The WMR Staff is dedicated to the highest standard of training. Please email Program Director Sara Montgomery at sara@westmountain.com with any questions. 

Managing Member

• Spencer Montgomery 

WMR Alpine Program Staff*

WMR Program Director

• Sara Montgomery, General Manager of West Mountain and VP of the West Mountain School, is also the Program Director for West Mountain Racing. Sara has been helping manage the WMR program since it was established in 2012. Sara has four children, three who are in college and one who is currently in the WMR program. Madeline, a former WMR racer is now a super senior lacrosse recruit and lacrosse US Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Player of the Year 2024, IWLCA 2023 Midfielder of the Year, IWLCA All-American, four-time Rookie of the Week, Rookie of the year, IWLCA Eastern Region 1st Team at Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Hunter, now a junior football recruit at Middlebury College, is the former U14 Hovey Winner, NY HS State champion SL, Combined 2020, GS, SL and Combined 2019, and SL 2018, and top NYSSRA skier. Meredith, a freshman lacrosse recruit at Hobart & William Smith was the 2022 NY State HS SL and Combined Champion, and Hudson (U16, USSA, NYSSRA), was the U12 1st place male kombi and overall award winner at the Kandahar in 2020 as well as 1st place U12 Hovey award winner in 2020, and top U14 as a 1st and 2nd year. Hudson was also the 2021 U14 Hovey Memorial Award winner, the U14 SG, GS, SL State Champion, and U16 State Champion.  Sara works with Alpine Race Director Steve Lathrop on developing a comprehensive training, development and travel year-round calendar that has a heavy Skills Quest focus. Sara works directly with Chief of Race Travis Boevin and RA Margaret Godsil on race day organization. She also writes grants and fundraises for the West Mountain School, which supports WMR program members with program scholarships, safety equipment and supplies. Sara is committed to running an organized, professional year-around race program. Sara is passionate about children, athletics and the outdoors. Sara is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a BA in Journalism. She worked as an editor for Crain Communications in Chicago before staying home to raise her 4 children. She returned to work to help her husband operate West Mountain and West Mountain Racing when her youngest, Hudson, started Kindergarten. She can be reached at sara@westmountain.com.

WMR Alpine Technical Director/Head Men's FIS Coach

• Thomas Vonn--Thomas Vonn competed on the U.S. Ski Team from ‘97- ‘05. Vonn competed in the 2002 Olympics and continued to compete on the World Cup where he discovered his passion for coaching and working on athlete development. Vonn served as the primary coach for World Cup and Olympic champion, Lindsey Vonn, for over 10 years, including the Vancouver Olympic games where she took gold and bronze. Additionally, Vonn consulted with the U.S. Ski Team and coached aspiring World Cup and Olympic athletes from the U.S. and other nations. As WMR Alpine Technical Director/Head FIS Coach, Vonn will bring his World Cup, Olympic and international level competition, and coaching experience to West Mountain. ​

WMR Head Women's FIS Coach 

• Teresita Birkner--Teresita is Mother & Coach of 3 very accomplished ski racing daughters; Head Coach Argentina Nat. Ski Team; 30 years Coaching all disciplines FIS World Level, including but not limited to, 4-Olympics; 13-World Championships; 6 FIS Jr World Championships; South American Cup Titles-33 overall, 34 SL, 31 GS, 22 SG, 11 DH, 5 Combimed; Argentina National Ski Championships-33 GS, 32 SL, 2 DH, 6 SG.

​WMR Alpine Race Director Junior Programs

• Stephen Lathrop--Steve competed for 5 years on the World Cup as a member of the US “A” Ski Team & FIS World Championships, ranked 16th in SL & 33rd in downhill in the World.  A US Nat. Downhill Champion, US Nat. Combined Champion, US Jr Nat. SL Champion & CanAm SL Champion.  He has a BA from Middlebury College & MBA from Harvard Business School. Steve recently was the Dir. of Stratton Mountain School’s alpine devo program. A Coach & Family Man, coaching ski racing all of his adult life, his 4 ski racing daughters all VT State Champions, USSA Eastern Regional Champions, or US Jr Nat Champions & one a US Ski Team D member, his son a NCAA All-American (D3) tennis player. Steve works closely with WMR's Program Director Sara Montgomery on all aspects of the WMR program. Steve also works with WMR's coaching staff implementing WMR's training schedule and philosophy incorporating his coaching expertise. Stephen will be working with the coaches and athletes in all age categories and programs this season on and off the hill. WMR Program Coordinator 

WMR Assistant FIS Coach/West Mountain House Parent

• Peter Hallagan, assistant FIS coach, will be working with Head FIS Coach Thomas Vonn beginning in 2022. Peter’s passion for skiing comes from an extended family of ski racers who started racing in the sport in the 1940’s. Many of Peter’s relatives attended academies and raced D1 in college - his father, aunt, uncles, cousins, nieces and now his youngest son Leo, who is attending Plymouth State in the fall. Peter grew up racing at Brantling, went on to race for Mountain House academy at Whiteface Mountain and then at St. Lawrence University. Peter has been coaching for 16 years and is a level 200 coach. He spent the last 4 years coaching FIS men and women at Hunt Hollow. Peter will also be a house parent at the West Mountain House.

Rufus Davis--Head U16/U18 Coach

• Rufus Davis has been coaching for over 10 years. Before joining WMR, Rufus coached at Magic Mountain in Vermont where he was head coach and head technical coach. During his last four years at Magic Mountain. He primarily worked with U16 and U18 racers. Rufus is certified as a US Ski and Snowboard referee and level 300 coach. He raced in USSA Central Division in high school and qualified for Central Division championships as a J1 and J2. Rufus raced USCSA in college and in three of his four college racing years finished with a top five ranking in both SL and GS. After college Rufus raced in several skier cross series. He was also a competitive mogul skier and twice finished in fourth place at Aspen's pro, dual format Freestyle Fridays series. Rufus started coaching ski racing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He can't wait to get back out on the hill with West's racers and coaches.

Jeff Dock/Assistant U16/U18 Coach

• Former West Mountain racer Jeff Dock has joined the WMR coaching staff as a U16/U18 coach. Jeff grew up racing in Southern Vermont and moved to the West Mountain team his senior year in high school.  Jeff was the New York state High school slalom champion, represented NYS at Eastern Junior Olympics and after high school attended St. Lawrence University where he was a member of the Alpine Ski team.  For the last 23 years he has coached the Glens Falls Alpine Ski team. 

Spencer Montgomery/Assistant U16/U18 Coach

• WMR Managing Member Spencer Montgomery will be returning as U16/U18 assistant coach in 23-24. Spencer has been coaching for WMR since 2012. 

Katherine Beebe/Head U14 Coach

• Katherine has been passionate about skiing her whole life, whether racing in her early career or now coaching for 10 plus years.  Prior to West, Katherine was the head coach of the U12/U10/U8 program at Jiminy Peak. Katherine has multiple podiums across her career that started in Western PA at Seven Springs Mountain, followed the Holderness School FIS team and culminating at Union College where she trained at West Mountain.  Katherine and her husband, Andrew (who also skied for Union), have two boys, William and James in the WMR program.

Roman Matusinsky (U14)  

• Roman will be joining the WMR coaching staff in 23-24. He was most recently coaching for Blue Mountain at the U12 and U16 levels for the last 7 years.  Roman grew up and racing in college in the Czech Republic. He has a daughter in the WMR Junior Academy program.

Paul Crivelli (U14)

• Paul has coached at Thunder Ridge and Mount Southington since 2015. He is a Level 100 coach with course setting and referee certifications. In the off season, Paul enjoys coaching varsity high school tennis and travel soccer. Paul has three children in the WMR Junior Academy program.

Pavla Berry/Head U12 Coach

• Pavla grew up ski racing in the Czech Republic. She was the Czech national champion in slalom as J3. She spent several years on the Czech National Team and during that time qualified for 2 World Junior Championships and Europa cups. After moving to United States, Pavla raced for Sierra Nevada College and assisted the team in winning 3 overall USCSA titles by making the podium 3 times. She also qualified for 3 World Winter University games. As a coach, Pavla started coaching summer camps in Mt. Hood while in college. She then coached for Ski and Snowboard Club Vail. After moving to New York, she coached for West Mountain for a few years before taking a break from ski racing to raise her children. For the past two years, she coached for NYSEF Gore. Pavla has two daughters in West Mountain Racing program and is excited to be back at West Mountain to coach.

Abbey DeRocker (U12)

• Abbey DeRocker is a Glens Falls native that learned how to ski and race at West Mountain, Glens Falls High School under Kelly Nessle, and later for Holderness School at Waterville Valley in New Hampshire.  A graduate of Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, she started coaching alpine skiing during her senior year in college.  Abbey has two daughters in the West Mountain Racing program, Kate (U12) and Kwinn (U10) and is thrilled to be returning for her second season at WMR.  She is eager to continue working with the talented athletes at WMR, from the Intro to Race through U12 programs, and share her passion and love of the sport to foster the next generation of lifelong skiers. Abbey is excited to help WMR athletes find their potential through positivity, a shared responsibility to be your best every day, and empowerment in whatever they undertake in ski racing and life. Abbey is married to Gregg Kawecki, another WMR Intro to Race Coach.  Abbey and her family live in Wilton, New York with their two labradoodles Anara and Timber.    

Bill Bennett/Head U10 Coach

• Bill Bennett will be returning to coach in the 2022/2023 season for his 30th year at West Mountain. Bill is a Level 3 PSIA certified instructor and USSA Level 100 certified coach and referee. Bill taught first lesson at West Mountain in 1968. He was formerly Assistant Director of Brodie Mt Ski School '75-'77, Ski School Director Alpine Meadows '77-'92 and then Race coach at West Mountain from '92- present. Bill is the proud father of WMR coaches John and Victoria.

Marygeralyn (MG) Wilday/Head U8 Coach

• MG started her race coaching career as an alpine racing parent. Her daughter, Roarinbrook began racing first on the Nastar gates at Gore Mountain at age 6. After two years of racing NYSEF with podium standings, MG and her family moved to Winter Park, Colorado to continue her daughter’s race career on a more competitive level. U10- U16 the duties of a race parent increased significantly from travel, tuning, education on proper skis, bindings, safety gear and the like to coaching the 4-8 year olds. MG resides in Lake George with her fiancé, two dogs, Gunnar and Schotzi, and the bird Cocktail. In the off-season MG enjoys Cycling, Hiking, Camping and anything to do with the outdoors.

John Bennett (U14, U16)

• John Benett has been coaching at West Mountain since 2014. He is a graduate of Clarkson University where he ski raced in the USCSA division. In 2010, John's 9th place GS finish at the USCSA Mideast Regionals helped the Knights win the National Championship. John is a Level 100 Coach and referee.

Todd Gordon (U8, U10)

• Todd Gordon is entering his first year coaching at West Mountain. He previously coached at NYSEF Gore. He is excited to be back on his home snow. Todd grew up in Queensbury, and now resides in Saratoga with his wife and three children. Todd grew up racing at the USSA and FIS levels with the West Mountain and Queensbury High School programs. In high school he finished 2nd in the state championships, won several USSA races, won the Jr Invitationals super-G and and came in 2nd in the giant slalom, and made two eastern Junior Olympic teams. He then went on to race for St Lawrence University. Todd now owns a wealth management business, a trading business, and is a CNBC contributor.  In the offseason Todd can be found mountain and road cycling, hiking, golfing, coaching baseball, or enjoying the Saratoga social scene.

Kress Weitzel (U10, U12) Bio coming soon!

Intro To Racing Coaches

• Patrick Cunningham
• Gregg Kawecki
• Brian Fish
• Ian Fish

Travis Boevin/Chief Of Race

• Travis’ professional background as a pharmacist at Albany Medical Center, working in the IT department as a manager and lead system architect, makes him the perfect fit for WMR as WMR’s mission is to provide a high level of professionalism across all areas of business. Travis will be working directly with WMR Program Director Sara Montgomery and WMR RA Margaret Godsil on all areas of race day management. Travis, an avid skier, has been an alpine official for WMR for 5 years, and a Chief of Race for WMR for 3 years.

Race/Events Manager 

Allen Bapp 

Race/Volunteer Coordinators

• Sara Montgomery (sara@westmountain.com) and Travis Boevin

Race/Events Administrators

• Sara Montgomery and Margaret Godsil (margaret@westmtracing.com)

WMR On-Site Race Tuning Technicians are available to service our team members at West Mountain Sports

• Kerri 

WMR Timing

• Steve Rodman--Chief of Timing & Data
• Robert Underwood --Timing & Data 

*The WMR staff may change from time to time and without notice.