BC Summer Games Coaches

HCBC would like to acknowledge the outstanding coaches helping our BC Summer Games Athletes in Maple Ridge. Meet them here:

Head Coach, Dressage: Burgi Rommel

My name is Burgi Rommel. I am an Equestrian Canada Certified Judge and Coach. I grew up in Germany and started my Dressage Journey there. After immigrating to Canada in 1975 , I started a wonderful, fulfilling career with horses. I was lucky to apprentice under some of the best in the late 1970s, early 1980s and together with my partner at the time we formed Sonburst Riding School in 1986 in South Surrey. The school was based on the Learn to Ride Program I started in as a child in Germany and introduced many Youths to horses and Dressage.  I am proud to say that many of those students are now competing at the Highest level of Equestrian Sport and many are Professionals in the Horse Industry throughout Canada and the US.

In my own Dressage journey, I brought numerous horses to the Prix St George level under the tutelage of some wonderful mentors. I stopped riding competitively in 2010 and am enjoying a judging and teaching path now that enables me to travel and share my love for horses and Dressage throughout our province. After judging the B.C. Summer Games in 2023, I am excited to be Head Coach this year and connect with the young Dressage Riders that will be the Future of our Sport. See you at the Games!

Assistant Coach: Chelsea Froese

Eventing: Lisa Schutlz

Lisa Schultz has been in the equestrian industry for over 20 years. She started in Pony Club, achieving her “A” Level, then becoming certified as an Equine Canada competition coach since 2010. Now running a busy training center in Langley, BC. She has competed up to the International level in eventing (Intermediate and 2*) and has successfully brought up many different types of horses and riders through the levels.  She also enjoys competing and coaching in all English disciplines including dressage (4^th level), hunter/jumpers, working equitation and starting young or difficult horses. The knowledge she brings from specialized disciplines has allowed her to be successful in her favourite sport, eventing, including winning at the intermediate level in Washington and winning at prelim in California plus many top placings around Washington, BC, Montana and even Ottawa!

Lisa is an avid evaluator for the Equine Canada Rider Levels. Lisa also mentors’ students pursuing their coaching certifications. Mentors high school students at the Langley Equestrian Academy and travels around with youth teams. She coached the Canadian Pony Club Team in New Zealand 2023, as well as every winter she Chaperones the selected Canadian youth team to travel to Wellington Florida for the Jill Irving youth mentorship program, 12 Canadian youth are selected and 6 young riders from the Netherlands. Lisa was an assistant coach at the 2018 BC Summer games in Cowichan Valley. As well as competing in the Canadian Inter-Pacific Equestrian Championships receiving the individual gold medal and team silver in Quebec.

Assistant Coach: Melissa Reimche

Jumping: Danalynn Rooks

As the Head Coach and owner of Maple Meadow’s Equestrian, Danalynn’s expertise lies in the competition ring and caters to the serious intermediate and advanced level riders who want a solid sport program. Danalynn is also an EC recognized hunter/jumper/equitation judge (recorded status) and has her HCBC card for hunters, jumpers, and course design. Danalynn has fostered the development of National level junior riders and is one of today’s leading Equitation coaches.

Assistant Coach: Gethin Mayo

Para Dressage: Ashley Sudds

Ashley is from Kamloops and is the Executive Director for Kamloops Therapeutic Riding Association. She first started teaching at Pacific Riding For Developing Abilities in Langley.  Ashley started riding when she was 13 years old, her favorite discipline is Dressage. Ashley is a certified CTRBI CanTRA Basic Instructor and certified PATH Intl. Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor. Along with her Therapeutic Riding certifications Ashley is a Licensed Coach through Equestrian Canada. Ashley’s passion in therapeutic riding is helping riders towards competing in the Equestrian Canada Video Competitions. Her favorite part about teaching is seeing the smiles on her riders’ faces when they accomplish even the smallest goal. Ashley is really looking forward to being part of the team again at the 2024 BC Summer Games and wishes all the competitors to have lots of fun and keep smiling!

Assistant Coach: Alyssa Bigiolli

Vaulting: Korynn Weber

Korynn has been involved in the sport of vaulting as an athlete since 2004, and has worked her way through the Provincial, National, and International levels as a vaulter, coach, lunger, and horse trainer. Her career as a competitive athlete peaked at the 2018 World Equestrian Games where she competed as a vaulter on the Canadian squad, and as a lunger for the Canadian and Australian Equestrian Teams. Since then she has been a very active coach for all levels of athletes at both West Coast Vaulters in Qualicum Beach, and Koot-Neigh Vaulters in Nelson. In 2023 she was the National Trainer for the FEI World Junior Vaulting Championships in Flyinge, Sweden, where she had two athletes competing.

Korynn is a huge proponent for the BC Summer Games, after having competed at them herself in 2010. She was the vaulting discipline coach at the 2022 Games in Prince George, and is excited to be returning again for the 2024 Games in Maple Ridge.

Assistant Coach: Katie Foss