Our Coaches
Jon Metcalfe
Jon is our resident Polar Bear (he may look familiar from another local Winnipeg attraction?). Jon began skiing with WAR as a teenager and progressed into coaching naturally. He loves the sport, and has been coaching with us for over 10 years. He has recently moved into the role of Head Coach and is enjoying the new challenge. He has also been known to take the role of race forerunner just to keep up his technique (and the kids all especially love it when he dresses up as Winston the polar bear to ski a few runs with them).
Brent Harvey
Brent has been coaching for over 25 years with the ski club. He began skiing with the ski club at age 10 as a racer himself.
He has immense passion and dedication for Alpine Skiing in Manitoba. He spends many hours behind the scenes planning and coordinating to make each season successful.
Brent enjoys seeing the members of the club start and grow up through the club and also seeing the athletes succeed, develop life skills, achieving goals and also helping inspire skiers for life.
He is always excited to see new families join and see how great the sport of skiing is and what the club has to offer. He most recently is excited to see his own son come through the ski club program.
Alpine Canada Coach Development Level Certified , Para Certified
Alpine Canada Official Level Two
Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance Level Two (25 year member)
Jim McConkey
Coach Jim...there's a lot to say for this coach. He has been with the club for an impressive 35 years! He has even coached some of our other coaches. He absolutely loves the sport and everyone involved with it. He works with our older kids on their technique once they have moved up to the racing team. He travels with the club to every out of town race and he is usually at the starting position of each and every race to give a few last minute pointers to the athletes.
He is a very well respected and appreciated Coach, and he's earned every bit of it.
Ron Struch
Ron started volunteering with the Springhill Racing Club in 1998. He completed his initial coaching certification with CSIA/CSCF in 1999 and has been enjoying coaching to all levels of skiers ever since. Ron has also been coaching alpine skiing with Special Olympics Manitoba for the past 17 years. He has coached at 5 Special Olympics National Competitions and 1 World Competition. He finds his coaching so rewarding, and especially enjoys seeing a new athlete ski their first solo run. Ron has always loved to ski. His goal is that all skiers can have fun along with learning the basics of safe skiing and fundamental skills, so they can reach their racing potential. He also loves to share his passion, enthusiasm and excitement for skiing with all athletes.
Brett Zagozewski
Brett has been coaching for over 25 years. He has worked with the Canadian Ski Team, Alberta Ski Team and numerous clubs in Western Canada. Brett’s coaching experience includes the 2010 Winter Olympics, 2009 World Ski Championships and multiple seasons of World Cup. Brett and his family are excited to be part of the Winnipeg Alpine Racers program.
Destiny Wing
Destiny began skiing with WAR in 1999 as a racer, and moved into the role of Coach in 2008. She is wonderful with all the kids, and is always sharing her smile with everyone.
Destiny graduated in 2015 with her Registered Nursing Degree. She is currently working as an RN in the NICU at Children's Hospital in Winnipeg. She is working very hard and we appreciate her so much.
Ness Dalling
Ness began skiing with WAR when he was 6 years old, and raced for 12 years! His last two years racing he was a member of our Provincial team, racing across Canada and representing Manitoba. He is an athlete through and through. When he is not coaching, he is biking - a lot. Ness is also an elite amateur cyclist for a racing team based out of Ottawa. Ness is an inspiration to many of our younger athletes.
Jessica McBride
This is Coach Jessica. She joined our coaching team in 2021 and has been welcomed with open arms by all of the athletes, coaches, and parents. She is great with the kids and wears a pretty big smile much of the time too (even when she’s cold)! Jessica’s favourite discipline is GS, and she really enjoys the tree trails that can be found in Lake Louise and Fernie when she gets to ski for fun.
Off the hill Jessica is in her 2nd year of Medical School and is planning to practice Family Medicine once she’s got her Doctorate. She also enjoys playing volleyball and softball, her favourite colour is yellow, and her favourite animal is a platypus (apparently our kids always ask).
We know were are very lucky to have her as part of our club.
Lucas Bomhof
Say hello to Lucas! 2023/2024 will be his first year coaching with us and we are so excited to have him. He began his racing career with WAR in 2012 and has been the happiest kid in the club ever since. Lucas was a proud member of Team Manitoba and spent the majority of his last year participating in FIS races across USA and Canada. He is super fast on the hill, but he is also the most fun so we know all of the kids are going to love him as their Coach. Welcome to the club (again) Lucas!
Jocelyn Jekat
A big welcome to Jossy in her first year of coaching with WAR! Jocelyn began her racing career with WAR in 2012. She has been an inspiration to all the young female athletes on the team which includes her two younger sisters. Hard work paid off as she made Team Manitoba and was selected to represent our province at the 2023 Canada Winter Games! Jocelyn finished her year by being the top female racer and winning the Manitoba Cup. Jocelyn will bring her experiences to her coaching, but most especially her sweet nature to our littles. We are so happy to have you join our coaches Joss!
Lance Verrier
Meet Lance! Yes, he's as big as that in real life! Lance will begin his first year of coaching with WAR in 2023-2024. Lance began his racing career with WAR in 2011, and brought along his little brother into the sport a couple years later. He is a very dedicated athlete, and has made the most of his career by making Team Manitoba and being selected to represent our province at the 2023 Canada Winter Games! Lance also started volunteering as a coach for Special Olympics. Lance will be working towards being a firefighter when he is not coaching. Welcome Coach Lance!
James Lindsay
James joined WAR in 2022 after moving from southern Ontario to Winnipeg. James has over 25 years experience as an alpine racing coach and ski instructor working with athletes of all ages. James began as an athlete, athlete/coach and finally coach at Snow Valley in southern Ontario. James then went on to Craigleigh Ski Club, and eventually to Mansfield Ski Club where, as Technical Coach, he was responsible for the mentorship and development of entry-level coaches. James also spent a season as a Ski Instructor working for Club Med in Created Butte Colorado.
James is cross certified as an ACA DL, CSIA III and CASI I. James currently represents the Central Region on the National Board of Directors of the CSIA.
Andrew Gierys, Brett Ingram
and Mykola Kruk