Coaches – Madnorski

All Madnorski ski coaches are members of the US Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) and have completed SafeSport training. Madnorski coaching staff maintains a five to one skier to coach ratio, to ensure the highest level of support for skiers at every level.

Tamara Bryant

Certified as a US Ski & Snowboard Level 100 Coach, Tamara has worked with the Trail Kids and Juniors since 2017 and became the Executive Director of the club in 2021. “The Madnorski ethos encourages all of us to challenge ourselves to reach personal goals, to show up, and to try. I love that as a club we can share the joy of skiing and connect to the outdoors as a community–see you on the trails!”

Jake Eaton

Jake is the Head Coach for the Juniors DEVO program and is in his fourth year coaching with Madnorski. He caught the cross-country skiing bug while in high school in Vermont and has sought out snow ever since. A level 100 USSA certified coach, you can find him rollerskiing around the south side of town in search of smooth pavement. In addition to skiing, he enjoys rock climbing, mountain biking, playing dungeons and dragons, and camping.

Zach LaFond Hudson

Zach is a US Ski & Snowboard Level 100 Coach and is the Head Coach for the Juniors COMP program. He started ski racing as a kid in Wyoming and found his way to skiing in the Midwest through the St Olaf College Ski Team. After racing around the country he washed up on the shores of Lake Superior and spent some time as an assistant coach for the Proctor Hermantown Nordic Ski Team. This is his fourth winter coaching with Madnorski.

Don Fariss

Hard to capsulize 40 yrs of HS coaching & 50 yrs of ski racing…..

1977-82 XC ski instructor
84-87 Rhinelader H.S. Head Coach
90-98 US Junior Nationals Central Region Coach (92-96 Head Coach)
92-2005 Madison Nordic Ski Club Head HS Coach
06-23 Ice Age Assistant Coach
23-24 Madison Nordic Ski Club High School Coach
– US Birkebeiner — Birchleggings Club
– 2013 Coach of the Year, Wisconsing Nordic Ski League

The club is so happy to have Don back coaching with Madnorski!!

Dale Fanney

Inducted into the Wisconsin Nordic Ski League Hall of Fame in 2023, Coach Dale has an impressive coaching and skiing history! He has coached over 25 years including coaching for Madnorski for a handful of years and as Head Coach of Ice Age Nordic for 20 years. Dale currently serves as the President of the Wisconsin Nordic Ski League.For his personal skiing record, he finished the Worldloppet Races in 2025 in Estonia and became a Worldloppet Diplomat. Competed in 5 Masters World Cups and competing in 3 Master World Cup races in Italy in January 2026.

AJ Hemink

Hey everyone! My name is AJ and I’m a senior at UW-Madison. I love all things winter and have been cross country skiing since 6^th grade. I’ve done plenty of races and am a Birkie Classic Elite wave skier. I’m so excited to coach this season! Other ski racing experience: Loppet Nordic ski racing, Midwest Junior National Team for two years, and member of the UW Madison National USCSA team.

Luke Kubasta

Luke is excited to join the team of MadNorSki coaches for the first time in 2025. He comes from a background in competitive running, but picked up skiing while in college at UW and quickly fell in love with pushing limits ski racing, the welcoming ski community, and the joy of gliding on snow all winter. He enjoys all endurance sports and active transportation, the more type-two-fun the better (24 mile round-trip roller ski commute, anyone?). Luke is also an Elite wave Birkie skier!

Sophie LaFond Hudson

Sophie is excited to be coaching for Madnorski for her third year. She grew up chasing friends around on skis in the woods of Duluth, which transitioned to racing with friends on teams from middle school through college at St Olaf. She has previously coached for elementary and high school programs in Minnesota and continues to race a couple times a year. She equally loves of the energy of big ski races and the peacefulness of a quiet ski deep in the woods. Sophie is currently working on her US Ski & Snowboard Level 100 training.

Austin Burley

Austin has been skiing since 2011 and is excited to be returning for his second season coaching with MadNorSki. He first started coaching Nordic skiing back in high school through local KidSki programs and has loved helping athletes build confidence and have fun on snow ever since. In addition to skiing, Austin also coaches with Camp Randall Rowing Club and brings that same energy and focus on teamwork, growth, and a lifelong love for the outdoors. Madnorski is so happy to have Coach Austin coaching again with the team!

Brenda Baker

Brenda Baker, US Ski and Snowboard level 100 certified, has been a life-long skier and silent sport athlete. She has extensive background in childhood development and previous experience coaching youth swimming and soccer. The parent of two skiers, she is thrilled to serve as assistant coach on the Madnorski Junior Team.