Tahoe Donner Downhill Instructor - Jeannie Hentz Jeannie Hentz

How long have you been teaching? I have been teaching since 2003.

When did you start skiing? I started skiing when I was 6 years old (a long time ago).

What is your certification level? I have received my PSIA Alpine, Level 1 certification and Senior Specialist, Level 1 accreditation.

Any specialties? My specialty is to teach older children and adults who are timid or afraid on the slopes.

Favorite activity, besides skiing? I enjoy enjoy pickleball, yoga, tai chi and spinning.

Tahoe Donner Downhill Instructor - Jim Hentz Jim Hentz

How long have you been teaching? I have been teaching since 2003.

When did you start skiing? I have been skiing since 1992.

What is your certification level? I have received my PSIA Alpine, Level 2 certification and Senior Specialist, Level 2 accreditation.

Any specialties? I like teaching students how to ski more efficiently.

Favorite activity, besides skiing? I enjoy golf and open-water swimming.

Tahoe Donner Downhill Instructor - Patricia Nuccio Patricia Nuccio

How long have you been teaching? I started teaching in 1998.

When did you start skiing? I have skied every season since 1966 when I was two years old.

What is your certification level? I have received my PSIA Level 1 Alpine, Level 2 Nordic, and Level 1 Children’s Accreditation.

Any specialties? I specialize in building confidence and skills in all of my students. I have a lot of experience both teaching and skiing so I am safe and challenging.

Favorite activity, besides skiing? My favorite activity besides skiing is horseback riding. I own an Arabian Sport Horse mare. Together we compete in Three Day Events.

Tahoe Donner Downhill Instructor - Molly Springmann Molly Springmann

How long have you been teaching? I started teaching downhill skiing at Tahoe Donner in 2021.

When did you start skiing? I skied for the first time when I was in middle school, living in Racine, Wisconsin. But my “real” skiing started in 2008 when we lived in Redwood City and drove to the Tahoe resorts. Now we live here in Truckee, and I ski regularly with my husband and two sons.

What is your certification level? I received my PSIA Alpine, Level 1 certification in 2022.

Any specialties? I am a mom of two young boys, so I have a lot of practice and patience working with kids. But really, I am happy teaching anyone who is excited to learn and improve their skiing skills.

Favorite activity, besides skiing? Golf. I am a golf instructor at Tahoe Donner Golf Course and played competitively throughout high school and college (Indiana University).

Tahoe Donner Downhill Instructor - Dani Walker Dani Walker

How long have you been teaching? I have been teaching since January of 2022.

When did you start skiing? I started skiing when I was 15 months old at Tahoe Donner.

What is your certification level? I am looking forward to taking my PSIA Alpine Level 1 certification this winter as well as my Children’s Specialist Level 1 certification.

Any specialties? My specialty is teaching young kids how to ski, especially the 3- and 4-year-olds.

Favorite activity, besides skiing? My favorite activity outside of skiing is cross country mountain bike racing as well as cyclocross, short track, and gravel races. I have also participated in soccer, basketball, wrestling, cross country, and track. In the summertime, I enjoy working at the Tahoe Donner Equestrian Center as a pony attendant.

Tahoe Donner Downhill Instructor - Dick Schulze Dick Schulze

How long have you been teaching? I was trained as a snowboard instructor in New Zealand in 2001, and I have been a part-time or full-time instructor ever since.

When did you start skiing? I started skiing in 1987 when my son was 10 years old and wanted to learn to ski. I started snowboarding in 1998, just out of curiosity – I only wanted to try it once, but once was all it took and I was hooked.

What is your certification level? I hold the Level 2 snowboard instructor cert in both the USA and New Zealand. I hold the Level 1 alpine ski instructor cert in the USA and I’m part way through the New Zealand certification process.

Any specialties? I hold the Children’s Specialist rating in New Zealand. I hold the Level 1 Freestyle, Children’s, and Senior ratings in the USA.

Favorite activity, besides skiing? Spending time with the grandkids (ages from 2 to 30). Mentor in SOS Outreach. Long distance motorcycle trips all over North America, Asia, and Oceania. Flying small airplanes. Learning more history. College alumni activities. Running.

Tahoe Donner Downhill Instructor - Jacob Walker Jacob Walker

How long have you been teaching? I have been teaching since 2020.

When did you start skiing? I started skiing at Heavenly when I was only 16 months old. I’ve been skiing here at Tahoe Donner since I was three years old.

What is your certification level? I’m not certified yet, but I’m looking forward to gaining my PSIA Level 1 certification this season.

Any specialties? I’m good at building a student’s confidence while skiing and great with kids!

Favorite activity, besides skiing? I love to go mountain biking and camping. I love cars!

Tahoe Donner Downhill Instructor - Garrett Meade Garrett Meade

How long have you been teaching? I have been teaching since 2015.

When did you start skiing? I started skiing when I was two and snowboarding when I was 10 right here at Tahoe Donner.

What is your certification level? I’m AASI Level 1 certified.

Any specialties? My specialty is teaching kids in all types of weather!

Favorite activity, besides skiing? My favorite activity outside of snowboarding is playing hockey and just enjoying the outdoors.

Tahoe Donner Downhill Instructor - Laurie Johnson Laurie Johnson

How long have you been teaching? Thanks for taking the time to read my profile. As an instructor at Tahoe Donner since the 2010 season, I bring a depth of knowledge, compassion and patience when teaching skiing.

When did you start skiing? I started skiing at 12 years old, originally from Sonoma County, CA. I held a season pass at Palisades Tahoe from 1993-2006 skiing over 100 days a year per season as a youth on the most difficult technical terrain in the Tahoe Sierras.

What is your certification level? I am PSIA certified.

Any specialties? From first time adults and children to more advanced techniques. I will study and watch your movement closely. This analysis of your skiing enables me to tailor your lesson to your specific needs.  Learning to ski correctly can help you avoid injury and strengthen your skiing so you’re confident to ski anywhere.

Favorite activity, besides skiing? When I am not skiing, I am house shopping as a realtor in the Tahoe Sierras since 2002.

Tahoe Donner Downhill Instructor - Victor Pantaleoni Victor Pantaleoni

How long have you been teaching? I have been teaching since 1988.

When did you start skiing? I started late when I was 17.

What is your certification level? I’m PSIA Level 2 certified.

Any specialties? I have my Children’s Specialist Level 1 and my Senior Specialist Level 1.

Favorite activity, besides skiing? I enjoy spending time with family and volunteering with the Boy Scouts.

Tahoe Donner Downhill Instructor - Scott King Scott King

How long have you been teaching? I started teaching downhill skiing in 2022.

When did you start skiing? I started at age 12.

What is your certification level? I’m PSIA Level 1 certified.

Any specialties? I like to make it fun for everyone while learning. 😊

Favorite activity, besides skiing? I enjoy hiking, backpacking, and mountain climbing.

Tahoe Donner Downhill Instructor - Vince Schiavo Vince Schiavo

How long have you been teaching? I have been teaching since 2017.

When did you start skiing? I started skiing at age 10, mostly in Austria and Switzerland while growing up in southern Bavaria.

What is your certification level? I’m not certified yet, but I love teaching.

Any specialties? I am quite proficient in teaching first-time beginners as well as more experienced skiers looking to improve their form, technique and confidence. I’m particularly adept at teaching people how to transition from pizza/wedge turns to parallel turns and carved turns.

Favorite activity, besides skiing? I enjoy biking, hiking, and fly fishing and work as a mountain bike guide during summer months in Tahoe Donner.