Our Coaches

SVR is exceptionally proud of our coaching staff. Year after year, our club attracts and retains some of the best coaches in the province. A majority of our coaching staff are former Snow Valley Racing athletes and have represented SVR at various competitions throughout Alberta and Western Canada. As SVR alumni, our coaches have a unique love and passion for our organization. 

The Snow Valley Racing program director oversees the operations of the organization. We are excited that Chad Mansell will be returning to SVR for the upcoming 24/25 season. This will be Chad’s fourth term serving as Snow Valley Racing’s program director, and he brings over 27 years of experience to the role. He has worked with athletes of all ages (from Entry Level to FIS) as a Certified Performance Level Coach.

Chad is also an ACA Facilitator and Evaluator for Entry Level and Development Level Coaching Courses. He has a strong history of working with successful athletes at all levels and abilities and is passionate about helping young coaches develop into knowledgeable professionals. 

When he’s not in the race office, Chad loves archery, hunting, waterskiing, and spending time with his family (Margaret, Ivan, Milo, and Goose). Chad’s two boys ski race in the SVR Entry Level Program, and you can usually find him outside in the mountains, on a lake with his family or in a forest somewhere.

Britt is a Development Level Certified and Performance Level Trained Coach with over eleven years of experience. Before her coaching career, Britt raced as an SVR athlete from Entry Level to FIS. 

Britt is passionate about providing a high-quality race environment that empowers athletes to strive for excellence. She believes in fostering a culture of hard work and dedication while maintaining a supportive atmosphere where athletes can compete to the best of their ability and thrive. More importantly, she believes that gates come out of the ground and powder skis go on when there is 15+ cm of snow.

When she isn’t skiing, Britt can be found on the side of a mountain. She loves to rock climb, mountain bike, and backpack during the summer months with her dog Bandit (but you'll usually find her counting down the days until winter starts again).

We welcome Gabriella and Ben Holzer as our new Entry Level and U12 Head Coaches for the 2024/25 season. The Holzer family has a long line of SVR alumni and a special passion for our ski racing community. Gabi and Ben both raced with the club for 13 years prior to beginning their coaching careers. 

Gabriella Holzer 

Gabi is a Development Level Certified coach, and will be returning to SVR this year for her sixth season of coaching. Growing up as an athlete, racing deepened her appreciation of skiing, instilled a strong work ethic, and provided her with countless memories. Now as a coach, Gabi passes on her love of the sport to her athletes by encouraging them to work hard, ski fast, and have fun! 

Outside of coaching, Gabi attends the University of Alberta and is working to complete a kinesiology degree. She intends to pursue a career in athletic or physical therapy, with the goal to one day work with professional athletes. When Gabi isn't off skiing or studying, you can find her hanging out with her dog Bo while watching sports (especially hockey, Go Oilers)! 

Ben Holzer

Ben is a Development Level Trained coach embarking on his fourth season with SVR. He has coached athletes from Dream Team to the U12 level. Ben has been racing and coaching his entire life, which really makes Snow Valley Racing his second home.

Ben is dedicated to passing on his love for ski racing to his athletes by emphasizing hard work and empowering them to build confidence on the snow. His aim is not only to develop exceptional skiers, but also to inspire a lifelong passion for skiing in his athletes. 

In addition to coaching, Ben is studying kinesiology at the University of Alberta with plans to pursue occupational therapy. His strong athletic background includes a career in football, basketball, and volleyball, reflecting his deep-seated passion for sports and competition. When he's not on the slopes, Ben enjoys watching sports, attending concerts, and seeking out the best views during his travels.