XC Oregon coach named Dominica Nordic Ski Team head coach

J.D. Downing, the founder and director of the XC Oregon Nordic ski team in Bend, has been named head coach of the Dominica National Nordic Team that will compete in the Olympics in Sochi.

He’ll coach at least one athlete, Gary di Silvestri, who has qualified for the 15K individual men’s race representing the Caribbean island nation.

Angelica di Silvestri, wife of Gary di Silvestri, also qualified for the women’s 10K in Sochi last weekend. in Maine

The couple has attended XC Oregon camps since 2005 and have been personally coached by Downing since the ’05-’06 winter ski season.