The Coaches

Raul joined Cypress Ski Club as Program Director in 2012 bringing decades of international experience to our club. Raul began skiing when he was 4 years old, in a ski area called Antillanca in Chile’s Lake District Region. At 8 years of age he began his racing career in Antillanca, moved at 10 years to Santiago and culminated in Raul being the Chilean GS Champion and SL Vice-Champion in 1971. After retiring from competitive racing, Raul was not ready to leave the sport and began his second career as a ski coach. He is a certified Level 1 Coach with the Chilean Ski Federation and the Spanish National Ski School. He holds an Alpine Canada Development Level Certified Coach Diploma. Raul also delivers Entry Level courses to new coaches in his capacity as an ACA-NCCP Coach Evaluator and Facilitator.

He has coached in Chile, Spain, Andorra, USA, and Canada. He is passionate about equipping children with life long skills through skiing. Raul and his wife Michele have three children, Daniela, Martín, and Micaela, who have all ski raced.  

Sacha grew up on a ski resort in France and started skiing around 2 years old. Since he joined Albiez Montrond Ski Club at age 6, he has never stopped skiing. He competed at the FIS level and was a member of the French Ski Team for 5 years.  

“I was better in GS and Super-G but I would say that I really enjoyed all of the discipline. This sport became more than a passion, it created my whole personality.” says Sacha. 

Sacha stopped competing in 2021 and began his journey as a coach at Ski Club La Norma in France before moving to Canada, and coaching at Cypress Ski Club. He holds his French Ski Instructor Level 4, and is Alpine Canada Development Level certified. His heroes include Ted Ligety, and his father.