Founders

We are a team of passionate dedicated lifelong skiers. We love skiing, racing, riding, and Mammoth Mountain. And we love to share that love and passion with others. Whether you’re new to camp or have been with us since the start, are just learning how to ski or have tales of almost going pro, we’d love to spend a week skiing with you and getting to know you. That’s why we’ve been putting on camp for over 40 years!

Ski, Ride, Race Camp (originally founded as LA Council Ski and Race Camp) started back in 1981 in a joint effort with Mammoth Mountain and the LA Council of Ski Clubs. The camp was designed to provide a week of gate training and/or ski lessons for ski club members at the beginning of each season. The Mammoth Mountain Race Department and Ski School played a major role in making the camp a success. Recreational racing was big in the 80’s and 90’s, and the training Mammoth provided was world class. We had training for all levels of skiers- from novices to elite racers.

Karyn Tablada coordinated the very first LA Council Ski and Race Camp. The next year, John Funtsch and John Catozzi took over the camp, and ran it together for over 25 years along with Christine Starczak, who joined them in 1985. In 2007, Leslie Bivens, John Catozzi’s partner, joined the team when illness forced John Funtsch to scale back his involvement. Sadly, in 2013, John Catozzi passed away suddenly, leaving the camp without its founders.

Today, Ski Ride Race Camp continues more than 30 years on with the same passion and dedication that has driven its success. Christine continues to run the camp with Leslie’s support and the considerable involvement with the team at Mammoth. The camp hasn’t really changed that much since it started. It’s still a great deal, a fantastic way to improve your skiing or riding, with a great team of instructors and the same awesome mountain. And of course, still tons of fun! Come ski or ride with us year and you’ll see why so many of our participants make it an annual event!