Advisory Board
The BBNT Advisory Board helps govern the decisions and direction of the team. The board is made up of team parents and members of the community with a vested interest in cross country skiing. The board is engaged with the program and they volunteer many hours throughout the year - putting on events, leading fundraising efforts, and ensuring the athletes are able to ski to their fullest potential. The team would not be possible without their dedication.
Interested in joining or have a question? Get in touch by emailing board@bbnt.ski
I learned to Nordic ski at Bogus Basin after my daughter became hooked on BBNT. As a lifelong snowboarder I am terrified of two independent feet pointing downhill but I keep trying because the community is so great. I am excited to serve on the board and see the program grow.
Todd Otanicar
Board Chairman
I moved to Boise with my husband Kurt Nilsson in 2003. I have two kids on BBNT—both started when they were in junior high. I grew up a reluctant Nordic skier on the golf courses in Salt Lake— I much preferred downhill skiing. I took up Nordic skiing in earnest when we moved to Boise—starting with lessons at Bogus and once I quit working full time was able to join vertigals (now BBNT adult Nordic).
Elsa Lee
Interim Board Chairman
I grew up in Boise and started Nordic skiing in the early 80’s at Bogus with my mom. A few years later, I started mowing yards in the summer to save enough money to buy lift tickets and alpine gear for the winter. After many years of alpine skiing, I got back into Nordic. My daughter joined BBNT in the 7th grade, and I have enjoyed watching her grow with the club ever since. It is a fantastic organization with a great mission.
Andy Hoobing
Vice Chairman
I learned to Nordic ski in West Virginia in the 90’s. We used to drive 3 hours from Virginia to ski singletrack and groomers, then turn around and drive home the same night. Fast forward a few years, my husband and I landed in Boise for work and fell in love with the community and the access to outdoor recreation. Our children were Nordic skiing before they could walk, riding along in the trailer, now they’re both BBNT skiers. We love being a part of the BBNT team in various capacities, and I’m honored to be a member of the board.
Erin Hurley
Secretary
I wanted to join the Advisory Board of BBNT to give back to the organization that did so much for my kids. The BBNT experience taught them goal setting, perseverance and resilience when things didn't go as planned, along with more mundane skills like how to cook on team trips! I was a competitive athlete at the collegiate and national level in the sport of rowing, many many years ago, and enjoyed coaching high-school aged athletes for several years. Now, I am an adaptive Nordic skier and look forward to adding my voice and belief in the benefits of a lifelong commitment to health and well-being through sports participation to BBNT.
Sarah Pedersen
Treasurer
Wilson Dippo first joined BBNT in the Fall of 2013 as an assistant coach. After coaching for a year in Tahoe, Ca. Wilson returned to BBNT in 2015 to take over as head coach/ program director - a role he held through 2019. Wilson is now coaching Para Nordic Skiing through the Challenged Athletes Foundation, coaches the Youth Rec Program, and helps out from time-to-time on BBNT Race Trips and Camps. Wilson joined the BBNT board in 2022.
Wilson Dippo
After learning to Nordic ski at Galena, I have been seeking snow since moving to Idaho over 20 years ago. I come to the board as both a participant of the BBNT adult program and as a parent of Devo and Youth Rec athletes. I enjoy our Nordic ski community and am eager to be a part of this exciting time for BBNT.
Gretchen Hurlbutt
My family and I moved to Boise a few years ago after living by the ocean for 20 years. We were ready for a life change and wanted to be near mountains and skiing. We saw an interview about Biathlete and decided right then, we wanted to be a part of it. We had been shooting for years, but Nordic skiing was new to us. We jumped all in and love it! We have plans to be a part of BBNT for many years to come. I have not had this much fun being a part of this wonderful Nordic community ever. I look forward to helping BBNT from my experience as a CPA, a team member, a parent, or a volunteer.
Shantel Eilenfield
Amelia began volunteering as a coach with the BBNT Devo team in the summer of 2021 and has been a member of the coaching staff ever since. Her passion for mentoring young athletes has led her to take on a larger role within the organization, and she’s excited to serve as a new member of the board this year. When she’s not coaching, Amelia works as a food scientist for Horizon Organic Dairy and can often be found racing bikes in her spare time.