Alpine Coaches
Alpine Staff
AVSC coaches come from all over the world and a variety of racing backgrounds who embody our core values: commitment, teamwork and integrity. They are teachers, role models and mentors. Their dedication goes far beyond just on-hill coaching; they work hard for results but also know when to emphasize fun and skill development. AVSC's legacy of athletic excellence is a testament to their excellence.
Johno McBride | Alpine Program Director jmcbride@teamavsc.org
Johno is excited to return home to AVSC and the Roaring Fork Valley after two years as the Men’s Head Speed Coach with the US Ski Team, including leading the team through the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games. Prior to that, he was the Alpine Director at AVSC for three years after a long stint on the World Cup with the US Ski Team (including coaching Bode to two overall World Cup titles) and the Canadian Ski Team. Johno is a native of the Roaring Fork Valley and an AVSC Alum. He earned his degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Vermont.
Casey Puckett | Lead Women's FIS and PG Coach
cpuckett@teamavsc.org
Casey Puckett returns to the AVSC Alpine coaching staff as our Lead Women's FIS and PG Coach. Casey has a long, decorated history in the world of Alpine Skiing and is excited to bring his expertise and experience back to AVSC athletes.
cpuckett@teamavsc.org
Casey Puckett returns to the AVSC Alpine coaching staff as our Lead Women's FIS and PG Coach. Casey has a long, decorated history in the world of Alpine Skiing and is excited to bring his expertise and experience back to AVSC athletes.
Tomás Rivas | Head U16 Coachtrivas@teamavsc.org
Tomas Rivas is an alpine ski coach with 12 years of experience and a strong background in sports psychology and kinesiology. Tomas is Chilean and has experience coaching at a variety of levels in the US, Canada, Chile and Argentina. For the past few seasons, he has been the FIS Head Coach with National Ski Academy in Canada. In addition to his experience coaching alpine, he studied a Masters in Sports Psychology. This education gave him the tools to facilitate athlete mental performance development to help athletes reach optimal states of focus in racing as well as help them to become better rounded individuals. Tomas looks forward to the opportunity to help facilitate an environment for the athletes where he can contribute to both their skiing and mental performance. For Tomas, high performance competitive sport is more than just attending training and repeating, it is being autonomous in desiring excellence for yourself in sport performance and life.
Kevin Roop | Head U12 Coach kroop@teamavsc.org
Kevin is in his first year with AVSC. He come to us from SSCV, where he was and Alpine, Strength and Conditioning, Skimo and Mountain Bike coach. Kevin is celebrating his 30th season working in the ski world where he has run race departments, ski schools, and various other departments. He is a Alpine Level 100 coach, PSIA Trainer and Children’s Accred, and hold various strength and conditioning certifications. Kevin grew up in Virginia, where he attended the Virginia Military Institute for college, and played Rugby. He started his skiing career at Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia, and made the move to Colorado in 1996. Besides Alpine Racing, Kevin enjoys mountain biking, skimo, yoga, and trail running with his wife, Ann and and their dog Murray.
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Gill Hearn | Youth Programs Coordinatorghearn@teamavsc.org
Gill has coached at AVSC for nearly 10 years. She was Head U14 Coach for many years before joining the U16 staff in 2020. She loves pushing athletes to improve their skiing in and out of the course. Gill is an Aspen native, and AVSC alumna who grew up on skis following her father, a ski patroller, around Aspen Mountain. A decorated racer while at the club, Gill took her talent to Montana State University and skied for the Varsity program in Bozeman for two years. When she's not at AVSC you can find Gill hiking, biking, and hanging out with her husband, Cody (AVSC's Venue Manager) and their two dogs, Teddy and Riv.
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Eric Colon | Head U14 Coach ecolon@teamavsc.org
This is Eric's 6th season with AVSC. He is excited to continue to spend time in the mountains, enjoying the outdoors and sharing his passion for the sport of ski racing with the next generation, including his two sons who are both ski racers! Eric grew up in Lake Placid, NY and raced with NYSEF before graduating from Carrabassett Valley Academy in Maine. He raced at Central Oregon Community College (Bend, OR) and recieved his college degree from Colorado State University. When he's not at AVSC, you can find Eric exploring on his mountain bike or in his raft with his family! Eric is a USSA Level 300 coach.