Welcome to the Coach Spotlight
This is a space where passion for ski racing meets expert guidance and mentorship. Here at NYSSRA, our coaching team is at the heart of fostering skill, camaraderie, and a love for the slopes among our athletes.
With years of collective experience in ski racing, our coaches bring a wealth of knowledge to the table. From mastering the art of carving turns to refining race strategies, our team is dedicated to honing each athlete's technique and boosting their confidence on the course.
But coaching isn't just about the technical aspects of skiing. It's about fostering a sense of teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship. Our coaches are not only instructors but also role models who inspire a sense of dedication and perseverance in every skier they guide.
Whether you're an aspiring racer or a seasoned athlete, our Coach's Spotlight is your window into the insights, stories, and inspiration that drive our coaching philosophy. Join us in celebrating the achievements and contributions of our exceptional coaching team, and get ready to hit the slopes with renewed enthusiasm and skill."
2024 Coach of the Year
Marisa Lafalce (West)
NYSSRA is honored to award Marisa LaFalce the NYSSRA coach of the year for Western NYS 2024. Marisa is a long time Athlete, Coach, Parent, Program Director, NYSSRA Committee member, and a welcomed member in the NYSSRA family for many years.
Marisa’s journey started at Greek Peak racing as a young NYSSRA competitor then moving on as an athlete to college racing for Cornell University, while attending Cornell Marisa would come back on college breaks and coach at Greek Peak which fueled her desire to commit to alpine youth development. This passion is the foundation that has brought Marisa forward from her collegiate career to the grass roots understanding of junior alpine development.
Working thorough Greek Peak Marisa earned her chops as an age group coach prior to her current position. Marisa is now the program Director / Head Coach at Greek Peak. Marisa has also been a contributing member on many NYSSRA Committees over the years, additionally a Central NY Council member and Council Chair.
NYSSRA is happy to present this award to Marisa! We continue excited to have her on our working committees as well as a leader in Central NY! Keep sending it Marisa!
2024 Coach of the Year
David Wenn (East)
When it comes to New York State ski racing, a few individuals have significantly impacted its growth, leadership, and development, driving the state forward. Notable among them are Horst Weber of NYSEF, Phil Davenport of Highmount/Belleayre/Windham Mountain, and David Wenn of Greek Peak/National Sports Academy/West Mountain/Vail Ski Club/GMVS/NYSEF.
This year, we honor David (Dave) Wenn with the NYSSRA Coach of the Year award for the 2023-2024 season. Dave began his alpine race coaching and professional ski instructor career at Greek Peak, where he initiated the Kandahar series. He then established the first true ski academy in New York State, initially at the Mountain House and later at the National Sports Academy (NSA) in Lake Placid, training out of the Olympic Mountain Whiteface. These efforts provided alpine ski racers in New York with local training and educational opportunities. Under Dave's leadership, NSA expanded to include a variety of winter sports, producing numerous Olympians and national champions.
After NSA, Dave contributed to West Mountain, Vail Ski Club, and GMVS, and has spent the past six years back at NYSEF. At NYSEF, he has developed a comprehensive return-to-play progression for athletes in the alpine program and serves as the Head U12 Coach. In addition to his extensive coaching resume, Dave is a prominent leader in the Professional Ski Instructor Association (PSIA), known as "The General" among his peers. He has served as an examiner and evaluator for the PSIA National Team for many years, blending precise ski development and teaching with alpine ski race coaching—a vision for the future of alpine ski coaching.
Furthermore, we challenge anyone to match Dave's quality short radius turns down Mountain Run on Whiteface today! Thank you, Dave, for your many years of hard work and dedication to this sport. You have significantly advanced development and education in our state