Instructors
Maciej Mamon, Executive Director
Maciej started sailing when he was nine with sea scouts in northern Ontario, Canada. Soon after he started instructing and sailing keelboats on Lake Ontario. He has coached in Hyannis Port MA, Port Washington NY, Portland ME, and at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club in Toronto. Maciej spent four years racing in the MAISA circuit for Queen’s University, has worked as a sail maker for North Sails, did an Atlantic crossing and spent the last 3 years cruising around Miami and the Caribbean with his wife and son.
Maciej moved to UT last summer while his wife is completing a fellowship at the U. He’s remembering how to ski and enjoying hiking. Maciej is looking forward to being part of a sailing program again and helping to implement STEM.
Karsten Gilwald, Head Instructor
Karsten has been sailing since he was 7 at the Rochester Yacht Club in New York. He sailed opti’s for 5 years at the club. Karsten competed on the opti race team for 2 years and traveled all around Lake Ontario competing in many regattas including the Jr. Olympics where he took 3rd place. After opti’s, Karsten moved up to the 420 class and has now been sailing lasers for the past 6 years.
Karsten regularly races in the PC Sailing Tuesday night series. In addition to sailing, Karsten has also competed in luge and currently is on the track & field team for Westminster College where he is studying public health..
See ya on the water!
Karsten has been with the Jr. Sailing program since the first summer and is excited to be the head instructor this year.
Michele Palmieri, Instructor
Michele learned how to sail when she was 10 years old at Waukegan Yacht club near Chicago, Illinois. She has experience sailing prams, opti’s, lasers, and 420′s and was involved in many regattas during the summers.
Recently graduated from the University of Utah, Michele studied Marketing and Communications and is looking to find a career in Sports Marketing or Event Planning. In addition to great sailing skills, Michele is also a certified lifeguard & swim instructor. Michele is thankful to be to be involved in the PCSA Jr. Sailing Program and looks forward to another amazing summer!
Sam Hagan, Instructor
Sam is a freshman at the University of Wisconsin studying environmental studies and computer science. Originally from the East Coast, Sam worked at Greenwich Community Sailing as a sailing instructor in Greenwich, Connecticut for the past three years. Sam has experience teaching kids of all different skill levels and is certified as a level one instructor by US Sailing. Sam’s family recently moved to Salt Lake City (Sam’s father, Tom, has been helping with the race committee for the laser racing).
In addition to sailing, Sam has competed in crew – attending three Head of the Charles rowing events as well as participated in various choir and A Capella singing groups in high school.
Alex Bunt, Optimist Instructor
Alex grew up in New Jersey where he learned to sail the Optimist at his local junior program. Realizing he had a passion for the sport, Alex began competitively racing the Optimist. While always having fun, Alex’s success in the Optimist allowed him the opportunity to race all over the world, gain invaluable life experiences and make long lasting friendships. In 2002, he won the USODA National Championships. Alex continued his passion for sailing by competing in the Club 420, Laser Radial and at the collegiate level.
Alex has been coaching sailing since 2006. He was head Optimist racing coach for California Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey, CA. While attending the University of California Santa Cruz, he worked as an Optimist racing coach for The San Francisco Yacht Club.
Alex is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of Utah in exercise physiology. He is also a strength and conditioning intern with the US Ski and Snowboard Association, working at the Center of Excellence in Park City helping to train Olympic athletes.
