Nordic Coaches
shamilton@teamavsc.org
Sophie has been on Nordic skis since she could walk. Growing up in a skiing family in Vermont, she got her start in the Bill Koch Youth Ski League before racing for Dartmouth College and then competing professionally with the U.S. Ski Team and the SMS T2 Team. Over her eight-year professional career, she represented the U.S. in two Olympics and earned ten World Cup podiums. Today, Sophie and her family call the Roaring Fork Valley home. She is passionate about giving as many kids as possible the chance to experience Nordic skiing and supporting athletes to take the sport as far as they can. Sophie is excited to lead the Nordic Program and to build on its strong momentum alongside the dedicated AVSC staff and athletes.
Lina Sutro | Race Team Head Coachlsutro@teamavsc.org
Lina was promoted to Race Team Head Coach in 2025. She is an AVSC alumni who grew up in Carbondale and attended CRMS for one year before heading over to Mora, Sweden, and attending a ski academy there for four years. She raced for the Dala Sports Academy team in Falun, Sweden, for one year after high school. After her stint in Europe, Lina returned back to the U.S. to attend the University of Vermont and skied on their ski team for four years. After that she joined a professional cross-country team, SMST2, team based out of Stratton, VT, and skied for them for three years. She retired from skiing and returned home to join the amazing team of coaches at AVSC!
Nika Meyers | Aspen Lead Devo Coachnmeyers@teamavsc.org
Nika has been coaching nordic skiing with AVSC since 2018. She loves sharing the feeling of flying on snow that Nordic skiing can create with such an enthusiastic group of athletes! She grew up as a four-season athlete competing in x-country, Nordic, Track, and swimming. She raced Nordic skiing from Bill Koch League through high school in Vermont and stayed part of the Nordic community by volunteering at races and working/instructing at ski centers and competing in local races. When she's not at AVSC, you can find Nika in her art studio or out on an outdoor adventure. She has hiked over 11,000+ miles of long distance hiking trails across the United States and has set several Fastest Known Times including the 500 mile long Colorado Trail in 9.5 days. Nika earned her BA from Mount Holyoke College in Art and Environmental Studies.
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Justin Silcox | Spring Gulch Lead Devo Coach jsilcox@teamavsc.org
Justin is returning to AVSC for his sixth winter with the Nordic team. He loves to share his passion for cross country ski racing with the awesome kids of the Roaring Fork Valley and feels fortunate to have the opportunity to do so at Spring Gulch. He has a long history in the sport both as an athlete and a coach; prior to AVSC, he's spent time coaching with clubs across the country including Jackson Hole Ski Club, Bridger Ski Foundation, Mansfield Nordic, and the Boulder Nordic Junior Racing Team. Justin is a USSA Level 200 coach. When he's not at AVSC, you can find Justin teaching science at Glenwood Springs High School or spending time outdoors in the Roaring Fork Valley with his family and friends.