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.

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.

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.

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.