Finn Christian Jagge, 1992 Olympic slalom champion, to coach at Sugar Bowl

Finn Christian Jagge, 1992 Olympic slalom champion, to coach at Sugar Bowl{mosimage}Finn Christian Jagge, the 1992 Olympic slalom gold medalist from Norway, has accepted a position as head coach for the Sugar Bowl Ski Team and Academy.

After two years as the men’s head coach at Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont (one of the most prestigious college preparatory, ski racing schools in the country), the seven-time World Cup winner is elated to be heading West with his wife and two children.

‘I am impressed with what I have learned about the Sugar Bowl program and my family and I are excited about moving to California and becoming part of the Sugar Bowl and Truckee community’ says Jagge.

‘With 18 World Cup podium finishes and 17 years on the Norwegian national team, Finn obviously knows his skiing, but his communication skills, determination and strength of character are what really make him a great coach’ says Bill Hudson, executive director of the Sugar Bowl Ski Team Foundation. ‘Finn’s presence is certainly a fantastic opportunity for our elite skiers (he will be working primarily with boys age 15 and up this season), but I am sure that the entire coaching staff and all of the rest of the team will gain from his knowledge as well’ adds Hudson.

In addition to his on the hill duties Jagge will create development goals for each team level, oversee staff development, and assist with recruiting.

Jagge will be an addition to an already greatly respected staff at Sugar Bowl that coached their athletes to top results this season. Bryan Walker led his J3 team (13 and 14 years of age) to three gold medals at the Junior Olympics. Veteran coach, Hermann Gollner’s elite women boast four out of the top five best slalom rankings in the Far West Division. And head junior coach and former NCAA all-American, Jim Hudson, and his coaches have developed that program into one of the west’s most respected junior ski teams.

Jagge and his family will be moving to the Sugar Bowl area in mid-July and he will begin working with the team soon afterwards at summer ski camps in Mt. Hood, Oregon. These camps are open to non Sugar Bowl Ski Team members. Call 530-426-6771 for information.

The Sugar Bowl Academy was recently accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Founded in 1999, the Sugar Bowl Academy compliments the Sugar Bowl Ski Team. Over 300 athletes participate in the various Sugar Bowl Ski Team programs.