It was up to these coaches—experienced, accomplished, and physically fit, but mostly intensely dedicated to helping these kids be their best at the sport.  Each racer’s limits are determined only by his or her innate physical abilities and the individual will to succeed.  One young man, Michael March of West Windsor, NJ, a competitive golfer off season, trained rigorously despite struggling with a cast on his hand.  His coach directed him to resist the natural temptation to hold the hand close to his chest while racing, a move that could easily result in re-injury if he was nabbed by a gate.  These Camelback Ski Racing coaches know how to coax the winner out of each of these kids.  This day, I had the pleasure to observe the Program Director, Gus Picariello, who has 35 years experience and holds PSIA and USSA Regional Certifications.  Gus is a graduate of The USSA National Coaches Academy and former Clinician and Examiner for USSA Coaches Education.  Using all of this expertise, along with skills gained from his former career in teaching and high school coaching, Gus brings a high level of professionalism to his job and has an uncanny ability to inspect every nuance of a racer and his run.  He can pick out the key aspects of form, technique and tactics missed or mastered, and get it all across to the racer in the most encouraging and entertaining way!  

Flanking Gus was Coach Jack Marhefka, the J3 Men's Head Coach and Assistant Program Director. Jack absolutely amazed me!  Whether he learned his unique coaching technique at the USSA National Coaches Academy, where he was a graduate, or as a result of his 20 years coaching and ski teaching experience and Regional Certification, this University of Vermont graduate was a fountain of information and I’m sure he’s an inspiration to the team.