Meet Our Coaches!

Head Coach/Program Director

Jennifer Perry Ross

Jennifer (Jen) is SVART’s Head Coach/Program Director, and she can be reached at jennifer@skiswissvalley.com. 

Jennifer learned to ski at age 2 and became passionate about the sport as a child racing with Ausblick Racing (Wisconsin) through high school and at St Olaf College (Minnesota). She has competed in local and national USSA, FIS, high school, and college races. She was a two-time Eastern National High School competitor, having finished in the top-12 in Wisconsin State both her junior and senior years, and was a 4-time qualifier for USCSA Nationals while on the St Olaf ski team. During her racing years, she had the privilege to train under the coaching of Erich Sailer and Tony Olin, who have both coached numerous olympic and world cup skiers. Following graduation, Jen began coaching high school ski racing in Minnesota, and has a total of over 20 years of coaching experience. Jen joined the coaching team at Swiss Valley in 2009, and began her tenure as Head Coach in 2019. She currently has her US Ski & Snowboard Level 100 coaches certification, her course setting certificate, and is working on her level 200 certification.

In addition to coaching, Jen has a PhD in biological psychology and teaches classes at Kalamazoo College. Her current academic interests include study of how we learn, and aspects of sports psychology (including developmentally-appropriate strategies for sport involvement and success). She has delivered sports psychology lectures to young ski racers at Swiss and elsewhere in the midwest. She is mom to three young ski racers, who have taught her invaluable lessons both on and off the hill.

USSS Team Coaches

Jennifer Perry Ross (see bio above)

Rob Perry (Coach Grandpa)

Coach Grandpa comes to Swiss Valley JDT program in his “semi-retirement” from “across the pond” (ie Wisconsin). The 3.5 hour commute gives him time to think up and work up drills and activities for the JDT program. His commitment to teaching the sport he loves and has spent almost six decades participating in is apparent in his enthusiastic approach to coaching at practices and races. He really wants his students to not only excel, but to gain a lifelong love of skiing. He believes in developing a “no fear of failure” mindset in his students that allows them to try/fail/try again until success, and that success comes after the process of learning and doing. He is still looking for and working on the “perfect set of turns”.

With more than 53 years of ski race experience from youth ski leagues, HS, USSA, FIS, college, and senior racing, he has a diverse racing background as well as industry contacts and random life experiences he can transfer to the developing racers at Swiss Valley. In the past 45+ years he has coached youth through college level athletes in soccer, lacrosse, ski racing and hockey. Coaching a US ski team member is one of his many memorable “coach” moments. He holds coaching licenses in Ice Hockey and Ski Racing earning a Level 4 USA Hockey and a Level 100 USSS. He was an instrumental part in creating the Ausblick Ski Race team, a nationally renowned program, in SE Wisconsin. Along with the multitude of kids he coached, his proudest moments were teaching Coach Jen how to ski and race along with her 3 siblings and his wife.

A couple of fun facts:

Started working in a ski shop at age 16. Started his own ski shop at age 20. His dad owned a ski hill in Canada in his youth, and he was skiing with the “Crazy Canucks” many days during this time. Started a Lacrosse Program in his town that grew to more than 400 players. Was a 58 point FIS GS racer (93 SL) in his prime. He Loves snow, but hates shoveling. He is learning how to yodel, and failing miserably so he lets a pickle do it for him. He built and owned an ice arena.

Ask him how he finished his college race career…

 

Junior Development Team Coaches

Matt Davis (U12/U14 Coach)

Matt grew up skiing in Michigan and raced on his high school team. He was team captain senior year and went to states twice. After college, Matt headed to Michigan Tech, where he joined the ski team and raced USCSA races. Matt was a ski instructor at Boyne Mountain for 3 years, and has coached a variety of other sports (ie cross country). He is dad to 3 kids, ages 8, 12, and 16. We are so excited for Matt and his family to join SVART this season!

Chris Fisher (U12/U14 Coach)

Chris grew up on a horse farm in Indiana, but learned to ski as a toddler on a 75’ tall hill at the back of the farm with an old rope tow his dad purchased at Swiss Valley. His dad taught him how to carefully side step pack the hill after each snowfall in order to make the snow last as long as possible. His earliest resort memories were of the Swiss Valley bunny hill. He remembers vividly the day he graduated to the chair lift and later to “the big mountain” across the giant valley. He later joined the SV JDT during the mid 90s during grade school and his dad drove him 90 minutes one-way to practice twice a week. He started working at Root’s Campn’ Ski Haus (local ski shop) during high school which further fueled his passion for the sport and where he later met his wife Suzie. They both attended Purdue, and are active outdoor adventurers, enjoying hiking, rowing, mountain biking, and skiing. Suzie and Chris and their two sons are in their third season as JDT members.

Mark Grubaugh (U10/U12 Coach)

Mark has over 15 years of experience coaching JDT at Swiss Valley, and is PSIA Level 1 certified. He is passionate about skiing and is always willing to help the team in any way needed. Mark’s years of experience and dedication to the sport make him a crucial member of the team. He can be found teaching our U10-U12 racers with many different drills and games, and the kids really love “coach Mark”. We are so excited to celebrate with Mark this fall as he becomes a grandpa!

Brandon Harris (U10/U12 Coach)

Brandon first started skiing in fourth grade when a friend invited him for a birthday party, and continued to ski as often as possible through childhood. After college, he taught ski lessons at Bittersweet. Once Brandon’s own kids were old enough, he signed them up for JDT and took on an active role as JDT coach. This will be Brandon’s 6th season as a JDT coach, and he has passed his PSIA Level 1 certification.  Brandon truly loves sharing his passion for the sport, and he enjoys seeing the kids progression from year to year while also having fun, making new friends and endless memories. 

Brandon has been extremely fortunate to have visited several resorts throughout the world during his years of skiing, and his favorite resort was Fellhorn – Kanzelwand in Oberstdorf Germany – Bavaria. In addition to skiing, Brandon also enjoys wakesurfing, wakeboarding and generally anything on the water.

Robby Zolman

Robby grew up skiing at Swiss Valley, and met his wife, Becky, at Swiss. They continued the tradition of spending winters at Swiss by getting their 3 kids (as well as nieces and nephews) involved in the JDT program. Although all of his kids have graduated from the program, Robby continues to help the team with teaching ski skills and assisting with course setting.

JDT Lite Coaches

Suzie Fisher (U8/U10 Coach)

S

S

Sam Zolman (U8/U10 Coach)

Sam started skiing at the age of 5 at Crystal Mountain, and started ski racing at the age of 11 with Swiss Valley JDT. This will be Sam’s 5th year coaching for SVART. Sam enjoys skiing in NASTAR races. Having recently graduated High School, Sam is currently working toward EMT certification, with the ultimate goal of becoming a firefighter.

Maley Hanstine (U6/U8 Coach)

Maley grew up skiing at Swiss Valley, and was a member of JDT under the instruction of her dad, Coach Mark Wright. Maley also had the opportunity to race for Three Rivers High School, and she raced USSA, qualifying for Junior Olympics. Maley, her husband, and their three young kids can often be seen skiing at Swiss Valley on the weekends.

Melanie Bugnaski (U6 Coach)

Melanie started skiing in high school, then began snowboarding in college. More recently, she found a passion for teaching beginning skiing and snowboarding lessons. For the past two seasons, Melanie could be found on the hill dual instructing both disciplines. She has a passion for teaching intentional, progressive lessons that allow her students to consistently develop their skills across the season.

Melanie’s love for teaching began in high school when she would mentor early elementary students in an after school reading program. From there, she has had opportunities to teach in Sunday School leadership, teaching photography & yearbook courses, and coaching tball and softball. She also has a passion for working with youth and teens, and has a masters’ degree in counseling. Melanie is a homeschool mom, and stays active year round with yoga, mountain bike riding, and hiking. You’ll find her outside no matter the time of year!

Teen/Assistant Coach

Jill Scupham

Jill started skiing when she was 3 years old. She started  racing for Swiss Valley JDT when she was 7 years old. There she discovered her love for ski racing. Growing up just 30 minutes from the hill, she goes skiing 4 times a week! Jill loves to participate in Wednesday night Nastar and the Edwardsburg Ski Club!  She loves to ski with anyone and everyone! Skiing is her true passion! Joining JDT allowed Jill to make friends who ski and race from all around the mitten. In the off season, Jill likes to participate in: marching band, tennis, and all watersports!