Adrian Bergere, Freeride Big Mountain

Adrian grew up in upstate New York skiing the mountains of Massachusetts and Vermont. He had a “twilight” season pass at Jiminy Peak where he spent nights skiing boiler plate ice and getting blasted by snow guns. In high school Adrian started skiing at Mount Snow and Jay Peak. Adrian attended college at SUNY Geneseo, outside of Rochester, where he was the president of the ski and snowboard club. After graduating with a degree in geosciences in 2016, Adrian moved to Telluride, where he lived the ski bum dream guiding fly fishing in the summers and bartending and coaching freeride skiing in the winters. Now Adrian directs the San Miguel Watershed Coalition, working with local stakeholders to improve the environment and sustainability of the San Miguel River and its tributaries. Adrian still coaches freeride at TSSC on a part time basis.

Andrew Goss, Freeride Big Mountain

Andrew grew up in Ski Town USA, Steamboat Springs, and has loved skiing since before he could remember. For Andrew, coaching is all about legacy. One of his most effective role models growing up was one of his ski coaches. So for Andrew, coaching provides an opportunity to continue that legacy for future generations, while at the same time feeding the stoke of winter for the entire community.

Colby Adams, Freeride Big Mountain

Growing up in a professional ski-bum household in Stowe, Vermont meant that skiing started shortly after walking did. What has followed has been an enduring and evolving life of skiing: beginning with the technical foundations of alpine racing, infused with a later focus of competitive slopestyle and halfpipe, and finally expressing through the raw elements of Big Mountain Freeride skiing. Contest history highlights include podium successes in the Junior and Adult Subaru Freeride Series as well as international contest skiing. The past decade of this ski career has been dedicated to the youth of the sport, as an International Free Skiers and Snowboarders Association Judge and Coach, working with Freeride Big Mountain athletes who compete internationally.

Elly Offutt, Freeride Big Mountain

Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, Elly was fortunate to be able to grow up skiing all over the Western US. Strong mentors and coaches supported her athletic pursuits in team and individual sports around the world. Sports have given her opportunities that otherwise would not have existed and she hopes to pay it forward to others.

Elly started coaching with TSSC as a way to get involved locally when COVID halted her ski guiding venture in Japan. She lives outside of Ridgway with her partner, their dog, and a couple of horses.

Emma Christensen, Freeride Big Mountain

Emma is from Rangeley, Maine and has been coaching for about a decade now! She loves ripping around the mountain with the free ride kids and seeing them gain confidence and skills to live a long life skiing in the mountains.

Orion Willits, Freeride Big Mountain

Orion grew up skiing in the Telluride Ski and Snowboard club, starting with moguls and switching over to Big Mountain when his coach Chason Russell started the team. He started the Freeride team at Montana State University where he studied photography and skied at Bridger Bowl. He moved back to Telluride in 2018 and has been coaching the team since. He has been super blessed in having some amazing mentors in his past coaches and strives to be a positive influence and help shape the next generation of freeride skiers coming out of our amazing community!

Thomas Mackowiak, Freeride Big Mountain

Thomas is from Cazenovia, NY. He got into skiing with an afterschool program.

Tyler Simmons, Freeride Big Mountain

Sliding southwest from Denver, Colorado, TYler made his home among the steeps of the San Juan Mountains nearly eight years ago. The rugged terrain and welcoming community moved him to stay. After a fateful first season of cliff jumps and jump turns, Tyler’s dear friend Hannah Smith suggested that he coach for the Big Mountain Freeride Team. Serendipitously, he took the challenge, and it changed his life. Tyler has loved every moment of coaching our inspiring youth. From the early season technical drills to the mid-season competitive venues, and all the way to the late season slopes of Palmyra, the unique journey shared with each athlete has kept Tyler coming back.