Past Judges

Judges 2019: John Balmain, Tom Jacobson, Gregor Neal, Stacey Gerrish, Jiri Nohejl, Doc Tulin, Russell Kauf

Judges 2014: Rick Vertomile, Kevin Jordan, Stacey Gerrish, Tom Jacobson, Gregor Neal, Linda Guerrette

Gregor Neal

Years judged All of them! 2003-2019

Teaching Qualifications/Experience

37th year teaching as of 2018
32 at Vail/Beaver Creek

Synchro Qualifications/Experience

Started synchro skiing in Vail 1987
Co-founded the BC Demo program in 1993. Managed and coached the team up until winning the World championship in 2000.
Judged Synchro World championships at Vail, Whistler and Aspen as well as Powder 8's competitions in New England over the past 18 years.
Gregor also co- authored the format and original rule book (1998) for the World Synchro Championships and with amendments, now the official rules for the AWSC's.

Rick Vetromile

Years judged
Teaching Qualifications/Experience

Ski instructor in Aspen since 67. Examiner

Synchro Qualifications/Experience

15 years of sync skiing on an Aspen team.

Other Stuff

Wife and daughter. Live in Maui in the summer.

Doc Tulin

Years judged 2007, 2010-11, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
Teaching Qualifications/Experience

Teaching since 1979
Former Director of Marketing at Attitash Mountain Resort
Former demo team member and coach at Beaver Creek
Former Race Director at Eldora
Former ski school manager at Okemo
Currently a media and marketing consultant in the ski resort and tourism industry

Synchro Qualifications/Experience

4 time winner of World Synchro Ski Championships held at Vail
2 time winner New England Powder 8s
Former head judge New England Powder 8's/Eastern Carving 8's from 2003-2010

Dave Grogan

Chief of Course 2003 - 2020

Years 2017-Present

Teaching Qualifications & Experience

CSIA level 3 CSCF 2, CSIA children examiner, NZSIA Level 3, Coach, National TD
25 years of teaching in USA ,Canada and NZ

Synchro Experience

AWSC Chief of Course for 10 years
Technical Advisor to the Aspen Divas, 2011-Present

Other Stuff

Dreams of one day building a deck

Tom Jacobson

Years judged
Teaching Qualifications/Experience

Skis out of Squaw Valley
USSA Competition Official with credentials in Timing, Coaching and Referee.

Synchro Qualifications/Experience

Participated in most of the Synchro events since 1997 including Vail , Whistler and Aspen
Official uniform supplier and sponsor for the Judges.

Other Stuff

When not on snow or his road bike, Tom is a Federal regulator in the Banking industry covering Northern California, Hawaii, Guam and Micronesia and spends the bulk of his time in San Francisco, Honolulu and New York.

Stacey Gerrish

Years judged 2009 - 2014, 2019
Teaching Qualifications/Experience

PSIA RMT
Childrens Examiner
USSA Coaches Educator
Co-author of the PSIA National Children’s Manual
Training Manager Beaver Creek Ski School.

Synchro Qualifications/Experience

Competed in sync skiing since 1994
New England Powder 8 Champion 2009
USA Women’s Powder 8 Champion 2009. 6th year judging the Aspen event as of 2014. 29 years at Beaver Creek Ski School as of 2018.

Other Stuff

Loves long walks on the beach as well as skiing deep fluffy powder!!!

Joel Munn

Years judged 6 times
Teaching Qualifications/Experience

Examiner Emeritus with PSIA
Managed ski schools in Australia and New Zealand
Was Ski School Director at Breckenridge, The Canyons in Utah and Bear Mt. California
Trainer for the Vail Ski and Snowboard School.

Synchro Qualifications/Experience

Two times World Powder 8 Championships judge
Nine times National Powder 8 Championships judge

Other Stuff

Originally from Lake Placid, N.Y.

Joey Roberts

Years judged Judge at the Synchro Championships for three years
Teaching Qualifications/Experience

Training and Quality Manager at Golden Peak Children's center- Vail Ski and Snowboard School
Resort Trainer, Hire and Training of New Hire Instructors, Womens Specialist
PSIA Trainer Acred. Snowboard Level 1. APSI Level 3. Austrian Landeslehrer Taught skiing in Austria, Australia and Vail for 25 years. Ski and Boot Tester for Ski Magazine for 5 years. Listed among the top 100 SKi Instructors in the country in SKi magazine.

Synchro Qualifications/Experience

Member of Contessa Women's Demo Team Vail Snowsports School - World Champions in Whistler 2001.

Other Stuff

Bachelor of Education Majoring in Physical Education, Dance and Outdoor Education.

Jiri Nohejl

Years judged 2018,2019

Teaching Qualifications / Experience

APUL Senior Examiner and Technical Committee Member
3 Terms (2011/2015/2019) APUL Interski Team Member
Alpine Trainer at Aspen Academy
NZSIA Trainer / Examiner
Former Digital Strategy Director at APUL Snowsports Education

Synchro Qualifications / Experience

2017 AWSC 2nd Place with Aspen Demo Team
2012 Czech Synchro Skiing Championship 1st Place
Member of Czech Interski Demo Team since 2011

Other Stuff

Lecturer of Economics and Political Economy at University of Economics Prague, Cevro Institute Prague and various summer schools

Ali MacGrain

Years judged 2017,2018

Teaching Qualifications/Experience

Ex-PSIA Western Division examiner
Current New Zealand Snowsports Instructors Alliance examiner
Current Snowsports Scotland examiner
40 winters back to back between Northern & Southern hemispheres
Worked in Scotland, New Zealand, California, Australia, Utah, Switzerland & France
Instructor trainer at Northstar Resort California & at the Instructor Training Centre at Cardrona Resort in New Zealand.

Other Stuff

From Scotland

Josh Fogg

Years judged 2012, 2013
Teaching Qualifications/Experience

PSIA-AASI National Alpine Team Member
PSIA-RM Examiner
Training Manager for the Ski and Snowboard Schools of Aspen
PSIA-RM Alpine Committee Member
PSIA Certifications include Alpine, Nordic, Telemark, Children’s Specialist, and Freestyle Specialist
Teaching skiing since 1989
Teaching Experience in US, New Zealand, Argentina, and China

Synchro Experience

US Powder 8’s (2005, 2007-2016) Open Division Champions in 2014, numerous 2nd and 3rd places with Kevin Jordan (See below)
Aspen Team Diva Coach (2014-2017)

Other Stuff

Road Biking, Fly-Fishing, and Hiking

Stephanie Brown

Years Judged 2020 (Cancelled due to COVID)
Teaching Qualifications/Experience

Ski Instructor Northern and Southern Hemisphere winters 1982- Present
Retired PSIA Examiner
Aspen Ski Co Trainer
NZSIA Examiner 1988 – Present
NZSIA Course Manager 2007-Present
NZSIA Interski Teams 2003, 2007 & 2011

Synchro Experience

Competed at World Syncro Ski Champs 1990,1992, 1993
Aspen Team Diva Coach 2005-Present

John Balmain

Years Judged 2019

Teaching Qualifications / Experience

RMT Trainer at Telluride Ski School

Synchro Qualifications / Experience

2016 1st place AWSC
2010-2015 Numerous 2nd places, too many to mention
2000 2nd place Battle Of The Ski Schools, Vail
1999- 3rd place Battle Of The Ski Schools, Vail

Russell Kauff

Years Judged 2019

Teaching Qualifications / Experience

30 seasons over 18 years as an instructor in Vermont, New Zealand, Australia and Colorado
5 years as an inter-collegiate alpine race coach
Member of the PSIA-E Educational Staff

Other Stuff

I haven't had summer since 2006 but I get spring twice every year!

Nick Herrin

Years judged 2018

Teaching Qualifications/Experience

CEO – as of July 2016 -- of PSIA-AASI
Drawn to the snowsports industry from the age of 14, he taught skiing in Washington state and later Montana, where his post-college career path led him into resort operations at Big Sky Resort.
Assistant Ski and Ride School Director at Telluride Ski Resort
Assistant General Manager at Crested Butte Mountain
Three terms, 2004-2016, as a member of the PSIA-AASI Team

Synchro Qualifications/Experience

Four Time US National Powder 8 Champion
Placed 3rd at the World Powder 8 Championships on two separate occasions

Adam Hosie

Years judged 2014
Teaching Qualifications/Experience

Worked at Beaver Creek, CO and Thredbo, Australia
APSI examiner since 2007.

Synchro Qualifications/Experience

6 years competing in Demo skiing competitions in the US, Canada and Switzerland.

Chris Doyle

Years judged 2014
Teaching Qualifications/Experience

Beaver Creek Ski & Snowboard School 1989 – 2007
PSIA RM Examiner.

Synchro Qualifications/Experience

Vail 99 Team 1997- Battle of the Ski Schools World Champions
Team Snowwell 1998 - Battle of the Ski Schools World Champions
Vail/Beaver Creek Demonstration Team Hot Winter Nights *(8 Winter Shows per season choreographed to music and fireworks) 1990 - 1997
Coach Babes of Prey 2004 – 2006
Team Fuchsberger/Doyle World Cup Synchro Slalom 1998 - Forstau Austria 4th. 1998 - Saamnaun Switzerland 3rd
Powder 8 Tour. 1997 – Jackson Hole WY. 2nd. 1998 - Saamnaun Switzerland 7th. 1998 – Blue Sky MT. 4th. 1998 – Blue River Canada World Powder 8 9th.

Other Stuff

Cycling Credentials Member US National Cycling Team 1991 – 1994 1994 - 17th. Overall Grundig World Cup. Current - General Manager Bob’s Place Restaurant & Sports Bar, Avon CO. Daughter Aydia.

Kevin Jordan

Years judged 2014
Teaching Qualifications/Experience

PSIA-RM Examiner - Alpine (E3), Children's, and Freestyle
Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month Ambassador
Trainer and Coordinator with the Ski and Snowboard Schools of Aspen Snowmass
SNOW Operating Trainer
Contributor for 32 Degrees and NSAA Journal
Teaching Experience in US, Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina

Synchro Experience

USA Powder 8’s (2007-2016)
2007 - 4th Place
2008 - 3rd Place
2009 - 2nd Place
2010 - 3rd Place
2011 - 2nd Place
2012 - 4th Place
2013 - 2nd Place
2014 - 1st Place (finally!!!)
2015 - 2nd Place
2016 - 16th out of 22 teams (Jackson Hole)

Other Stuff

DH Mountain Biking, XC Mountain Biking, and Hiking

Delfina Darquier

Teaching Qualifications/Experience

BC ski school for 16years
Argentina demo team for three terms (12 years), attending 3 Interskis
Played around on the South American Xtremes
Worked in Europe, US, Southamerica and Australia as a ski instructor

Synchro Qualifications/Experience

World Synchro champion in 1999, 2000, 2001
National Powder 8 Champion 2007 in Aspen
Southamerican Synchro.

Other Stuff

Mum of Logan. Love the outdoors, Skiing and Mountain biking are her favorite sports.

Jim Schanzenbaker

Teaching Qualifications/Experience

Ski Pro and Trainer for Ski Schools of Aspen
Member of PSIA Alpine Team 2000-2004, 2008-2012
PSIA-RM Alpine Examiner.

Synchro Qualifications/Experience

Owner/Producer & Judge of USA Powder 8 Championship
Five time USA Powder 8 Champion 02,09,11,14,16
Former Judge for USA, World Powder 8 championships, and Aspen Synchro event.

Joanie Valentine

Mike Spiers

Mike Spiers and Gregor Neal wrote the rule book along with Hayden Scot

Trish Schreiber

Teaching Qualifications/Experience

Formerly employed at Mt Hutt, NZ - working as a Ski Pro, Supervisor & Technical Director
Moved to Aspen in 1985 - has since worked as Ski Pro & Trainer for SSSA. Former Trainer & Examiner for both the NZSIA & PSIA-RM.

Synchro Qualifications/Experience

13 years+ of experience skiing in & coaching Aspen Synchro Skiing Teams.

Other Stuff

Born Christchurch, New Zealand.

Vance Lemley

Teaching Qualifications/Experience

PSIA Full-Cert instructor, 32 years
Examiner 27 years
USSCA Level 3 coach 27 years
18 years at Aspen, currently a Trainer

Synchro Qualifications/Experience

Competed in sync skiing championships for Aspen for 10 years.