Competition Teams Coach Profiles
Meet our coaches:
Jim Catalano
Program Director and Head Coach
Certification:
- USSA Level 400 (National) Certified Alpine Coach
- Director / Head Coach Junior 1-5 programs and FIS
- Director / Head Coach Hunter Mountain’s Summer Ski Camp
- Head Coach NYSSRA Champs Camp
- Head Coach NYSSRA Junior 3 Junior Olympic Team Camp
- USSA Eastern Region Staff Coach J2 National Championships
- USSA Alpine Coaches Education Clinician
- American Sport Education Program Instructor
- NY State Ski Racing Association Coaches Education Committee
- PSIA Member and guest coach
- Level III Referee
- U.S. liaison to Schild Ski Racing Academy, Saalfelden, Austria
Years Coaching:
Began coaching in 1981
Education:
BFA - Graphic Design, SUNY New Paltz
Past Experience:
- Began coaching in 1981 for Holiday Mountain, Monticello, NY
- Head J3 coach Hunter Mountain 1985-1990
- Director of Fine Young Dynamo's - Introduction to ski racing, and staff coach Alyeska Ski Club, Girdwood, Alaska
- Racing Programs Director for Hunter Mountain, Hunter, NY since 2000
Outside of skiing:
- To raise awareness, advocate and educate people about Food Allergies and Anaphylaxis
- Winning a stage of the Tour of Anchorage, Alaska State Games Medallist Mountain Bike and Road
- Placing in the top 20 at the NORBA National Mountain Bike Championships expert class cross country at Mount Snow
- Competing in the UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships, Bromont, Que., CAN.
- The next athletic journey is to compete in the Ironman, Lake Placid and qualify for the Ironman Championships in Hawaii.
Prior to becoming the Program Director for Hunter Mountain I was an Art Director / Graphic Designer for over 15 years. During that time I designed work for the cable television industry, IBM and a greeting card company. I continue to do freelance graphic design working as Alpine Design Haus.com with Ski Racing Development (SRD) and Hudson Valley Montessori Educators.
Alpine Team
Tyler Bell
Certification:
USSA and FIS
Experience, Background and Interests:
I have been skiing my whole life. Hunter was where it all started and will always be my favorite mountain. My dad has always raced and skied at Hunter, where he got me involved in competition at a young age. I went to the Junior Olympics as a j3 and then last year to Sugarloaf, Maine for the Eastern Championships. I went to National Sports Academy the last two years to give myself an opportunity to ski 7 days a week and excel at a high level. My best experience was skiing my first Downhill in Sugarloaf. I am going to Siena College next year to play Division I baseball and I pretty much love anything that involves fun and competition.
Frank Cartwright
Hometown: Rhinebeck, NY
Number of Years Skiing: over 27 yrs
Number of Years Coaching Racing: over 20 yrs
Number of Years Ski Teaching: over 22 yrs
Past Teaching/Coaching Experiences:
- Head Alpine Staff Trainer – Hunter Mtn (2yrs)
- J1 & J2 Coach – Hunter Mtn (1yrs)
- J3 Coach – Hunter Mtn (4yrs)
- J4 Coach – Hunter Mtn (6yrs)
- J5 Coach – Wachusett Mtn (3yrs)
- NYSSRA Fundamental Camp Invited Guest Coach - Gore Mtn (2yrs)
- J4 Future Stars Invited Guest Coach – Sugar Loaf (2yrs)
- College Soccer (4yrs), College Football (2yrs), US Army Youth Soccer Coach (4yrs)
Interests
- Ski training
- Reading
- Flying remote control Helicopters
Katie Giannini
Certification:
- PSIA Level III, USSA/NYSSRA RF/JA
Experience, Background and Interests:
- Undergraduate: Special Education / Psychology
- Graduate: Special Education
- Post Graduate: Certificate in Assertive Technology and Adaptive Equipment Design
- Coaching: Hunter J4 (1 year), Hunter J5 (1 year), Hunter Ski School Training Coordinator (1 year), Assistant Training Coordinator to Ray Allard (4 years), Staff Trainer/Exam Training Specialist (12 years), Area Resort Trainer (PSIA), Area Rep (PSIA), Ski Instructor (24 years), Tennis Coach, Adaptive Sports Camp Director (15 years)
Galen Gobillot
Certification:
- USSA Level 100 coach, Technical delegate 1, Timing and Calculations 1, Referee 2, Course Official 2, Chief of Course 2
Experience, Background and Interests:
Competition Experience
- 1978-1981 Berkshire School Ski Team; League champions
- 1980 J.O. Downhill, Whiteface Mt.
- 1980-1982 Eastern FIS and Nor-Am Speed events
Coaching Experience
- 12/95-3/07 Head JI-II and FIS level coach, Catamount Racing
- 12/97-3/07 Program Head coach, Catamount Racing
- 2000-2001 Alpine Coach, Berkshire School
Athlete Placement
- Catamount Racing Athletes in post-season Championship events in all but 2 of 13 seasons
- Championship event winners in speed in ’04, ’05 and ‘07
- Former athletes competing in USCSA and NCAA Div.I programs
Technical
- Service tech for Ford Pro Downhill Series, French and Canadian teams
Ed Gudlauski
Why I Coach:
I absolutely love skiing and all that goes with it. After more than ten years as a Professional Ski Instructor and Race Coach I am as enthusiastic about it today as ever. I especially enjoy working with kids and have a passion for coaching them. There just is no satisfaction greater than the “I got it” twinkle in a kid’s eye and knowing that you helped put it there.
Certifications:
- PSIA: Level 3
- USSA: Level 100 Coach,…Level 200 cert in progress.
- Certified Referee
- National Academy of Sports Medicine: Personal Trainer
Occupation:
Global Manufacturing Systems Architect
Professional Background:
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Information Technology
Hobby Interests:
- Auto restoration and tuning
- Shaker/ Arts & Craft style furniture and cabinet making
- Wines and cooking
Sports Interests: (other than skiing)
Cycling
Kayaking
Hiking
Joe Hauser
Certification:
- PSIA level 3, USSA level 100 and referee
Experience, Background and Interests:
- Ski school instructor 5
- 4 years at Windham coaching J5-4.
- 5 years NYSEF Whiteface coaching J5-4
Rich Hawks, Jr.
Certification:
PSIA Level III, USSA Alpine Coach and Alpine Official
Experience, Background and Interests:
- First Aid, NYSSRA Member, NCAA Division III racer - Franklin Pierce College
- Started at Hunter as a J6 coach in 1989. Had the pleasure to teach Jeremy “Worm” Transue. Has had the opportunity to teach both children and adults over the past years on staff.
- Hunter Mountain Racing Foundation Board of Directors.
Kazunaga Kusumi
Certification:
- USSA 100
Experience, Background and Interests:
- Coaching Experience - 2 years at Hunter (Coaching at Future Stars, Speed Clinic), 1 year at Hidden Valley (1990)
- Raced FIS (DH only), 1992 Albertville Winter Olympic (Speed Skiing)
Jack McDonald
Certification:
- PSIA Level III, USSA Level 200
Experience, Background and Interests:
- Coaching Experience: 3 years as J5-6 coach @ Hidden Valley in NJ
- 1 year as J-3 coach at Hunter
Brian Perez
Certification:
Experience, Background and Interests:
I am from a generation of skiers that love to ski fast and have fun. I have competed for Hunter as a J3 and J1-2. I continued to race along with coaching throughout college. I have coached Boys soccer at Onteora High School for the past three years. My interests include most active things outdoors; soccer, hiking, biking, volleyball, softball, racquetball, snowshoeing, photography, travel, and most of all skiing. I always enjoy good people and lots of fun.
Jeff Viglielmo
Certification:
- USSA Level 100
- USSA official’s certification
Experience, Background and Interests:
- Coaching experience with Hunter was last season as J IV coach.
- Soccer: coached U6 through U15 Woodstock Town League and Boys Travel U10 through U14.
- Boys Modified Soccer at Onteora Middle School (31 players, 2 teams, 1 coach)
FREESTYLE TEAM
Ray Cigna
Certification:
Experience, Background and Interests:
- Eastern freestyle since 1995, a million top finishes and wins in eastern events and championships, both A and B
- US National skier
- US selections skier
- Skied on FIS NorAm
- Have had over 10 years of coaching, both from Hunter, Olympic Jump Complex (Lake Placid), and British Columbia (Smart mogul and Momentum)
- USSA Coaching Principals Course
- Have been on staff since 02/03 season
Brook Cleveland
Certification:
- Level 1 & 2 Aerials USSA
- PSIA Level 1
Experience, Background and Interests:
- Windham Freestyle team 1989 to 1994
- Hunter Freestyle Team 1994-97
- Lake Placid Freestyle team 1997-99
- Squaw Valley CA. Freestyle team 1999-2001
- US National and US selections
- Mogul, and Aerial competitions
- Freestyle skiing Scholarship North Country Community College in Lake Placid
- Olympic Regional Development Authority Supervisior for Sports Development
Sports included: - Luge, Bobsled, Skeleton, Aerials, Skiing, Cross country skiing, Trampoline, Nordic Jumping, Hockey and CURLING!!!
- Trampoline Coach ODRA
- Built World Cup Freestyle Course for ORDA at White Face
- Certified Physical Education Teacher
- Main area of study was Special Education
- NYS Physical Education Major of the Year 2004
- United States Physical Education Major of the Year Award winner 2004
- Coached at hunter the season of 1996-97 while competing
- Coaching hunter 2005 to present
Employed by the FDNY, stationed in Da Bronx. This year will be building the World cup freestyle and slopestyle course in Lake Placid.
Kurt Doerbecker
Certification:
I am planning to get my level one in the begginning of this season.
Experience, Background and Interests:
I am experienced, my background is German, and I like long walks on the beach.
Mike Hertler
Certification:
Experience, Background and Interests:
Greg Isola
Certification:
- USSA Freestyle 100 and 200 aerials
Experience, Background and Interests:
- Hunter Mountain Freestyle Coach since 2001
- In the off-season from skiing I spend most of my free time training on the road bike and racing USCF Cat. 4-5; I have ridden numerous century plus rides and qualified for Empire State Games.
- Other interests are jet skiing and golf.
- Besides my part-time position as freestyle coach, I own and operate a Design Drafting and Consulting Service for residential homes on Long Island.
Phil Lidlow
Certification:
- USSA Freestyle Level 1, USSA Freestyle Official Chief of Scoring, PSIA Level 3
Experience, Background and Interests:
- Ski Instructor 4 Years
- Ski Coach Seasonal Program 2 Years
- Ski Coach Freestyle Program 2 Years
- Ski Coach / Student @ Lake Placid Water Ramps 6 Years
- 25+ Years New York City Financial Industry Technical Support Currently Network Engineer
- Recreational Soccer Coach 6 Years
- Wrestling Coach 2 Years
- Saltwater Fishing Guide and Competitor for Life
Bill Murdy
Certification:
- PSIA Level 3, USSA Level 2AI
Experience, Background and Interests:
- Coaching at Junior Olympics, Nor-Ams and Nationals
- Off Season – Surfing, Fishing, Triathlons
Rob Shnider
Certification:
- USSA - Alpine Level 100; Mogul Level 100, 200, Aerial 2 training; ASEP coaching certification
Experience, Background and Interests:
- Coaching Experience - International, FIS, USSA (Nationals, JO's, local level), USASA, High School, and Grassroots Coached Seasonal programs seven years, four years competition.
- Three years development, two years Alpine Race (J5-J6), Two years Mogul travel (B/A). Coached EQS B Championships, ECS Eastern divisional Championships (A)
- 2007 Junior Olympics.
- Continuing Coaches Education - USSA / PSIA
- Current through PSIA requirements, most recent Advanced Bumps and Level III exam prep.
- Two summer's sessions training moguls with US, Canadian and Finish, World Cup and Olympic athletes and coaches.
J6 TEAM
George Gorsky
Certification: PSIA Level I
Experience, Background and Interests:
10 years teaching skiing (3 years developing J6 program at hunter), USMC, off season specialize in tree climbing and removal. Born and raised in Nyack, NY, now reside in hunter due to my passion of skiing and the outdoors. Summer activities include downhill mtn biking, dirtbiking and thinking about the upcoming ski season.
Stephanie Kechian
Certification:
Experience, Background and Interests:
- I have experience from coaching at Sterling Forest night training from 2001 to 2004, ages 7-15.
- Instructor at Sterling Forest
- Raced at USSA Eastern Finals
- Captain High School Ski Team
Snowboard Team
Jarrett Whitaker
Certification:
AASI Level 2
Experience, Background and Interests:
Riding 17 years, Skateboarding 18 Years, Teaching 8 years, Wakeboarding + Surfing 4 years.
