Meet Our Team Members
Rob Thompson
Founder
& CEO
Rob brings over 25 years of leadership experience in product development and manufacturing to SnoYak. As Founder and CEO, he drives the company's vision of creating innovative snow sports gear while overseeing everything from product design to partnerships.
Before founding SnoYak, Rob served as President of a school and art supply manufacturer, where he honed his expertise in product development, marketing, and international sourcing. His
diverse experience give him a unique perspective on bringing high-quality outdoor products from concept to market.
When Rob isn't perfecting the next SnoYak innovation, you'll find him mountain biking in the mountains of western Maine or traveling to cool outdoor destinations with his wife. He's a devoted jam band enthusiast who does some of his best work while listening to long improvisational jams.
Tom Damon
Director of Operations
& Manufacturing
Tom brings over 20 years of manufacturing and adaptive sports experience to SnoYak's operations. As Director of Operations & Manufacturing, he oversees production quality and ensures every piece of equipment meets the standards of someone who depends on it daily—because Tom is both builder and user.
A true Mainer who spent years as a lobsterman, Tom honed his stand-up skiing skills at Carrabassett Valley Academy before a car crash that resulted in a spinal cord injury that led him to sit skiing. He became a sit ski instructor and equipment manager at Maine Adaptive, where he spent two decades helping others discover the freedom of adaptive winter sports. His carpentry background and hands-on manufacturing expertise make him uniquely qualified to build
equipment that performs in real-world conditions.
When Tom isn't in the shop perfecting SnoYak's manufacturing processes, you'll find him pursuing his passion for archery. His commitment to quality comes from understanding exactly what's at stake when equipment needs to perform flawlessly on the mountain.
Trace Robertson
Director of Veterans Sales & Outreach
Trace has been chasing downhill speed since age 3, when his father entered him in his first race and pointed him down the mountain. That passion earned him a ski racing scholarship to Kent's Hill School and kept him on the slopes until he joined the United States Navy in 1986, where he served for 10 years and traveled the world approximately eight times over.
After his military service, Trace worked as a counselor at the VA, helping veterans prepare to return to the workforce—a role that combined his service background with his passion for helping others succeed. When an injury left Trace unable to ski traditionally, he discovered adaptive skiing and was introduced to SnoYak. That moment changed everything—suddenly he could experience the freedom of the slopes again.
Now Trace brings his decades of skiing expertise, military service, and VA connections to SnoYak, ensuring veterans know they can stay on the mountain, no matter what.
"Peg Leg" Pat Brown
Advanced
Shredding Specialist
Pat has spent over 40 years carving turns on mountains across North America, with the last 12 years mastering the monoski after a skydiving accident cost him his leg. As a PSIA Level 1 instructor working toward his Level 2 certification, he brings decades of technical skiing expertise and real-world adaptive sports experience to the SnoYak team, helping riders of all abilities push their limits on the slopes.
A true Maine native with an appetite for adventure, Pat has logged 991 skydives and once drove all the way to Alaska in pursuit of the ultimate powder. His fearless approach to both life and skiing makes him the perfect advocate for adaptive equipment that doesn't compromise on
performance.
When Pat isn't testing gear on the mountain, you'll find him with a fishing rod in hand, proving that losing a leg just means finding new ways to chase adventure. His philosophy is simple: keep
shredding, no matter what.
Finley Katsaku
Head of
Mad Science
Finley is a third-year mechanical engineering student at Dalhousie University who brings hands-on expertise in composite manufacturing and 3D modeling to the SnoYak team.
As an intern focused on product development, he applies his technical knowledge to help refine and innovate adaptive skiing equipment that makes the sport more assessable. Introduced to sit skiing in 2024 by his close friend Anneka Siegel, Finley quickly moved from participant to passionate advocate, becoming a sit ski coach within his first year. While he primarily skis standing, his coaching perspective gives him unique insights into what adaptive skiers need from their equipment. His engineering background and real-world experience on the slopes create a powerful combination for product innovation.
When Finley isn't in the lab or on the mountain, you'll find him racing sailboats—a passion he's pursued for over a decade across everything from dinghies to offshore keelboats. His love for precision, speed, and adaptive sports drives his commitment to making sit skiing more inclusive for everyone.
Anneka Siegel
Brand
Ambassador
Anneka is a Nova Scotia-based adaptive athlete and social media creator who has become a leading voice in the sit skiing community. After transitioning to monoskiing, Anneka quickly
gained recognition for her educational TikTok content, where she shares tutorials and insights that demystify adaptive sports for newcomers and curious onlookers alike.
As a SnoYak influencer, Anneka showcases the freedom and independence that adaptive skiing equipment provides. Her viral videos have filled a crucial gap in the adaptive sports space, offering the step-by-step guidance she once searched for herself.
Beyond her digital presence,
Anneka is an active participant in the adaptive skiing community, having attended specialized camps like the Stowe Mountain Monoski Camp, SitBird Monsoki Camp, and is supported by the
High Fives Foundation.
With her background as a competitive sailor and her passion for making the slopes accessible to all, Anneka serves as an inspiring ambassador who demonstrates that disability doesn't limit adventure—it simply reshapes it.