Developmental Alpine Coach 

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Grace Klapatiuk

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I have been ski racing for most of my life – starting skiing at age 6.  I raced with the Lightning Creek Ski Club until age 16 at which time I joined the Okanagan Ski Team and completed three years of FIS.

 

The best day of my life has been while skiing – 35 cm of fresh powder at Whistler, race cancelled, free ski all day. 

 

As a coach I want kids to embrace the sport as I have and I want to foster that passion to the best of my ability.  I endeavor to bring out the best in athletes by providing quality instruction and always including the fun factor.  As a committed athlete, I know there is nothing like the feeling of finishing a race run and knowing it was almost perfect. Or leaving training for the day and knowing you made huge gains. I want my athletes to consistently achieve their goals under my instruction.

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Emma Klapatiuk

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I've been skiing almost my whole life- and raced with Lightning Creek from five to 16 years old. I've been the Junior Alpine Coach at Lightning Creek since the 2019-2020 ski season.

 

As a coach I encourage fun and enjoyment as the top priority while also incorporating the best practices from my personal athlete experiences gained under a variety of coaches. I always attempt to tailor my training weekends toward different goals; whether it be full race commitment or a fun weekend with friends. Ski coaching has really enhanced my love for ski racing and my goal is to do the same for any young athlete I have the privilege of working with.

 

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Volunteer Coaches Nancy Greene Coaches

 

Karoly Peter - On leave for 2022

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Born and raised in Transylvania (Romania) I was ski racing until the age of 17. During University (Physical Education), I started racing in ski mountaineering with the University team, then later with the national team, traveling to many countries in Europe. I also organized ski camps for kids for many years, and went on to climb mountains, the highlight being skiing up and down Mount McKinley in Alaska (6125 m). I moved to Canada in 2007 and  started teaching at Troll as a ski instructor. After 4 great seasons I moved to coaching where my 3 daughters compete with the Club and my wife is part of the Ski Patrol. We found Troll Resort and fell in love with it and I am confident that we can provide so many good experiences for our Club members with our coaching staff.  Most of the things in my life are related to skiing and I feel happy and proud to be part of the ski community in Quesnel.

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Tyler Dinsdale has never won a ski race. 

The truth is, winning races isn’t very high on his list of priorities. 

Tyler is most at home with some of the youngest skiers in the club, where the big wins are riding the T-Bar with confidence, going fast when you want to and stopping when you need to.  With a background in backcountry and resort skiing, Tyler subscribes to the, “Skiers for Life” philosophy and knows that if the young ones can build good skills early and have a lot of fun while they’re doing it, then there is a lifetime of fun on the slopes ahead. 

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Michelle Kadenbach

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My name is Michelle Kadenbach, I have 2 children in the Lightning Creek Program. I started skiing at age 5 and was lucky enough to have a cabin at Purden Ski Hill which in turn allowed us to join the Nancy Greene Program right into Alpine. Although my career in Alpine was short, it started a passion for being on the slopes and in the Mountains. I became a ski and snowboard instructor at age 17 which led to 12 years of traveling all over BC and Alberta, sharing my love for both sports. Now that both our little's are well on their way, I am happy to become part of the Lightning Creek Ski Clubs coaching team. Looking forward to a great upcoming season and seeing all those excited racers!

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Glen Boudreau

 

 I am 43 years old and have been a Lightning Creek ski coach for 1 year.  Growing up I skied Troll Resort and did ski holidays with my family to other BC mountains.  I began skiing more in Whistler while I attended university in Vancouver in the mid 90’s.  Yes the 90’s days of long, skinny skis. After University I returned to Quesnel and took up backcountry skiing in the local mountains; first on a snowboard then transitioned to telemark skiing.  I spent time as the back country chair of the Cariboo Ski Touring club and enjoyed promoting backcountry skiing in our local mountains.  I have also done a bit of cat skiing at resorts all over BC. Being active in the winter exploring the mountains is my passion.  

 My wife Jennifer and I started a family and have two lovely girls.  Our girls are growing up at Troll Resort and they learned to ski as a family. My family joined the Lightning Creek Ski Club 6 years ago and have enjoyed being active in the ski community.  We spend weekends skiing as a family and skiing in the team atmosphere of the club. I made the decision last year to become a ski coach to share my passion for skiing, having fun and being active. 

Some of my likes:   T- bars, Powder days, smiles,

Some of my dislikes:  Chair lifts (too unpredictable), frowny faces, long walks on the beach.

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Sean Seabourne

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I started downhill skiing at age 10, and by age 16 decided to free the heel and telemark skied for the next 25 years. I have two kids that are amazing skiers that both started skiing at 2 years old.  At that point I decided to strap the alpine boards back on.

I am a firm believer of volunteering in the community especially in clubs that we are active in.  Our family transplanted to Troll, when Timothy closed in 2018 and we have been enjoying the hospitality of Troll ever since.  I have been coaching and waxing for cross country ski racing for the past 10 years.  I thought the move to alpine would be easy.   Well once I learned to ski properly it was.

I love when we are finally relaxing in May and my kids are already excited about next season already.  I love coaching for the AHA moments, and watching athletes confidence build throughout the ski season.

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Kerry Layton 

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I started skiing at age 7 and I have not missed a winter! 

I started coaching at Purden in 2017 as my youngest of 4 joined the Nancy Green program. 

All of my children participated in the Nancy Green program at Troll. It gave us an opportunity to be together as a family in a family atmosphere doing what we all love.

Shared memories from them included finding the powder tree runs, knowing when to "buckle up",  hitting every side trail, and finally tucking the face! My son raced FIS and my second oldest daughter is a level 2 ski coach. I have volunteered with BC Alpine, BC Winter Games, National events and  FIS events up until last year. 

Troll Ski Resort has been able to hang onto the family vibe of winter fun. I am looking forward to working with the young athletes and watching them transition with confidence to successful team skiers.

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Falko Kadenbach 

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I grew up my skis at Troll Ski Resort. In my early teens I discovered back country skiing and once I had my driver’s license I spent many weekends with my friends trekking the Cariboo Mountains. In the late 90's I became a ski instructor and put in a few seasons at Troll and a brief stint at Whistler Blackcomb. After that I dropped skiing and moved to snowboarding for five years. Then one winter day in Switzerland at Grindelwald Ski Area several years later I rented a pair of skies and I switched back to skiing full time. Much much later I grew up a bit more and had two kids with my awesome wife who also loves skiing. Of course we skied with our kids from the beginning and aspire to ski with them until we are under the snow. Skiing is one of the best family sports going, it puts a smile on a face no matter the age. I love to ski and if I can spread that passion, then that's a win. 

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High School Program Coaches 

 

John Marien 

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I have been a member of the Canadian Ski Instructor’s Alliance since 1972

and the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation on and off since 1979.

Prior to retiring in 2007, I earned my living in the ski and outdoor business for almost 35 years, including: ski school, equipment rentals, ski services and retail. Even skier transportation for a while!

I also participate in Cross Country and Back Country skiing when I have a chance.

I was the co-founder of the Lightning Creek Ski Club in 1976.

Besides skiing, my interests include; photography, reading, wood working and canoeing. I have served many years on the executives of the Blackwater Paddlers (local club) and the Recreational Canoeing Assn. of B.C.  When I’m not skiing or rebuilding my log house, I am probably off somewhere in a canoe. I am fortunate to have had more than a dozen amazing trips to remote rivers in the Canadian North.

I look forward to sharing my passion for skiing with you.

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Mike Sakakibara

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I started skiing when I was 5 years old in Vernon, BC at a ski hill that does not exist anymore called Tillicum Valley.  After a couple of years my family transitioned to skiing at Silver Star.  I moved to Quesnel in 1995 for work after graduating from UBC and took up telemark skiing (hippie phase?) exclusively for about 10 years until I found it hard to keep up with my daughter (Alefa) who was in the NGSL program at the time, so I switched back to downhill. In 2014 the club needed coaches so I took my CSCF Entry Level coaching course.  I thought I would only do it for one year but it turned out to be pretty fun so I am still at it!!!   I find it really rewarding seeing kids you have coached progress through the NGSL program into alpine racing.  I enjoy all aspects of being involved with the club from coaching to organizing/volunteering for alpine races in the north zone.

My daughter Alefa has retired from racing and is now coaching the junior alpine program and my son is in his last year of the NGSL program.  Skiing is a family affair!!!

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