Freestyle Coaches
AVSC is proud of the outstanding caliber of our Program Directors and coaching staff. They embody our core values of commitment, teamwork, and integrity. They are terrific role models and mentors and their dedication throughout the season is the reason for our athletes' success both on and off the hill. AVSC's legacy of athletic excellence is thanks to their efforts.
AVSC is the proud winner of the US Ski & Snowboard's Freeski Club of the year for the third time, winning in 2018, 2022 and 2024, due in large part to the dedicated coaching staff listed on this page.
AVSC is the proud winner of the US Ski & Snowboard's Freeski Club of the year for the third time, winning in 2018, 2022 and 2024, due in large part to the dedicated coaching staff listed on this page.
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Eric Knight | Freestyle Program Director eknight@teamavsc.org
Eric has worked for AVSC for over 25 years! Under Eric's leadership, the Freestyle Team has grown from 17 to over 250 athletes. In Eric's words, "Coaching with AVSC for all these years has given me the opportunity to see kids grow through our programs, developing into athletes and young adults. It's clear how much of a positive impact AVSC has had on their athletics, lives and personal growth." Over Eric's years as Director, numerous athletes became Olympians, have medaled in The Winter Olympics, won X-Games, National and Junior Nationals Championships in Moguls, Aerials, Halfpipe and Slopestyle. Eric was a mogul skier and competed in Nor-Am, Europa Cup, World Cup and World Pro Mogul events around the world for over 10 years and brings his knowledge and experience from the highest levels of freestyle skiing to AVSC.
Greg Ruppel | Park & Pipe Head Coachgruppel@teamavsc.org
Greg competed in slopestyle and halfpipe on the east coast in college before forming the Loon Freeski Team and serving as its head coach for three seasons. He then went on to coach for the Holderness high school team before coaching and teaching at Waterville Valley Academy. While there, he drew up the initial plans and helped build a four-season air bag training facility. Over his eight seasons at Waterville, he coached athletes like Nick Martini, Cam Riley, and Clayton Vila who went on to become professional freeskiers. He also coached Anna Lisa Drew and Julia Krass who went on to compete in the Sochi Olympics. He moved to Aspen in 2012 to become the competition coach for the high level AVSC freeski athletes. He is a level 4 certified USSA freeski coach and last year was awarded the Freeski Coach of the Year Award from the US Ski and Snowboard Team.
Dave Zweig | FIS Park and Pipedzweig@teamavsc.org
Dave is a highly decorated freestyle coach and is excited to bring his expertise and passion for the sport to AVSC. Most recently, Dave served as the Assistant Head Coach of the Chinese Olympic Halfpipe team. Zweig is a highly decorated freestyle coach with over 15 years of experience in the field. Zweig began his coaching career in 2007 at Woodward and Copper, Colorado. Dave is also certified in a number of USSA coaching disciplines including Freeski (Level 300) and Aerials (level 100), airbag and trampoline.
Peter Ferraro | U12 Comp Head Coach - Freeride, Park and Pipepferraro@teamavsc.org
Peter grew up in Vail and has coached Freeride (Big Mountain) along with Park and Pipe with Ski Club Vail for three years. He is a graduate from CU Boulder and has work experience as a teacher as a camp counselor as well. Peter is a versatile ski coach possessing expert skills, knowledge and professional experience in creating passionate and competitive freeride, park and pipe skiers.
Jetzen O'Connor | U12 Comp - Moguls, Freeride
George Rodney | Freeride Head Coach grodney@teamavsc.org
George Rodney is our Freeride Head Coach. George was on the Freeride World Tour from 2015-2018 and was the Tour Champion in 2015. George was the youngest and first American to win the overall title. George was also the 2012 Freeride Junior National Champion. Before competing in Freeride George was an AVSC Alpine athlete and as a U16 he was ranked in the top 10 nationally for each Alpine discipline (Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super G and Downhill). George has a bachelor’s degree in Community and Commercial Recreation and Sports Management from the University of Utah.
Ethan Holcomb | Freeride National Teameholcomb@teamavsc.org
Ethan relocated to Aspen in December 2022, drawn by a coaching opportunity that arose in spring 2022. Graduating early with a degree in Exercise Science, specializing in human performance, he began his coaching journey in his Vermont hometown at Mad River Glen. Earning the prestigious L100 IFSA coaching certification, Ethan honed his skills.
Outside skiing, he's an avid biker and skier, bringing a holistic understanding of athleticism and performance to his coaching. Thrilled to continue his journey in this new environment, Ethan blends his academic knowledge, certification, and passion for outdoor sports to inspire and elevate athletes to their fullest potential.
Kelly Hilleke | Freeride 
Mido Morimoto | Moguls Head Coach
Owen Fredrick | Moguls .png)
Forrest Aley | Freeride ManagerWe are thrilled to welcome Forrest back to the coaching staff at AVSC. Bio coming soon!
Tim Shepard | Telemark Head Coachtimshepard@teamavsc.org
This is Tim's fourth year with AVSC. He is thrilled to continue passing on his passion for skiing and winter to future generations. He doesn't mind getting to ski every day, either. He grew up ski racing in Massachusetts and Vermont, where he also ran cross country, nordic skied, and ran track in the spring. Between his time in New England and Colorado, he spent 4 years in Alta, Utah. He is an IFSA Level 100 coach and a registered EMT. When he's not at AVSC, he can be found running around in the mountains with his fiance, Bridget (also an AVSC Big Telemark Coach!) and their Golden Retriever, Alfie.