other responsibilities that encompass a Program Director/Head Coach role, and among the most important roles are, to provide an overall direction for the club to follow. One that ensures all kids and programs receive fair and equal attention. In my eyes, our beginning Nancy Greene athletes are of equal
importance to our elite mountain series athletes.

So with that, it is my hope that everyone involved with this club truly sees that they are part of a real team. From the volunteers that donate their time to run the club executive, to the volunteers that work the races and fundraising events, everyone is working towards a common goal; to build the best program we can, and provide to the kids an environment for them to have fun and chase their dreams, as simply or lofty as they choose.

Regards,
Steve Lawrence

Cory Lakusta
K2 Head Coach

Age: 25
Years racing/coaching: 19
Goal of the Program: To give athletes an opportunity to develop and hone technical and tactical skills through a graduated training regime, of new exercises and drills, free skiing and race prep.

The goal of this graduated program is to allow the athlete to develop strong all around skiing skills; a love for skiing and racing; and a sense of independence and an overall confidence in themselves. All while enabling the athletes to develop at their chosen pace with emphasis on results by the coaches.

Along with the on snow training, our off hill goals include the introduction and implementation of mental training and fitness training to further develop the athlete’s growth.

With the ultimate goal of the program being: having athletes at the end of there juvenile series racing who will be able to excel to there fullest potential at the next level.

All in all, I teach young adults how to be well rounded athletes and enjoy the sport.

Hobbies: playing and coaching football, golf, working out, arts and crafts and mostly having fun doing what ever it is I do.

Favorite Food: anything free or cooked for me with limited cost (I’m not coaching to get rich)

Equipment: Skis- Nordica, Boots- Nordica, Bindings- Marker, Goggles- Smith

Favorite Quotes:
“Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” Lou Holtz
“Forget past mistakes. Forget failures. Forget about everything except what you're going to do now - and do it.” William Durant
“Treat a person as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat him as he could be, and he will become what he should be.” Jimmy Johnson
“Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory.” Mahatma Ghandi

Dan Twardzik
Head Regional Series Coach

Good Day Sunridge Ski Team Athletes, Parents and Prospective Members!

My name is Dan Twardzik. Don't worry about pronouncing the last name correctly as I go by Dan!

I have been a coach with the Sunridge Ski Team for the last 3 seasons, working with the Regional Athletes. I am looking forward to my fourth year with Sunridge come fall 2007, which will actually be my 10th year coaching, spanning over the last 13 years. I had taken time off to complete my studies and to take several back-packing trips around Asia, Australia & Europe!

In these 9 successful years of coaching, I have had the opportunity to work with almost every group, from the Nancy Green's to the Junior program, working with athletes aged 4 to 18. All this time and I can still say that I very much enjoy coaching because it gives me the opportunity to work with these athletes to improve not just in ski-racing, but skiing in general, adding to their love of this sport and mine! It is also quite rewarding to watch them grow not only as athletes, but as kids into youths and youths into young adults!

Prior to coaching I raced for 9 years, which means not only I am a little older than most of the coaches out there, but also means I raced on those straight sandwich skis of the last millennium... something you parents are probably quite familiar with. Don't worry, I am skiing on equipment from this millennium!

One of my greatest accomplishments was finding a girlfriend who was independent enough to put up with my spending so much time on the slopes... she is now my fiancee! This is now leading to my actual greatest accomplishment; which will be teaching her how to ski!

I look forward to another season with the returning athletes and the new members!

Mikayla Frost
Regional Series Program Coach

I've skied all my life and I can't remember a single winter in my life where I wasn't on skis, I love alpine racing but I love coaching it way more! I started coaching the young guys and no joke I learned the funniest jokes from those 7 years olds!! I then moved up to the older racers and the amount of Drama on those MTV reality shows could not compare to the amount of drama this group had! I have so much fun working at Sunridge every day!

When I’m not coaching I’m training hard for the National Saddle Seat Equitation Team, I will compete for Canada in Kentucky in 2008 and South Africa in 2010! I also train hard for the National Race Walk Team.

When its not sports, its school where I am attending School in Calgary for my Funeral Director and Embalmers License! Don't ask me why, I still don't know why I have chosen that career!

Looking forward to seeing you all in the next season!!
Have a safe summer Y'all!!!!!!!!!!

Heather Daam
Nancy Green/ K1 Mountain Program Coach

Heather is a fun, outgoing and energetic kinda gal. She runs a pretty tight ship on the hill, but balances it with burping contests during breaks. She grew up ski racing competitively from the age of 9 to 17, then finished her career with two unforgettable years with the U of A Bears.

Heather majors in both Visual Communication and Industrial Design and spends all her time in the studio, and uses coaching as the perfect break with both fresh air and entertaining kids.

Bobbie Lee Offerman
Nancy Green Program Coach

My Name is Bobbie-Lee
I was born in a hospital when Crazy little thing called love hit the charts.

I started skiing when I was knee high to a grasshopper.

I raced for many years in the various levels.

And have been coaching various age groups for many years.

I enjoy coaching, especially when the rug rats listen and give their all. It’s gratifying when they are able to place in the top five at most of their races. I feel it is like receiving a small pat on the back to know I had something to do with their results even though Thanks coach may not be said to me.

Zach is 17 years old and has raced for 10 years at Sunridge. This is his third year of coaching. He is our float coach which fills in at every different level when needed, as well as being on of our Sundog coaches.

"I couldn't imagine my life without skiing, and my life's goal is to open a Heli-ski business in Whistler, BC or somewhere in New Zealand so I can keep skiing for the rest of my life."

Zach's main reason for coaching is because he loves to see the kids progress and learn to enjoy the sport.

Zach's wry sense of humour was evident last year when he was unhappy with his current nickname so he proclaimed himself to be 'Captain America' , and will not answer the radio unless properly addressed. He was also known at times to be wearing a hotel doorknob 'Do Not Disturb' sign around his neck and concealed by his jacket.

Nicholas Offerman
Nancy Greene 1 Program Coach

Nic is in his second season of coaching for Sunridge, and coaches in the Nancy Greene 1category with most of the 6 to 7 year olds.

He is 17 years old and was a ski racer for 11 years. He is also a part of the Offerman triplets and very well suited to coaching.

“Nic” is an excellent free ride skier and has never been afraid to find the largest jumps or cliffs on any mountain, and anyone following him when he is skiing needs to be on their toes to keep up.

Nic has always had a passion for skiing, and that shows everyday when he works with the kids.

We are happy he has returned for another season.

Meshale Offerman
Nancy Greene 1 Program Coach

Meshale is in his second season of coaching for Sunridge, and coaches in the Nancy Greene 1 category with most of the five to six-year-olds.

He is 17 years old and was a ski racer for 10 years. He is very well suited to the Nancy Greene level because of his patience and calm demeanor. He grew up as part of triplets so perhaps the chaotic environment that had to produce prepared him well for coaching.

Meshale is an excellent skier in all different terrains and is still very fast in the gates. The kids will learn a lot by following or simply watching “Meesh”.

“I like coaching these kids because I get to see how much they develop from the beginning of the season to the end.”

He is a great addition to our staff.

Lauren Twombly
Nancy Greene 1 Program Coach

Lauren ski raced for 10 years at Sunridge. This is her third year of coaching and she has exhibited a real passion for the job.

“ The improvements the kids make are so fulfilling, and our trips to the mountains are always a blast.”

Lauren was a high level K2 athlete with Sunridge and the skills that she developed in that program are serving her, and the kids that she coaches, very well.

Lauren’s competitive racing days were cut short by illness and injury, but she has shown that her passion for the sport lives on in coaching.

She's a great addition to our staff.

Caitlin Scheer
Regional K1-K2 Coach

Caitlin ski raced for 5 years at Rabbit Hill, and after three years of coaching this is her first year with Sunridge. She is coaching the K-1 and K2 regional series.

Her ski racing career was cut short when her entire family moved to China when she was 13, and she completed her high school education in Beijing. She returned to Canada at the age of 17, and has since completed University. She is very happy to be skiing and coaching again.

Caitlin has a very soft and kind demeanor that the kids will love. She is a great coach especially for new athletes just coming to the sport.

Her other interests include competitive hip hop dancing, this girl has some moves on the dance floor, and she always welcomes a new dance partner. Nicknamed “Bass” for her love of fishing, she is always looking forward to her next deep sea adventure.

Caitlin is a great addition to our Regional program coaching staff.