Birgmann, has a background with the powerful Austrian ski team. He is a full certified Race Coach and Ski Instructor from three different countries and has high expectations for the TCRA. A second-year Director for the TCRA, the 47-year-old Austrian has implemented an innovative program, which is posting big results. After his previous coaching job in Europe, Birgmann went on to coach in the USA Far West Division with KSEF. The past four seasons, Birgmann has been the Head Coach for KSEF and worked part time with the Austrian Men’s World Cup teams.

Originally from the Salzburg region, the 47-year-old Birgmann claims independence, Wanaka as his hometown, and he is a 1982 graduate of University of Sports (BAFL Innsbruck). Birgmann spent one season coaching at the University of Graz, culminating a scholarship for developing alpine skiing techniques. Birgmann works with various elite athletes throughout the year independently to help them reaching there full potential.

Brugger, enters his sixth year with TCI after being named Ski School Director in his hometown of Neukirchen/a.G. in Austria two years ago. Brugger has led the Race Department during each of the last three winters in TC and has excelled Race events in Treble Cone to a new level. For his efforts in the last five seasons, Brugger was named the TCRA Coordinator and Race Department Director by both Birgmann and the TCI Management. Brugger has coached in Austria, Island and New Zealand and is full certified Race Coach and Ski Instructor.

Brugger finished his apprenticeship with the Austrian World Cup Team two years ago. Last winter Brugger completed his certification in Back Country ski guiding to add to his well-rounded experience and expertise.

Mair, who was born and raised in the heart of the European Alps in Schruns, which lies on the border of Austria and Switzerland, graduated from the University of Vienna with a Masters in Sports and Mathematics. Mair is approaching modern skiing technique in a new way and has developed a unique and extremely successful teaching path.

As a fully certified Ski Coach and Ski Instructor he went into the Filming business and made his first instructional ski Movie on DVD. He chose Mammoth Mountain/CA as his Film location where he has worked and coached since 2001. TCRA Athletes will have the exciting opportunity to work with Mair in one-to-one sessions to improve their basic fundamentals in skiing during free-skiing and drill training sessions.

Payne is entering his third year with TCRA and brings tremendous experience and ability to the TCRA coaching staff. Not only is Payne a 16 year veteran of ski coaching, he has been around in the sport since the young age of three. Working for the Kirkwood Ski Education as Assistant Head Coach with Birgmann the TCRA Director has encouraged Mark to set up Camp in New Zealand again.

He will be leading a delegation of more than 15 Athletes from Kirkwood and the Tahoe region to Treble Cone. Payne will stay during the three week ENL Camp with this group of Athletes and will then escort them back to the US were he will be busy organizing the KSEF program for their winter. Kirkwood will be the hosting northern hemisphere program for the TCRA Athletes.

Schachinger is a 24 year old dual instructor (Ski and Snowboard) from famous Austrian Gastein Valley. After two seasons in the Treble Cone Snow Sports School and the Treble Cone Race Department he is going to be a full time member of this year's TCRA Coaching Team. Schachinger brings along some 10 seasons of experience with teaching and coaching in Austria, New Zealand and the U.S.A.

His passion about skiing and his pursiut of perfection of skiing skills will take our young athletes to a new level of ski racing. Schachinger is aiming for the highest level of qualification in Austrian ski teaching/coaching.

Asoian is from Vail, Colorado where he grew up ski racing and mountain bike racing. He raced for Ski Club Vail from 1991 through 2000, during which time he fell in love with all that racing offers. After finishing his ski racing career Nick moved to Boulder, Colorado and attended the University of Colorado where he studied Political Science.

Nick coached as a weekend J5 and development coach for three seasons while at school and has just finished his first year as a full time assistant men's FIS coach for his old race team, Ski Club Vail. Nick remembers the amount of friendship and guidance that he received from his favorite coaches and hopes to continue in helping today's FIS racers achieve their goals. He is very excited to be able to have the chance to work with such a great group of people at the TCRA this year and can't wait to have a great season. Outside of skiing Nick also he loves Formula 1 and is always ready to watch a race or talk to anyone else that enjoys motor racing.

Rienaecker graduated in 2006 from the Technical University of Munich with a Degree in Sport Science specialized in competitive sports and alpine skiing. During her studies she worked as a student assistant and had among other projects a coaching job with the German Paralympics Ski Team. Since 2005 she has lived in Aspen, CO, USA and New Zealand and has worked as a race coach and ski instructor. Last year she finished her ski instructor education and is now a fully certified ski instructor.

She started coaching when she was 17 at her local ski club and has coached since then different levels, age groups as well as adaptive and able-body racers.

Mullens is from the influential sporting nation of Australia and is new to TCRA this season. He will be involved in coaching the FIS groups and as a Strength & Conditioning coach. He has extensive coaching experience in both skiing and strength and Conditioning, having coached at numerous levels in both the southern and northern hemispheres over the last 7 years. More recently Rhys has been working under Guenther Birgmann at KSEF as the lead J3 and J2 coach and for the ACT Academy of sport in Australia as a Strength & Conditioning coach.

Rhys holds a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with majors in Sport Science and Coaching Science. Along with his degree Rhys is a qualified strength and Conditioning coach (ASCA) and sports trainer (Sports Medicine Australia). Rhys also holds his level 3 certification through the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation and the Canadian Coaching Council.

Forster is a 23 year old dual instructor (Ski and Snowboard) from famous Austrian Kleinarl Valley. He had his first season at Trable Cone in 2006. This year he has been moved from the Treble Cone Snow Sport School to the TCRA and will be responsible for training set up, race lane safety, snow performance, timing for training and races and equipment maintenance.

Forster has several seasons of experience in ski racing through working for the local ski club of Kleinarl. Two years ago he was appointed in the position of chief operating ski instructor in his Austrian ski school.

Touchett is returning for her second year as the TCRA’s Race Administrator. Born and raised in Wisconsin, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BS in Interior Design and Architecture. Touchett, now 26, began skiing when she was 3 years old in the Midwest and began snowboarding when she was 16.

Because of her passion for snow sports, she moved to the Tahoe area 4 years ago. She has been working as the Chief Timer and as part of the race crew for the Heavenly Race Department for the past three seasons. Although Megan will not be in New Zealand this year, she is excited to remain an important part of the TCRA team.

Newton is returning to the TCRA for a second season moving from course maintenance into more of an administrative role. Tyler grew up in the Roaring Fork Valley were he started skiing at 9 and switched to telemarking at 18. While attending Colorado State University he continued to telemark and kayak while getting his BA in Economics.

At 24 he has worked for the Snowmass Race department the last six seasons working races at every level from nastar to the Women's World Cup. His love of adventure/travel brought him to Wanaka where he worked last year as a timing tech. for TCRA and for the events department at Cardrona. This year Tyler will be the lead timer and will coordinate TCRA logistics both on mountain and off.

Heinen As the new accommodation manager I will be responsible for all catering and lodging matters at the two TCRA lodges. This winter is going to be my fourth season in New Zealand and my third term working for Treble Cone. Originally from Cologne, Germany, I now divide my time between Wanaka and my Northern winter home, Hippach, Zillertal (Austria), where I am employed as a ski instructor.

After graduating with a Masters degree in History and North American studies from the Free University of Berlin in 2004, I briefly worked as an event manager for the Cologne Trade Fair. I did not ski very often before I was given the opportunity to train with the Northwood School Alpine ski team (Lake Placid/USA) in 1995/96.

Despite the obvious lack of technical skills I had a lot of fun going downhill fast. Besides skiing I very much love travelling, cycling, running, being outdoors, having barbeques, drinking coffee in copious amounts and listening to music.