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 Lester moved to Boulder in 2004 and became the BCSM Coaching Specialist in January of 2005. A native of Canada, Lester moved to the US in 1999 to work with the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics as the Chief of Competition for Speed Skating and as the Sport Program Manager for the Olympic Speed Skating Oval. Prior to working for the Salt Lake Olympic Committee, Lester was the New Zealand National Team Coach in Speed Skating and Short Track Speed Skating, and was New Zealand’s Team Leader and Coach for the 1998 Winter Olympic Speed Skating Team. Continuing with the down under connection, Lester was the off-water Strength and Conditioning Coach for the New Zealand Paralympic Sailing team that competed in Atlanta in 1996, and worked closely with many of New Zealand’s elite endurance athletes at the Sport Lab at the University of Canterbury. Youth Sport Development is a passion for Lester. Lester has been employed in sport development programs in three countries, with outstanding success. Over a dozen athletes that Lester recruited and coached have competed for their country in a multitude of sports including: cycling, speed skating, short track speed skating, orienteering and white water canoeing. As an athlete Lester focused on speed skating, particularly the long distance events, and was able to qualify for three Olympic Games, in four distances. In 1997, during a break from standard “Olympic Style” speed skating, Lester qualified as an 'A' Ice Marathon Racer in the Dutch Ice Marathon Circuit, competing with success in races from 25-100km in length. Since trying to retire from competitive sport in 1998 Lester has been involved in a number of cycling events, including track, road and mountain, most recently in the Trans Alps Challenge Mountain Bike Stage Race. Lester can now be found happily in the Back Country: Telemark skiing and mountain biking or pursuing his other passion, photography. Education: - Bachelor of Physical Education, 1994, University of Calgary
- National Coaching Institute of Canada, Calgary 1998-99
Certified coach in the following sports: - Triathlon, Cycling, Hockey, Speed Skating
- Soccer Level 3 equivalent (Canada)
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