Saint Louis, MO
Train Hard, Ski Fast, Have Fun!
Hidden Valley Ski Team
Promoting Jr. Skiing & Alpine Racing at All Ability Levels
since 1992
Team & NASTAR Hotline: 636-938-5373 ext. 3321
Our Coaches
USSA Level 200, CR, RF, PSIA
Founding member, Active Racer, started as Parent Coach, Grandparent Coach, Grandchild Training in Vail
HVST Founding Member, HVST Coach for 21 years, Hidden Valley Snow Sports Instructor 11 years (starting the first day HV opened), Crazy enough to try to ski Every Day HV is open unless I'm out west instead.
My motto is "If HV is open it's a Ski Day". My wife Marcia accommodates my "skiing habit".
Learned to ski at age 29 and that means I still have a lot of catching up to do.
Skiing with my children Aimee, & Steven, and grandchildren Abigail, Erik, & Olivia is the best!
I'm coaching with my Son Steven, and Son-In-Law Ken, both HVST coaches.
Daughter Aimee is Ski Instructor at Vail. Son Steven NASTAR First Place Race of Champions.
Grandson Erik NASTAR Championship First Place 1 year & Second Place 1 year Silver Division
Granddaughter Abigail former HVST member now training in Vail for 4 years. Her goal is USST.
Granddaughter Abigail NASTAR First Place Race of Champions two years in a row.
Traveled with Granddaughter Abigail and her dad Coach Ken to Valle Nevado, Chile for Abigail to train with USST 2 years in a row. Granddaughter Olivia 2 3/4 years old on skis already and with Grandpa's help skied down Eureka run. HVST is time well spent!
Adam Adkins, Coach
USSA Level 100
Geoffrey "Coach G" Nourse, CO, CR, RF, TC
USSA Level 100
Raced as a kid, stopped skiing in 1982 and started again in 2007. Experienced coach having coached select soccer for 15 years.
Bill Schane, Coach
USSA Level 200, CO1, RF1; PSIA
Bill Schane raced as a USSA Junior and then at the Masters Level in college. Bill has served as an HVST Board Member from 2009 - 2013. "I started skiing at 5 in backyards on wooden skis with leather straps for bindings. I used Mom’s floor wax to prep them. They were hand-me-down’s and I hiked up the hill and skied down over and over and over. I had the experience of meeting the Phil and Steve Mahre, Cary Adgate, Abby Fischer, and Cindy Nelson at camp one fall in Killington, VT. It completely changed my perspective on skiing and alpine ski competition. I worked at Willi's Ski Shop for several years and taught at Seven Springs Resort Ski School during the early 1980's."
Jeff Hindman
USSA Level 100,
Triathlon Coach
Skiing for 52 years…Learned to ski in Aspen as a kid…Taught all 4 of my kids to ski over the past 30 years and many others too…Been coaching for HVST since 2007…Also, coach adults and elite kids in triathlon…It’s great to watch your kids grow and advance in the sport…It’s about fun first!!!
Head Coach - Dave "Captain" Coulter
Tom Berkeley, Coach
USSA Level 100, RF, TC
Started skiing in 1965
Coach with HVST for four years
Qualified for NASTAR Nationals for (15) years starting in 1999, National Champion in my age group at Nationals in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2nd Place in Nationals in 2006, 2008, 2010 , Brain Fade in 2012
Love working with the kids and watching them progress.
Program & Race Directors
Race Director - USSA/WIJARA - Craig Spidle
USSA Level 200, CO, CR, RF2, TC, TD. Central Region Board Member, Region 2 Board Member
Raced HS, College, HVST Parent helper to Coach
I started skiing when I was 14 years old while living in the Black Hills of South Dakota. My neighbor gave me a pair of wooden skis with wire bindings and leather shoes and I took them to the hill behind our house and the ski bug has been with me ever since..
I raced in recreational races in High School at a small local area near my hometown. I then went on to race at college in USCSA events (United States Collegiate Ski Association). I also raced in Div. 3 NCAA racing in Minnesota.
I obtained my Level 100 coaches license in 2003. I since have gotten my Level 200 certification as well as USSA licenses as a Referee Level 2, Chief of Race, Chief of Course and Technical Delegate Level 1. I have coached WIJARA, USSA and FIS events across the US and have managed and coached at off-season race camps in Canada, Colorado, Switzerland and New Zealand.
My personal goal is that I want athletes who participate in alpine ski racing to develop a life-long love of skiing and develop the fundamental skills so that they can ski with anyone, anywhere and have fun. I want them to go away with the courage and the drive to succeed and the humility to fail. Ski racing is a tough sport; it is just the athlete against the mountain and when success is not achieved it is tough because there is no one else to blame but yourself. What I tell my athletes is that to be a good ski racer they have to master the fundamentals and have the drive to train hard and ski fast. Once the fundamentals are mastered speed comes from one thing; mental and physical strength. The most difficult thing a young ski racer must overcome is having the confidence to push themselves, take risks and ski on the edge!
Steve White
USSA Level 100
NASTAR Nationals Age 40-44; 2013- 1st Silver Div, 2012-3rd Silver Div, Move up from Bronze to Gold, 2010-1st Bronze Div and 3rd overall.
Competed NASTAR throughout childhood. Became serious about ski racing in 2009. Competed extensively at local NASTAR and NASTAR Nationals. Progressed from Bronze division in 2009 to Platinum in 2013. He is a dedicated and serious racer that also loves to have fun, and help kids to be the best skiers they can be.
Shane Mayer "Fro", Coach
USSA Level 100, CO, CR, RF
Started Skiing at age 4
Began racing through NASTAR, won first in state at age 9 at Chestnut and decided how fun it really was!
Ski Instructor in Hidden Valley in the early 90's
USSA racer in the 90's
Involved in the Starting of the HVST
USSA Level 100
Student at Mt Hood Ski Camp
Began coaching for HVST in 2010
Steve Coulter, Coach
USSA Level 100, CO, CR, RF, PSIA-Level 1
Started Skiing in 1980
HVST Race member 1992-1998
Raced WIJARA, USSA & FIS
HVST Coach since 2007
2008 NASTAR National Champion
NASTAR National Qualifier 9 straight years 2005-2013
As of 2012, 1 of 23 aline ski racers to have won their NASTAR divisions five times or more out of 14,000 ski racers and listed in the Skiing Hall of Fame
Mike Rector
USSA Level 300, CO, CR, RF; PSIA Level I
Started skiing in New England in 1971, while in the military. Hidden Valley Instructor for the first four years they were open. Became a coach with the ski team in the 1994-95 season when daughter Traci joined the team (Traci was also a coach after college, before leaving St. Louis). Son Chris was also on the team for many years and daughter Jackie for one year. Enjoyed working with the kids, so continued to coach after my kids moved on. Racing experience is primarily club racing, and NASTAR and other public races.
Ken Murer, Coach,
USSA Level 100, CO, RF, TC
Started skiing in College in 1987
Joined HVST 10 years ago as a parent. Joined Coaching staff 5 years ago. President, Fundraising Chairman, Racing Committee Chair,
Golf Chairman, Racing Committee Chairman, NASTAR National Qualifier 7 straight years 2005-12.
Coaching & Canting
Dick Brewster, Coach
USSA Level 100, AO, RF, TC
Canting & Carving: Learned about "canting" and "carving" in 1972 at Burke Mountain, Vermont. Burke Mountian Academy was the premier ski academy at that time (still is one of the best - Mikaela Shiffrin) and helped revolutionize skiing and ski racing in the United States with their instructions in carving and ski boot alignment.
High School; Raced Eastern Ski Association of USSA in New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire.
College: Raced at the University of Colorado; Rocky Mountain Division.
Ski instructor for two years at Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico.
Ski instructor for one year at Copper Mountain in Colorado.
Race coach for one year for the Boulder Alpine Race Team at Lake Eldora, Colorado.
Became involved with HVST when my 2 sons, David and Brad joined the team. Started coaching with HVST in 2006 after my sons were graduated from high school. Craziest things done on skis: Skied over 80 miles an hour in a downhill race at Crested Butte, jumped over 125 feet in a ski jumping contest at Lake Eldora, and was knocked unconscious after falling and sliding over a cliff into the woods at Killington, Vermont, but have lived to tell about it.
NASTAR Championships results:
2011 - Silver Medal in the Platinum Division
2010 - Gold Medal in the Gold Division
2008 - Bronze Medal in the Gold Division
NASTAR Championships results:
1st Place- Gold Division 4 yrs
3rd Place- Gold Division 1 yr
3rd Place- Race of Champions 1 yr
Abbreviations
USSA: Referee (RF), Technical Delegate (TD), Chief of Course (CO), Chief of Race (CR),
Chief of Timing and Calc (TC),
PSIA: Professional Ski Instructor of America
WIJARA Head Coach- Matt "Squirrel" Sadl
USSA Level 100, CO, CR, RF. President of WIJARA
HVST Founding Member, Raced HS, College, HVST Coach now Parent Coach
I started skiing at Hidden Valley when I was 13 years old and began racing two years later. Raced USSA and FIS until I had a career-ending injury in 1993 in Breckenridge, CO. Started teaching skiing at the Hidden Valley Ski School and helped with the HV Wednesday & Friday night race league before helping establish HVST. I started coaching for the team in 1995 and have coached kids at all levels, including WIJARA and USSA. This is my second year serving as President of WIJARA and am so proud of the HVST athletes who compete throughout the Midwest. I love working with children. I had my daughter Karissa on skis before her second birthday!
Program Director - Martin McGreal
USSA Level 100, CO, RF. TC
Raced HS, College, Volunteer Coach
I grew up near Snowshoe, West Virginia, competing primarily in PARA and SARA (eastern analogs to WIJARA), and of course USSA. I raced with the WVU Ski Team in USCSA competition from 1995-'97, and later moved to St. Louis in 1999. One sunny spring day in 2007 at Hidden Valley, Captain found me skiing NASTAR, and the next season I started coaching with the team.
Ray Bolourtchi, Coach and current HVST President
USSA Level 100,
I've been skiing all my life and even before I stopped wearing diapers!! Grew up in the Pyrenees Mountains in the little country of Andorra where I started skiing before age 2. Raced from age 6 thru high school!! Joined HVST as a parent in 2011, both my nutty kids are members of HVST Family and on the Travel Team. Started coaching in 2012-13 season and loving every minute of it!! Have skied on three different continents and few more to go!! I love skiing so much that is part of who I am, and have passed that passion and love to my children. Love coaching gthe kids at HVST and watch them grow and improve! It is the most radically awesome thing in the Intergalactic Universe!!!!!!!!!!!
Brett Borgard
HVST West Coach
Brett was one of the founders of the HVST Ski Team and dedicated coaches. Brett now Coaches for Ski Club Vail in Vail Colorado. We miss Brett but always look forward to his visits to HVST or to our various events out west!!
Brett was born and raised in St Louis, Missouri and grew up skiing at Hidden Valley Ski Resort just outside of the city of St Louis in St. Louis County. He attended the University of Wyoming and raced for the UW Ski Team racing in FIS, NCAA and NCSA races. After his college racing he returned to St. Louis and continued racing in USSA Central Region.
In 1991 he started the Hidden Valley Ski Team-St Louis at the Hidden Valley Ski Resort. Over the years Brett has trained hundreds of kids and many Junior Olympians, FIS, College and Nor Am ski racers. HVST is still in existence and going strong with over 70 racers after 20 years.
In 2011 Brett had the opportunity to move to the Vail Valley and took a U14 coaching job with Ski and Snowboard Club Vail. In 2012 Brett became the Men’s U14 Head Coach.
He also enjoys working at different Summer Camps in the off season. When Brett is not on the hill he enjoys camping, hiking, mountain biking, golf and many other outdoor sports with his trusty dog Sparky.
Chris Eagon, Coach
Assistant Coach
USSA Fast Start
Started skiing at age 5. I grew up in Minnesota racing in the Buck Hill program for both USSA and high school. In 1980, I competed in Nor-Am races for Central Division and was the MN state high school ski champion. Raced for Williams College (NCAA Div I). After medical school I raced NASTAR for a couple years and was the 1991 NASTAR national champion. After another few years off, I moved to Salt Lake City for a couple years and I got back into racing through the USSA Masters program. I moved back to St. Louis in 1997 and have continued to race Masters most years since then. I coached skiing while I was in college, but not since then. I am getting back into ski coaching after 8 years of coaching my sons’ hockey teams.
Coaches from our earlier years...
John Travis
PSIA Level 2
USSA Fast Start
I am a PSIA Level 2 certified instructor and spent twelve years with the Hidden Valley Ski School. I grew up skiing in California primarily at Squaw Valley but skied all of the Lake Tahoe resorts on occasion. I am very excited about joining the Hidden Valley Ski Team and look forward to working with our talented and motivated athletes, as well as getting to know their parents. My goal is to help develop our athletes into great all around skiers that will translate into success on the race course. I expect our athletes will have fun and master a sport they can enjoy for the rest of their life!!
Phillip Pennell
Snow Boarding
USSA Fast Start
Phillip Pennell is a USAA National Qualifier and Regional Champion Snow Boarder in 2013. He is a NASTAR Midwest Regional Champion for 2014 and has garnered top 3 finishes every year at NASTAR National Championships since 2010. Certified snowboard racing coach under the USSA FAST START program and currently pursuing Level 100 certification. “I am excited to pass along my passion for the sport to the next generation of snowboard racers from the St. Louis region.” The snowboard race training program began in January 2015. As more snowboarders join the team, the potential is there for a freestyle team to be created to represent HVST in regional and national competitions.
Scott Weibert
PSIA Level I, PSIA Level 2
Scott first put on skis when he was three years old and has skied regularly since he was in elementary school. For the past nine years, he has been an instructor with the Hidden Valley Ski School and many of his young skiers have continued on with HVST. His expertise lies in teaching the essential skills that are fundamental to all skiing disciplines. He encourages young racers to keep learning and improving and says to “Try hard to never be content with where you are at. In skiing, there is always more to learn.” Scott says he drives the “least snow-friendly vehicle of any skier in the universe,” so ask him what he drives when you see him!
Leslie Hill
PSIA Level I
I have been skiing for more than 20 years and when I was very little, I’d ski down the hill at my house, hoping that my dad would make me a rope tow to get me back to the top! I am a former member of the Hidden Valley Ski Team and raced WIJARA for 4 years. I also competed in NASTAR. As an adult, I have been a ski instructor both at Hidden Valley and one year out in Breckenridge, CO. I think skiing is a life-long sport that can result in great memories for you. I can’t wait to help coach the next generation of racers!
Drew Ellison
USSA Fast Start/PSIA
Drew Ellison might be young, but the snowboarder from Crestwood, MO., has already piled up an impressive list of accomplishments as a competitor in snowboarding events. Ellison began when he was 11 years old and has been racing for the past six years. He's garnered 2nd Place finishes at the NASTAR National Championships in 2013, 2014, and 2015. In USASA snowboard competitions, Ellison has placed in the top 10 in multiple races, including 3rd place in 2015. His passion for snowboarding led him to the Hidden Valley Ski Team where he assisted in 2014 in developing the first year of the HVST Snowboard Team. Now certified to coach (USSA Fast Start/PSIA), he wants to pass on his passion for snowboarding and competition to younger athletes. “Success comes in steps, so you may not always be successful in your first or second or even third time,” he tells youngsters. “But the important thing is to have fun and exhibit good sportsmanship, which are both more important than just winning.”
