Central Cross Country Skiing (CXC)

Yuriy Gusev

EXECUTIVE AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Executive Director Yuriy Gusev is a passionate cross country skier whose vision has brought vibrancy to CXC programs since its formation in 2005. His leadership has established Central Cross Country Skiing as a proactive regional organization offering cross country and adaptive skiing programs.

Yuriy skied his first Birkie in 2002, motivating him to move to Madison. In 2005 he started the Madison Winter Festival, including the Capitol Sprints races around the State Capitol Building. The festival has attracted thousands to winter recreation since its inception.

Yuriy is a level 200 certified coach with a bachelor's degree in cross country ski coaching and physical education with a minor in sports medicine.

In addition to his role at CXC, Yuriy has served on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Cross Country Sport Committee since 2007 and has been a member of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation since 2012. He also serves on the Madison Nordic Ski Club and National Nordic Foundation boards. Under his leadership, CXC has been frequently recognized by U.S. Ski & Snowboard and U.S. Paralympics.

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Irina Komarova

BUSINESS MANAGER

Irina began her career with CXC as an advisor for the organization's media and design needs. Her role quickly expanded to managing communications, such as member relations, drafting content for mass and social media, and managing all web-based projects.

Irina has an Associate of Science degree from Penn Foster College, where she majored in Internet Technology, Multimedia, and Design.

Irina is a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Level 100 certified volunteer coach. Still, aside from her background in cross country skiing as a facilitator of the sport, she also enjoys playing tennis and has a passion for equestrian sports and Polo.

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Kamilya Omarova

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Kamilya Omarova has joined the CXC team as an operations manager. During her carrier in Kazakhstan Ski Association, Kamilya led the organizational committee of several ski sport events in Almaty, including the FIS Junior World Ski Championships (2015), the FIS World Cup in Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined, and FIS events in Cross-Country Skiing.

Kamilya has a Bachelor's degree in accounting and an MBA Degree in marketing.

Her volunteer experience includes participation in the Olympic Games (2014) as an athlete manager, FIS World Ski Championships (2017) as a team attach, and various events for charity and non-profit organizations.

Besides her volunteer involvement and work in ski sports, she also likes to spend time outdoors hiking and running- she completed Half Marathons in Dallas, TX.

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Jake Stiele

CXC REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COACH

Jake serves as the CXC Regional Development Coach and Marathon Team Coach for Team Birkie, a professional ski team located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Originally hailing from Prior Lake, Minnesota, Jake spent four years living and racing at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth before relocating back to the Twin Cities area. During this time, he also competed as a member of Team Birkie's Marathon Team while maintaining his coaching responsibilities for both adult and junior skiers.

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Gordy Bartholomew

ADAPTIVE PROGRAM COORDINATOR

As the Adaptive Coordinator at CXC, Gordy's role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities. These include:

Cultivating and nurturing partnerships with veterans organizations in Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago regions. Planning, coordinating, and overseeing adaptive Biathlon events tailored specifically for veterans and active military personnel with disabilities. Actively promoting and managing the registration process for these adaptive events. Ensuring the upkeep and maintenance of adaptive Biathlon equipment. Providing assistance in grant writing and reporting efforts to support our adaptive programs. Collaborating and lending a hand with various other CXC programs and events throughout the year.

In this dynamic position, Gordy strives to create inclusive and empowering experiences for veterans and active military members, enabling them to participate in the world of adaptive Biathlon.

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CXC ALUMNI STAFF

Former staff members have been instrumental in carrying out the Vision and Mission established by the CXC Board.

Scott Wilson - Chief of Operations and Adaptive Coordinator

Tim Miner - Executive Director

Martha Heisel - Membership Chair (2000-2005)

Kay Wilson - Bookkeeper (2000-2009) and Membership Chair (2005-2010)

Jerry Wright - Legal Consultant (2000-2005)

Tan Konzen - Logo Designer

Bill Danielson - Web Design (2000-2005)

Tom and Vera Marquardt - Website Managers (2002-2005)

Steve Narveson - Accountant/Bookkeeping (2001-2006)

Bryan Fish - CXC Team Head Coach

Jason Cork - CXC Team Head Coach

Gus Kaeding - CXC Development Coach

Igor Badamshin - CXC Junior Development Coach, CXC Team Head Coach

William Pierce - CXC Junior Development Coach, CXC Team Head Coach

John Brown - Adaptive Program Manager

Jill Prigge - Adaptive Membership Liaison

Justin Easter - Operations Manager

Andrew Poffenberger - CXC Para Nordic Coach

Peter Graves - Creative Writing

Mary Kozloski - Media and Communications Coordinator

Duncan Bathe - CXC Adaptive & Veterans Program Coordinator

Martin Donegan - CXC Para Nordic Coach

Egor Akimov - Sport Development

Andy Keller - CXC Team Head Coach

Karmen Whitham - Development Coach

Eliska Albrigtsen - Community Olympic Development Coach

Tobias Albrigtsen - Media and Sports Coordinator

Krystof Kopal - Operations Manager

Amy Cichanowski - Youth Coordinatore

Bruce Manske - Nordic Rocks Program Director

Chrissy Snider - CXC Club and Membership Communications

T.J. Holsen - Director of Donor Relations

Joe Haggenmiller - Sport Development Director

Marshal Landrum - Adaptive Program Manager & Development Coach

Laura Macfarlane - Nordic Rocks Program Manager

Renae Anderson - Sport Development Manager