Program Director - Tony Olin
Tony Olin grew up skiing at Cedar Hills (just off the end of the Flying Cloud Airport runway). He had long hair - really long, and a lot of it; wore a ski hat to bed to keep it straight. Since that time, TonyO has cut his hair - and lost some of it too; traveled the world as a ski racer; become an elder-statesman of ski racing in the Untied States (one of few Level 500 Certified coaches in the US); raised two children with his better half Julie; and continues to be committed to the advancement of ski racers everywhere - whether they're just starting out, or aspire to World Cup level performance.
Assistant Director - Eric LeVander
Eric started racing for Team Afton over 40 years ago, competing at the FIS level in both Central and Rocky Divisions and is still associated with the team today…. A local who just can't get enough. He was on the 1989 MN State Ski Championship Team with Woodbury High School and is still giving that passion back! Catch him out on the hill in this year's latest fashions (he is our Uniform Guy, after all), and rocking it as a great ski racer dad, and generally amazing coach.
Head of Non-Scored Programs & Club Administrator -
Liesl Schultz
Liesl grew up racing at Welch Village, as well as with USCSA in college. In her late teens, an attempted retirement from racing, but Liesl couldn’t stay out of the snow or away from her friends. An appreciation for racing shifted to an appreciation for skiing and the mountains, with the discovery of twin tips and big jumps, skins and the backcountry, and a joy of giving back to her ski racing community, coaching with Park City, Afton Alps ARC & Jr. ARC, as well as St. Paul Academy. A Master's level teacher by trade, with a background in systems reform and community wellness, Liesl has found her niche here at Team Afton, laying a foundation of passion and athleticism to promote a lifetime of sport for developing skiers, while helping support the day-to-day functions of our awesome community.
Head of Scored & FIS Programs - Sean Nolan
Sean has an explosive energy that you can see on and off the hill. He grew up on the flat land of Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his time at the nearest ski hill over two hours away, Bittersweet Ski Resort, was bittersweet indeed. He is a graduate of St. Olaf College, where he studied music education and participated as part of their alpine ski team. Sean still competes at the FIS level in addition to his coaching. He is a lifelong student of the sport and his passion and dedication is apparent.
Coach - Martina Sailer
Martina brings four decades of ski racing experience, some highlights including being on the U.S. Ski Team, participating as a 4-year NCAA scholarship athlete at the University of Denver (2x NCAA Championship Team), 2x World University Games Team, 1994 Canadian Jr. National Slalom Champion, MidAm Series Champion, and 17x Junior Olympic Medalist (14 gold). Her Sailer name may seem familiar, and for good reason. Erich Sailer, the world-renowned junior ski coach is her father. He also acted as Martina’s coach, along with now Team Afton Program Manager, Tony Olin. In fact, Tony was the only other coach her dad allowed to coach Martina – where she got her killer pole plant! From the hills of Minnesota, to coaching positions at Loveland, with Erich Sailer Ski Racing Camps, then back to Buck Hill Ski Racing Team, we are excited to welcome Martina and her two young racers, Greta and Lulu, as she now joins the ranks at Team Afton.
Coach - Teagan Olin
Teagan Olin is made of the very fabric that is Team Afton, a member practically before the beginnings of memories starting his career with us at the age of five. He’s developed a reputation as a lifelong student of the sport to inform his teaching. His infectious appetite and charisma in the sport inspires a passion of endless curiosity and positive sportsmanship for others who also claim this sport as their own. With a wide-ranging depth of experience, Team Afton is excited to have Teagan ‘back home’. A National/International caliber racer, multi- U.S. Nationals competitor, MidAm and Atmore Champion, Central Sportsman Award recipient, standout collegiate skier with St. Olaf Ski Team and multi-year captain. A former coach of Team Afton, Eldora Mountain Head FIS Coach, Buck Hill Ski Team Head FIS Coach, OL SkiRacing School Lead Coach, and current St. Olaf College Ski Team Head Coach. Teagan will be an integral part of our U16/FIS programming and partner while he additionally educates the St. Olaf College Ski Team in his classroom on the slopes.
Coach - Teresa Christenson
Teresa is an All-State, Junior Olympian, All-American skier. She attended and skied for St. Olaf College, where she learned from the best -- the TonyO! She is Level 100 certified. And she has kept the tradition of racing going by raising two daughters on Team Afton, one of whom is still racing. They made it a family sport, her husband serving on our Board of Directors as a Member at Large & Treasurer for a time. She loves coaching and helping our racers progress in their development and has been coaching off and on, but more on, since 2000.
Coach - Emily Nash
Grew up Team Afton - poster child. She went on to ski for the University of Minnesota. She became L100 Coach Certified and is a seasoned coach with Team Afton and OL SkiRacing School. She famously told her coach in the starting gate of a very fast Junior Olympic Downhill that claimed the previous racer with a sled ride: "I'm trusting you..."
Experience.
Coach - Dr. Dave Thorson
Dr. Dave started coaching in the early 1970’s as a Buddy Werner coach at Park City. He became Head Coach at Duluth Alpine Club and UMD for 3 years before moving back to the Twin Cities to resume his college education. He coached on and off for the next decade +. His coaching resumed in 1994 with Team Afton. He has coached at the Divisional and National level, as well as worked as a physician covering skiing locally, nationally and internationally. Dave is our resident ski-tuning-guru and CANT'ing technician, while he continues to provide volunteer physician coverage for the U.S. Ski Team. As a ski racer, he raced in high school and college. He was the Age group National NASTAR champion in the under 30 – 40 age group. We extremely fortunate to have is expertise as part of our team at Team Afton.
Coach - Hanna Gaertner
Hanna and her brothers grew up skiing at Afton on the D-team, then racing for Team Afton and with Stillwater Area Ski Team. She "retired" from racing to free ski in Colorado while attending DU, but now that she's back, we can't keep her away. She's a bit of a wizard with a drill (course setter leading apprentice), and a wizard when it comes to helping kids crack smiles as they're developing their turns. We're happy to have her "back in game" here with us at Team Afton.
Coach - Chauncey Charlson
Chauncey is one of those people we say, "He's been with Team Afton since he was in diapers." He grew up with TonyO and we're happy to say he remains in the community, now giving back. He was a Junior Olympic Silver Medalist during his time racing with Team Afton. Now he proves his stature by having his own "Chauncey sized" gate bundle... and he can carry two at once. It's no wonder he's always getting so steamy. An incredible mentor and educator of both racers and coaches alike, and great asset to our coaching staff.
Coach - Doug Nordmeyer
Doug raced USSA and continued racing in college. He was a World Pro and Coors Tour Competitor, Military Alpine Competitor, International Military Alpine Competitor, as well as a participant of various other ski racing leagues and teams. He is a seasoned alpine ski coach with extensive background across all ability levels and age groups. That sums it up - Doug is in it for life! He's got so many stories (and most of them true). Doug was actually coaching TonyO when he first entered the ski racing fray - must've stuck. They're both still going strong in a sport they share a passion for.
Doug is a Level 400 U.S. Ski and Snowboard certified coach - and one of TonyO's chief collaborators and Principle Minion.
Coach - Joe Dean
Joe Learned how to ski in high school from a best friend that raced USSA. He became a ski instructor at Afton when his kids were on the D-team at age 5. He instructed for 7 years and has his USSS Level 100 coaching license. He lives in Stillwater with Stephanie, his wife, where they raised their two kids, Madi and Parker. He has enjoyed many years of fun family times while chasing two ski racing kids around the country and volunteering as a U.S. Ski Official at numerous races. Madi now lives in Park City and continues to peruse her ski racing dreams, while Parker hung up the race skis to peruse his talents in the terrain park.
Coach - Denver Link
Denver started skiing at the age of three at Sundown Mountain in Dubuque, Iowa. He raced for the Sundown Mountain Junior Race Team, competing in the Wisconsin-Illinois-Iowa Junior Alpine Racing Association. His favorite hill growing up was Mt. La Crosse, as he traveled to many of the Southern Midwestern hills. He continued to ski for St. Olaf, while majoring in biology and environmental studies. Since graduating in 2021, he has stayed abreast in the coaching world and is excited to join Team Afton.
Coach - Megan Myers
Megan grew up skiing at Welch Village (along with Coach Liesl; they've been skiing together for over 20 years!). She started out on the D-team, then competed with both USSA and High School, and later with USCSA in college. Megan always loved Giant Slalom and competing with her dad in Nastar -- it's a family sport. Megan spent a good chunk of her 20's teaching abroad, but now that she is back in MN, it is of course impossible to keep her off snow again working with the best, Team Afton & TonyO.
Coach - Nick Holz
Nick grew up 3 miles from Afton Alps and spent time on Team Afton and the Hastings High School Ski Team as a Junior Olympian and All-State skier with TonyO. After College, life in the military minimized the available time on the slopes. It is great to be back!! He has a daughter on Team Afton and enjoys coaching and developing Team Afton athletes to reach and exceed their goals and expectations.
Coaches Not Pictured: Mark Lindemer, Kaarl Damberg, Parker Smith, Casey Charlson, Gabe Lessard, Aric Arneson, Jen Santini