Sugar Bowl Ski Team and Academy's Will Sweetser to coach at the FIS World Junior/U23 Championships

Sugar Bowl Ski Team & Academy's Nordic Program Director Will Sweetser has been selected to serve as a coach for the U.S. Ski Team at the FIS World Junior/U23 Championships in Whistler, British Columbia.

The top 5 ranked U23 men and women, and the top 6 ranked U20 men and women are selected from a combination of FIS World Cup results, FIS points, and the U.S. National Championships. SBSTA Club Nordic athlete J.C. Schoonmaker of Tahoe City automatically qualified from his World Cup results as a member of the U.S. Ski Team.

"I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to work directly with J.C. at a championship-level event," said Sweetser. "In our four years of working together, this will be the first time I have the opportunity to travel with him to a competition."

Sweetser has been named head of kick waxing for the U.S. Team for the event. He will be directly responsible for the team that tests, selects, and applies the wax that provides grip for all classical technique races during the event. He will also serve as Schoonmaker's personal wax technician during the championships.

"It's a tall order to be waxing in Whistler," said Sweetser. "It is one of the most difficult places in the world to produce good classic skis since it is often raining, sleeting, and snowing simultaneously at various points on the course during the same race. But I love a challenge, and California has given me ample opportunity to hone my skills with wet snow."

The FIS World Junior and U23 World Championships run from January 28 through February 4, 2023. Schoonmaker will kick off his championships with the classic sprint on January 29.