OUR COACHES
At the core of our program is a professional and experienced coaching staff. All of our coaches are USSA-certified Alpine Coaches and many are also USSA Alpine Officials. As you can also see below, many of our coaches are former Attitash Race Team athletes returning to the program that they loved as a youth, maintaining a team culture that spans decades.
MATT DAWSON, PROGRAM DIRECTOR & HEAD COACH
Matt has coached with AAEF for nearly 15 years, but back when the skis were long and narrow and the neon bright, Matt raced for the Attitash Race Team as a J5, J4, and J3. He then went on to race with the Mount Washington Valley Ski Team as a J2 and with his high school team. At St. Lawrence University, Matt temporarily put ski competition aside to be a member of the cross country and track team.
After college, Matt began his coaching career with two seasons at Black Mountain, followed by a one year stint at Bretton Woods. Matt has been with AAEF for nearly 15 years and has coached all of the age groups at one time or another during his tenure.
In the off-season, when he's not planning his next ski moves, Matt enjoys hiking in the White Mountains, training for road races - from 5k's to marathons, playing ultimate Frisbee in the metro Boston area, or watching the Red Sox..."where 'watching' includes freaking out when they lose, debating starting rotations, lineups, and roster moves for hours upon hours with friends, and going to Fenway to catch a few games".
AMBER (ELLIOT) LEVINE
Amber first snapped into a pair of bindings when she was two years old and soon starting racing when "just skiing around the mountain got boring". At six years old, she joined the Gunstock Ski Team and raced as a J5, J4, and J3 - eventually racing four years at Plymouth State College. She has also been a ski instructor and even spent two seasons in Germany teaching military personnel how to ski.
In her sixth season with the Attitash Race Team, Amber has also coached several high school teams. She is also a dedicated Special Olympics volunteer, working with their alpine events for more than 15 years.
When she's not on skis, Amber still loves the mountains -- hiking and camping anywhere in the White Mountains. "I love to spend my summers relaxing at the lake with my son and husband." Amber's favorite quote: "The mountains are calling and I must go." - John Muir
BODIE BOWERS
Bodie is a Bartlett resident with family roots to Attitash's founding. Following his own successful racing career, he coached for AAEF, Bretton Woods, and several colleges such as Dartmouth, Plymouth State, Sierra Nevada, and Westminster in UT. He's worked with youth racers at all levels of development, including those at a very high level such as NORAM's, Europa Cup, and even some that have skied World Cup.
After taking a few years leave from coaching, he's been back with AAEF in full force for several seasons. Not only does he know our program and Attitash well, Bodie brings great first-hand knowledge of racing's institutions and athlete progression.
CHRIS GUNZBURGER
Chris took her first "official" turns at Attitash when she was 4 years old. Her parents weren't skiers but thought it would be cute to put her on skis. Chris refused to go in after her first lesson so her mom decided to learn to ski so she has someone to ski with. While her first days on snow were at Attitash she grew up skiing down the road at Cranmore. After high school Chris went to Plymouth State where she worked at Waterville Valley both in the ski school and with the BBTS pre-race program. After college Chris landed a job at Burke Mountain Academy an intern athletic trainer. While at Burke she also got the chance to coach some of the best ski racers in the country, mainly working with the athlete's rehabilitating from injuries and as an intern coach. Chris then spent some time as the athletic trainer and ski coach at the New Hampton School.
After several seasons at New Hampton, she decided to go to nursing school and then returned to Cranmore where she spent more than 10 seasons coaching a variety of age groups before joining AAEF. Chris lives in Massachusetts with her two young sons, both of whom already share her love of skiing and can't wait for the day the get to join the team!
CHARNA (MAZUR) CUMMINGS
At 6-years-old, the imprint from Charna’s first trophy, held onto so tightly all the way home from the Carol Reed Classic race, would forever leave a mark of passion for the world of ski racing and skiing. Charna gained her fundamental ski racing skills as a J5, J4 and J3 on the Attitash Race Team in the 1980's, before moving to the Holderness School where she won the overall J3 female title and west to the Junior Olympics as the top ranked girl from NH. After graduating from Burke Mountain Academy (high school), she attended Boston University’s College of Communications.
The 1st year Charna attended Boston University she participated in the University’s ski team competing in the Eastern Collegiate Ski Conference (ECSC) of the United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association (USCSA). She would go on to win the Thompson Division of the ECSC including scoring higher than all the men. Deciding to end her own racing career on a high note, Charna hung up her GS suit and returned to the Attitash Race Team as a J5 coach...where she had the opportunity to teach her former coaches' children. Her last season coaching at AAEF, Charna left to finish her undergraduate degree in France attending the University of Grenoble enjoying many glorious, powder filled, off-piste ski days and occasionally racing with the Grenoble University Ski Team.
Currently Charna is part of the K2 Alliance Team that is comprised of 17 women from across the country who engage an altruistic vision for female skiers and help support camaraderie, events and happenings in the female ski community.
When Charna is not on the snow, she's chasing after her two little boys, running/swimming or enjoying the sunshine at the beach. She also volunteers at the YWCA Greater Newburyport and serves as the VP for Board of Directors and Chair for the organization's sole fundraising event and luncheon.
MERV SMITH-HODGE
Merv's a native New Zealander born and raised on the Pacific coast of the North Island. Growing up on a farm with the ocean at the end of his front yard, water sports, namely surfing, was the choice. It wasn't until his mid-teens that Merv tried his hands at skiing. After an accident prevented him from paddling a surf board, he took up skiing as his primary activity. After one season of going downhill on snow, a job opportunity opened up at a ski lodge for a resident instructor and since then, Merv has led a mountain life teaching skiing in his native country of New Zealand, Australia, and the US.
Merv's passion for the sport and for teaching others has turned into over four decades of involvement in the ski industry. Close to two decades of which have been spent at Attitash as an instructor and coach. Merv's face has been a familiar sight on the slopes of Attitash and the other ski areas in the MWV with his many years in coaching for Attitash Mountain's RAD program.
Merv has had numerous back-to-back seasons between the US and New Zealand and holds NZPSIA and PSIA certifications.
PLUS...
KEVIN CLARKE
NICOLE CUERDON
STEVE PELLEGRINI
KATE COPPLESTONE
R.J. GRAY
SEAN BADGER
RALPH COLUNTINO
JORDAN MOORES (JR. COACH)
COACH IN TRAINING PROGRAM
The Attitash Race Team is offering a Coach-in-Training (or "CIT") program for team alumni that have turned at least 14 years old by December 31 of the upcoming ski season. This is a great opportunity for young adults wishing to continue to be involved in alpine racing, but with a focus on learning the coaching side of the sport.
Click HERE for information on our CIT program and the application materials for the upcoming season.
