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.

Branko was at one time the #1 ranked junior slalom skier in the world (FIS points), was the Val-d'Isère Vice Slalom Junior champion of Europe and had multiple Europa Cup and World Cup starts as a member of the Slovenian (Yugoslavian) National Alpine Team from 1984-1991. In 2000, after a successful career as an alpine competitor, Branko earned a Bachelor of Physical Education and Sports degree from the University of Sport-Physical Education in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In 2002 he became a Licensed Level III Ski Instructor and Examiner with the International Ski Coach and Instructor’s Association.

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.

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!

Ursula returned full circle to the Sugar Bowl Ski Team & Academy in 2015. Her career path started with five years in the hospitality industry at the Four Season Hotels in Newport Beach and New York City.  She returned to school at the University of Nevada, Reno for a Journalism degree with an emphasis on advertising and marketing. She previously worked for the Sugar Bowl Ski Team from 2003-2007 assisting with strategic planning and managing the business office.  She continued to hone her skills as Director of Administration for an estate management company in the North Tahoe area, and oversaw the accounting, human resources and customer service channels.  

After eight years she crossed paths with the Sugar Bowl Academy administrative team and rejoined the SBSTA community in her current role. Watching the little 2007 Mighty Mites graduate as Seniors was the highlight of her first year back.  She is grateful to bring her expertise back to the team and watch the next generation of skiers at SBSTA!

Ursula and her family have lived in Truckee, CA since 1996.  She moved here to snowboard and stayed to raise a family in this amazing community.  Always trying to find a way to get into the Bikram yoga studio, she is also an avid movie-goer and stays busy with various community organizations including Board of Directors of the Friends of the Truckee Library.

A four-year alpine team member at Northern Michigan, Andrew graduated with a degree in Sport Science in 2012. He also served as president of the ski team and attended USCSA Nationals in both 2011 and 2012. Immediately after graduation, Andrew began work at Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, first as a human performance intern in 2012, as a U16 coach from 2012-17 and as a U19 Men’s Coach last season. 

The experience Andrew brings to the table as a former collegiate athlete and as ski coach at one of the top ski clubs in the world would have been enough to know that he is ready to lead a group of U16 young men. However, combined with overwhelming endorsements from Scott Houser, Brandy Barna and SSCV COO John Hale, it’s clear that his impact on our program will be significant and immediate.

Born and raised in the Pyrénées, the outdoors and skiing were part of the family fabric. As far as I can remember, I’ve loved "everything mountains,” with a particular passion for skiing and mountaineering. I chased every opportunity to race downhill as fast as possible. 

Never shy for an adventure, I found my way to the US for graduate school at the University of Colorado and took full advantage of the Rockies. At CU, I developed a second passion: sharing my love of the Outdoors and skiing by leading the university’s outdoor program activities. After a few years on the East Coast, I returned out West - California - in 2008. My partner and I started a family in San Francisco and discovered Sugar Bowl. It’s been our ski area of choice since I joined the Sugar Bowl Ski Team as a coach in 2017.

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 Squaw to coach for Squaw Free. We are excited to have Sean Carey 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.

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.  

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.

Branko was at one time the #1 ranked junior slalom skier in the world (FIS points), was the Val-d'Isère Vice Slalom Junior champion of Europe and had multiple Europa Cup and World Cup starts as a member of the Slovenian (Yugoslavian) National Alpine Team from 1984-1991. In 2000, after a successful career as an alpine competitor, Branko earned a Bachelor of Physical Education and Sports degree from the University of Sport-Physical Education in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In 2002 he became a Licensed Level III Ski Instructor and Examiner with the International Ski Coach and Instructor’s Association.

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.

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!

Ursula returned full circle to the Sugar Bowl Ski Team & Academy in 2015. Her career path started with five years in the hospitality industry at the Four Season Hotels in Newport Beach and New York City.  She returned to school at the University of Nevada, Reno for a Journalism degree with an emphasis on advertising and marketing. She previously worked for the Sugar Bowl Ski Team from 2003-2007 assisting with strategic planning and managing the business office.  She continued to hone her skills as Director of Administration for an estate management company in the North Tahoe area, and oversaw the accounting, human resources and customer service channels.  

After eight years she crossed paths with the Sugar Bowl Academy administrative team and rejoined the SBSTA community in her current role. Watching the little 2007 Mighty Mites graduate as Seniors was the highlight of her first year back.  She is grateful to bring her expertise back to the team and watch the next generation of skiers at SBSTA!

Ursula and her family have lived in Truckee, CA since 1996.  She moved here to snowboard and stayed to raise a family in this amazing community.  Always trying to find a way to get into the Bikram yoga studio, she is also an avid movie-goer and stays busy with various community organizations including Board of Directors of the Friends of the Truckee Library.

A four-year alpine team member at Northern Michigan, Andrew graduated with a degree in Sport Science in 2012. He also served as president of the ski team and attended USCSA Nationals in both 2011 and 2012. Immediately after graduation, Andrew began work at Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, first as a human performance intern in 2012, as a U16 coach from 2012-17 and as a U19 Men’s Coach last season. 

The experience Andrew brings to the table as a former collegiate athlete and as ski coach at one of the top ski clubs in the world would have been enough to know that he is ready to lead a group of U16 young men. However, combined with overwhelming endorsements from Scott Houser, Brandy Barna and SSCV COO John Hale, it’s clear that his impact on our program will be significant and immediate.

Born and raised in the Pyrénées, the outdoors and skiing were part of the family fabric. As far as I can remember, I’ve loved "everything mountains,” with a particular passion for skiing and mountaineering. I chased every opportunity to race downhill as fast as possible. 

Never shy for an adventure, I found my way to the US for graduate school at the University of Colorado and took full advantage of the Rockies. At CU, I developed a second passion: sharing my love of the Outdoors and skiing by leading the university’s outdoor program activities. After a few years on the East Coast, I returned out West - California - in 2008. My partner and I started a family in San Francisco and discovered Sugar Bowl. It’s been our ski area of choice since I joined the Sugar Bowl Ski Team as a coach in 2017.

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 Squaw to coach for Squaw Free. We are excited to have Sean Carey 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.

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.