Coaches

Sam Marcotte: Simple Snowboarding Founder and President

Canada Snowboard Competition Development Trained
Courses Completed: Certified NCCP A, Certified NCCP B, NCCP Psychology Of Performance, NCCP Prevention and Recovery of Injury, NCCP Leading Drug Free Sport, NCCP Conflict Management

Events coached at:

FIS World Cups, 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 Star TTR World Tour events in multiple countries, Dew Tour, FIS Norams, FIS Continental Cups, New Zealand Winter Games, Ontario Winter Games, Provincial Championships, Numerous Local and International Independent Snowboard Events

Sam has been coaching in Ontario and New Zealand for more than 9 years now. Originally hailing from New Zealand, he has seen Snowboarding undergo an enormous amount of progression since he first strapped into a board in 1998. A former competitive, sponsored snowboarder, his career was cut short by a serious knee injury in 2001. In 2007 he founded Simple Snowboarding with the goal of taking young Ontario Snowboarders all the way to the top, while ensuring they maintain a healthy Snowboarding career and avoid key mistakes in their path. Since 1998 he has racked up more than 22 back-to-back seasons between Canada and New Zealand. Over this time he has gained an enormous amount of insight and skills, that combined have allowed him to develop his own unique technical Snowboarding theories and ideas. He has blended these into a program that has allowed young riders to turn heads everywhere and achieve an enormous amount of success in such a short period of time. He has also helped to develop his own coaches riding ability and seen their progress and achievement both on and off snow translate into their continually progressing coaching ability. Over the last 5 years Sam has created one of the best Snowboard Coaching Programs on offer as well as played a key role in developing some of the best Coaches and up and coming Snowboarders in Canada.

Elliot Catton: Simple Snowboarding Head Coach

Events coached at:

Youth Winter Olympic Games, FIS World Championships, FIS World Cups, 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 Star TTR World Tour events in multiple countries, FIS National Championships, Ontario Winter Games, Provincial Championships, Numerous Local and International Independent Snowboard Events

Hailing from Collingwood Ontario, Elliot grew up Snowboarding around the local hills, quickly turning heads with his natural talent and ability on a snowboard. Elliot was doing Double Wildcats at the age of 16 years old, back before almost anyone was doing them, showcasing his confidence and ability early on.
Elliot joined Simple Snowboarding in the founding year as a Coach and has since progressed both his own personal riding and coaching skills. This, when combined, allowed him to dominate a few years of regional competition before moving his focus fully toward Coaching, with numerous Halfpipe and Slopestyle titles, including being a finalist at the 2011 World Championships in La Molina, Spain and a 2010 You Look Good Pro series tour win. Elliot now spends his time on the snow putting all of his efforts towards helping the next generation of developing Snowboarders. Elliot’s coaching abilities have been recognized by the governing bodies of Canadian Snowboarding, which lead him to be selected to coach the first ever Youth Winter Olympics as the sole Canadian Team Coach. Elliot’s efforts were highly successful, returning with 2 Olympic Gold Medals in Slopestyle, all of his athletes in Halfpipe and Slopestyle made the finals and he also narrowly missed out on a 3rd podium in Halfpipe with one of his athletes missing out by 0.25. Elliot was also the Halfpipe team coach for the province of Ontario at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax. 3 out of 4 Ontario team members were on the podium, bringing home 2 Gold Medals and 1 Bronze for Ontario under his guidance.
Elliot is always pushing team members to find their limits, often stepping up to show them something is do-able and then assisting them with the process. Elliot’s strong solid nature serves as a great influence to the team and inspires confidence in those who ride with him.
Elliot is sponsored by Billabong Outerwear, Smith Optics, and Celsius Boots

Craig Gouweloos: Coach

Canada Snowboard Basic Coach Certified

Courses Completed: Certified NCCP A, Certified NCCP B

Events coached at:

Numerous TTR World Tour 1,2,3 and 4 Star Events, Numerous Local and International Independent Snowboard Events

Craig has the smoothest rail style in Ontario hands down! When combined with his incredibly easy going, mature attitude, Craig is the perfect candidate to help team members develop unique skill sets on a Snowboard while serving as a great role model. Home schooled since a young age, Craig has been able to pursue his talent and love of outdoors both in the winter and summertime. Craig is continually learning and progressing both his coaching skills and his own riding skills, last season his riding level stepped up considerably which was very inspirational to other team members. He earned himself a Best Trick at the Mont Tremblant stop of the You Look Good tour and perfected his backside double cork 1080‘s. He is also a golfer with an extremely low handicap, allowing him to dabble in a few golf competitions over the summer capping up with a tour win.
Craig is sponsored by Forum Snowboards, Special Blend Outerwear and Sabre Goggles.

Kevin Scriver: Grom Coach (coaches team members 12 and under)

Canada Snowboard Basic Coach Certified
Courses Completed: Certified NCCP A, Certified NCCP B

Kevin is an absolute wild man on a snowboard. In 2009 he blew away the rest of the competition while competing in the Quiksilver Downlow event at Louis earning an overall win on the enormous terrain park set up and a ticket to compete in the Showdown Over the City. Kevin has been riding for 12 years and has traveled to resorts in Switzerland and California, as well as across Canada, riding everything from deep powder to steep street rails and massive park booters. He brings all this experience with him to coach for Simple Snowboarding and we are extrememly happy to have him join the line-up.
Kevin is sponsored by Lib Tech Snowboards, Quiksilver Outerwear, Drake Bindings, Northwave Boots and Smith Optics.

Mike Gotuaco: Part time Coach

Canada Snowboard Basic Coach Certified
Courses Completed: Certified NCCP A, Certified NCCP B

Mike is an extremely talented, accomplished and intelligent individual. His enthusiasm for Snowboarding and life in general is highly infectious. A former Junior Worlds Halfpipe competitor for Canada, Mike has been coaching for Simple Snowboarding for two years and is a team favorite. He graduated from Queens University with a degree in Physical Health Education concurrent with Biology and is now studying at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.
Mike will be pouring his educational knowledge and skill sets into Simple Snowboarding’s program part time as he continue’s his studies. Mike is a valuable member of our team helping us deliver the best possible programs on offer in Ontario and enabling us to pursue our goal of producing the best possible programs Worldwide.