About Us

The OISA (Oregon Interscholastic Snowboard Association) is an organizing body established in 1999 by Bruce Sato and some awesome parents who were looking to give their children an opportunity to compete against each other on an interscholastic level. Over 20 years later we are still going strong and continue to provide an opportunity for competitive high school snowboarding.

The OISA is committed to the development of high school snowboarders of all levels in the state of Oregon (and Southwest Washington). Team development and competitive events work to build individual achievement in an inclusive atmosphere that fosters long lasting bonds with teammates and other competitors. With a dedication to coaching excellence, a focus on safety, and an insistence that everybody has fun, OISA events are a highlight of the winter for many of our student athletes.

Places & Events

Teams closer to Mt Hood compete & practice at Mt Hood Meadows. The Southern Oregon league does everything at Mt Ashland with occasional trips to Mt Bachelor for halfpipe competitions.

Most teams practice one night a week, usually Wednesday or Thursday after school. Teams are run independently so which night and how the rider transportation can vary. Most teams have a bus for practice nights.

OISA athletes compete in Individual Banked Slalom , Boardercross , Slopestyle and Halfpipe events. Comps are the highlight of the season and riders of all skill levels are encouraged to participate.

Amazing Teams

We have many teams dispersed throughout 4 leagues in the state. 3 on Mt Hood: Metro League, Gorge League, Three Rivers League and the Southern League at Mt Ashland. Each league is comprised of 5 to 8 teams. At competitions riders compete individually and the results sorted into Squads of 4 to be ranked interscholastically. At the end of the season in March riders that have qualified.

Interested in competing but your school doesn't have a team already? We have a plan for that, Affiliate Teams. Teams of less than 4 riders can use the resources of a larger team. We have large conglomerate teams in each league that share coaching & busses but on competition days they compete for their own school.

Sweet Prizes

OISA is fortunate to enjoy support from different snowboard manufacturers, shops & camps. As a result every year at the State Finals Awards Ceremony we award several boards, piles of softgoods and a week at High Cascade Snowboard Camp for one lucky qualifier.

Additonally The Shredwell Scholarship is awarded annually to an outgoing senior who qualified for State, as well as the Hiefield Scholarship which helps with pass costs for riders.

Educational Stuff

Our athletes are required to meet all eligibility requirements per the OSAA as a club sport. Like other winter sports we require grade checkss at two points in the season.

OISA Mission Statement

The OISA is committed to the development of high school snowboarders in the state of Oregon, through coaching excellence, individual excellence through team development and competitive events.

--OISA Mission Statement


OISA Executive Board

Who We Are

The OISA Board is comprised of nominated and elected volunteers who feel passionately about snowboarding and the opportunity which we provide for our members. Currently our Board consists of the following members:

Connor Lamb

President

Joined Board: 2022

Connor grew up in Portland and has been snowboarding for nearly 30 years. Connor's son being old enough to strap a board to his feet in 2007 cemented snowboarding and skiing as a seasonal family commitment for the long-run. His daughter switching from skiing to snowboarding as a freshman has ensured he will stay hooked to the program for a few more years. This is his seventh season being involved and/or coaching for Lincoln High School, and first year as OISA President. 


Connor has coached many sports over the last two decades, including youth soccer, football, wrestling, and snowboarding. His coaching philosophy is based on team building and player/participant experience. He believes a foundation of player buy-in to the Team, active and inclusive Team support, and overall positive participant experience are key no matter the sport. As OISA President, Connor looks forward to helping all teams and leagues continue to provide their excellent stewardship of this incredible activity and community. 


When they are not riding snow, you can find Connor and his family chasing down every other board sport they can get their grubby little feet on. From the skatepark to the Pacific Coast of Panama, they enjoy surfing, skateboarding, wakeboarding, and wakesurfing.

Jamie Krueger

Vice President

Joined Board: 2015

Jamie's grandparents met in the '30s riding in the back of an ambulance up Loveland Pass in Colorado and made sure that their children and grandchildren spent as much time on the mountain as possible.

It was on one of those trips in the mid 80s that they paid for a snowboard lesson and rental. After a couple of seasons in Big Bear in the 90s, Jamie moved back to Colorado, then within a couple of years had the opportunity to relocate to Portland for work and has been here since.

Mt Hood & Mt Bachelor provide ample opportunity for progression in various conditions leading to well rounded snowboarders. He's excited to continue working with OISA to develop young men & women into confident riders that find fun in all of the challenges in our 10 month season.

Birte von Kampen-Balderas

Birte von Kampen-

Secretary

Joined Board: 2020

Originally from Germany, Birte started snowboarding at Mt. Hood in the early 90’s, after moving to Portland to attend art school.

Both her kids have been riding since they were young, and have enjoyed the High School Snowboard Team experience.

Her OISA Volunteer Career took off after making coffee runs on competition days.

Besides interning with OISA, I currently manage Lincoln High School SB Team, and act as secretary for Metro League.

When the snow melts, I balance my time between working as a Set Stylist, being a housewife, surfing, hiking, and traveling.


She is happy to help out on the OISA Board to support current and future high school riders.


Kirsten Finstad

Treasurer

Joined Board: 2022

Kirsten grew up on the east coast and didn’t learn to ski until she was in high school on icy slopes with snow machines. Determined to start her kids off skiing really early for a better experience, weekend trips soon became the norm. They moved to the west coast and it wasn’t long before all three kids switched to snowboarding.

They began competing through OISA in 2016 – loved it – and one is still at it. Kirsten has been the Southeast Snowboard Team Advisor in the Metro League for a number of years and has been involved for the past 8 seasons.


Her family has a long history in board sports. Kirsten worked at a surf and skate shop in the 80s and partied with the Bones Brigade! Her kids have continued working at board shops in the PNW, snowboarding, skating and throwing some surfing in the mix.


She is happy to give back to OISA and keep things rolling for high school snowboarders.


Gorge League

Joined Board: 2023

Bill lives in Hood River with his wife of 20 years and two amazing teenage daughters. His daughter is on the Hood River snowboard team.

Bill halfway retired in 2017 when he sold his company in Portland and moved out to the gorge to be closer to the mountain.

He has taught business classes at the local high school after recently finishing his masters degree in teaching. He's snowboarded since 1997 when he first moved to the Portland area. 

Ian Irvine

Metro League

Joined Board: 2023

Ian is from Albany, Oregon and grew up snowboarding on Mt Hood. He got his first snowboard in 1998 — it was a hand me down at a weekend ski gear swap and he has been riding ever since. 

 

Ian has been coaching for Southeast Portland since the 2019/2020 season, served as Head Coach for Metro League since the 2022/2023 season, and is now the Metro League President.


Outside of snowboarding, Ian owns a coffee company in Portland and works as the coffee roaster. He loves all board sports, roasting coffee, and old BMWs. 

Adam Reiss

Southern League

Joined Board: 2018

I have been snowboarding for over 30 years and our entire family snowboards. 

I am president of the OISA Southern League and the Medford Snowboard team.  My wife Dawn and I have 3 children, Lexy who is a junior at Lewis and Clark, Kayla who is a freshman at University of Colorado Boulder, and Deryk a 7th grader at Hedrick middle school. 

The entire family snowboards and in the summer we wake board and wake surf as well.  We have a variety of pets.  I am an avid NY Yankee fan (native New Yorker) and I collect classic cars and motorcycles.

Mike Fuentes

Three Rivers League

Joined Board: 2021

Mike started snowboarding in high school many many years ago and it's been part of his life ever since. Once his 4 children were born he was determined to get them shredding on the hill as well. 

He began volunteering as a parent, became an assistant coach and is now the Lake Oswego head coach and Three Rivers League President. He enjoys teaching beginners to snowboard and cheering on all riders during competitions. When not at the resorts, you’ll likely find him in the backcountry riding snowmobiles getting fresh tracks and avoiding lift lines. 

Off the mountain, he enjoys riding motorcycles, boating, wakesurfing with his family and whipping his kids off the tube. Mike is stoked to be a part of OISA and looks forward to helping young riders learn important skills like leadership and teamwork while honing their skills as snowboarders. 

Trevor Gaul

OISA Head Coach

Joined Board: 2023

Trevor started skiing with his family at a young age, with winter trips to Mammoth Mountain. As soon as he could convince his parents, he switched to snowboarding and didn’t look back. Once old enough to drive, a season pass to Mt. High ensured plenty of days on-hill.

In 2009 Trevor moved to Portland to attend PSU and quickly got involved with The Greasebus, shuttling shredders to and from Mt Hood Meadows. Through The Greasebus he met some OISA coaches and when a spot became available in 2014, he started coaching with then Grant Snowboard Team. Over the years he’s acted as Eastside Snowboard Team Head Coach, Metro League Head Coach, and since 2023 OISA Head Coach. 

When not snowboarding Trevor can regularly be found riding his hardtail mountain bike at Rocky Point, or his dirt jumper at Gateway Green. He owns and operates Abraham Fixes Bikes, a small bicycle service center, where he spends most of his time.

Ben Beavon

Advisory

Joined Board: 2013

Ben grew up in Bozeman, Montana where he coached for 7 years at Bridger Bowl. He moved to Mt. Hood and began coaching with the OISA in the fall of 2009. His winters consist of coaching the Sandy Snowboard Team as well as coaching with Timberline Freestyle and working at the Next Adventure. During the summer months he coaches for Timberline Summer Snow Camps, and fills in the off months doing new and remodel construction work.

Aside from snowboarding, Ben works on old RVs and hits jumps in new ones.

Snowboarding has had a very positive influence on Ben’s life in high school and since. He continues to work with OISA because it is a great way to share the sport and the outdoors with current high school students.