Competitive drive fuels Pack leader, new coach
Nevada skier Greg Berger-Sabbatel was surprised last year when he lost a race to Western State College coach Evan Weiss, but he was even more surprised when Weiss was hired as his new head coach less than a year later.
The Nevada athletic department hired Weiss in March as its new Alpine Ski coach, five months after he beat Berger-Sabbatel in Utah.
“I couldn’t understand how I could lose to a coach,” Berger-Sabbatel said of his loss. “Coaches aren’t supposed to be in the same physical shape as the competitors.”
Weiss beat Berger-Sabbatel at the Western Regional Tech series in Park City, Utah in October 2007.
“People were joking about it, but I don’t think they were too surprised,” Weiss said. “Everyone was aware of my background.”
Weiss competed seven years on the United States Ski Team, starting on the Development Team and building his way up to the Europa Team. He also led Dartmouth in 2006-07 to its first team championship in 31 years, as a silver medal winner in the giant slalom.
Berger-Sabbatel’s loss to Weiss was tough for him because he isn’t used to losing. Berger-Sabbatel trained with the French national team before coming to Nevada. He took three years off after high school and skied as much as possible in the French Alpine Mountains.
“I would even ski in the summer,” Berger-Sabbatel said.
Fast-forward to 2008.
Berger-Sabbatel now competes against Weiss on a daily basis.
“The player-to-coach transition has been fairly smooth,” Weiss said. “Once you are on the field and no longer competing, having to step aside and let the guys and women do the competition, its different. Once I let them go there is nothing I can do, but sit back watch and enjoy.”
Weiss’ desire to compete is displayed in his coaching techniques.
“He is a different kind of coach,” said Berger-Sabbatel, who placed ninth in the 2008 NCAA Men’s Slalom championships. Nevada finished ninth as a team at the championships.
“(Weiss) is not going to sit back and tell you how to train. He trains with us. He is very active.”
Weiss lifts, trains and skis with his team.
“I tell (Weiss) to slow down because I think he will beat me again,” Sabbatel said. “I will say, ‘Coach, you don’t have to do that. You can slow down and take it easy,’ but he doesn’t.”
Competition fuels Nevada’s skier and coach to levels of success not often reached.
Weiss won bronze at the 2005 US National Team Championships. He also finished fourth in the giant slalom at the 2006 North American Cup.
Weiss, the Seattle, Wash. native, also said he would not hesitate to strap on the skies and race against Sabbatel again.
“If the situation presents itself I would love to go up against him again and give him a run for his money,” Weiss said.
Emerson Marcus can be reached at emarcus@nevadasagebrush.com.
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