Coaching staff, philosophy, and the story behind Loveland Freeride.
Loveland Freeride was built the way all good things in the mountains are built — slowly, honestly, and with hands in the snow. For more than 20 years, Eben and Darcee Mond have coached freeride athletes at Loveland Ski Area, growing what started as a small group of dedicated skiers into one of the most respected freeride development programs in the sport.
The growth has not been an accident. It is the result of two decades of showing up, building trust, and putting athletes first. Families come because of the coaching. They stay because of the community.
In 2026, we formalized what had always been true: this program belongs to its community. Loveland Freeride became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit — professionally governed, financially transparent, and designed to outlast any single individual. This mountain is home. And we are building something that will be here for the next generation.
Eben Mond is a professional freerider and a pioneer of the sport. In the early 2000s athletes at Loveland only had one option for training if they wanted to be a competitive skier: racing. Eben changed that. In 2007 he and Darcee founded the Big Mountain program at Loveland, and the rest is history. He is now an L300 IFSA coach and actively works as Technical Director for youth and adult competitions, including the IFSA Challenger Series. He also serves as a product tester for many ski brands, helping them create freeride-specific products. His sponsors include Icelantic, Flylow, Scarpa, and Leki. Called the hardest working man in skiing by many of his peers, when he’s not coaching freeride, Eben can be found maintaining The Raven’s Nest, a backcountry hut he and Darcee purchased and rehabilitated at the base of Grays and Torreys. He is a loving husband to Darcee and the proud father of three LF athletes.
Darcee Mond is an accomplished ski racer who has been coaching since 2003. She co-created the Big Mountain program with Eben in 2007 and has since focused on providing freeride athletes with fundamental technical skills and a roadmap for success. Darcee is an L200 IFSA coach and has guided the Loveland team administratively for years. She steps into the Executive Director role with poise, prepared to lead the foundation toward success and development. Darcee loves skiing because it fuels passion in people, allows a sense of freedom and connection with nature, and brings people together in the mountains. Her dedication and enthusiasm to both the sport and her community are key drivers as she takes on her new role.
Sam Yanis has been a Freeride coach at Loveland since 2020. Before that, he spent six years as a ski instructor at the area, developing a passion for athlete progression. Sam’s extensive experience in the ski industry includes roles as a sales representative, instructor, shop technician, and ski coach. Outside of skiing, he manages a hotel and event center in Georgetown, CO. Sam is an L200 IFSA coach, and an IFSA competitor himself. As Operations Director, Sam manages day-to-day logistics, athlete coordination, and program administration, focusing on creating an effective program that facilitates athlete growth and development. Sam is your point of contact, so if you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out!
A coaching staff with more than 100 years of combined freeride experience. IFSA certified. Professionals preparing your athlete for their future.
Risk management is the foundation, not a checkbox. Every athlete leaves with terrain judgment, avalanche awareness, and decision-making skills for life.
Longstanding freeride families. Coaching focused on building good humans. Community at the core.
Independent 501(c)(3) governance. Professional operations. Transparent financials. Designed for the next 20 years.
Every decision we make starts with risk management. Our coaches don't just teach skiing — they teach athletes how to read terrain, assess conditions, and make smart decisions in serious mountain environments.
Loveland Freeride operates as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a dedicated board of directors, transparent financials, and professional governance policies. This structure ensures the program is accountable, sustainable, and designed to serve its community for decades — not dependent on any single individual to survive.
Registration for the 2026–27 season is open.