Frequently Asked Questions

Loveland Freeride trains skiers and snowboarders ages 10–18. Snowboard training is available for our U15 and U19 age groups.

Yes. An athlete should be able to comfortably ride extreme terrain top to bottom. Controlled parallel skiing — or confident, controlled riding — at speed on blues and blacks is required.

Assessments for all age groups will be held on December 5th. The assessment determines athlete ability and age-group placement.

Read the Athlete Evaluation Criteria

The One-Day program meets Saturdays at Loveland. The Two-Day program meets Saturdays and Sundays, training at Loveland and regularly traveling to other Colorado mountains.

Anytime a One-Day athlete is interested in joining a Two-Day session, they are encouraged to with a drop-in fee. If a One-Day athlete is interested in moving into the Two-Day program entirely, the remainder of the season will be prorated.

Dryland training is conditioning and strength training off the slopes — and it’s a core part of how athletes become competitive freeriders. The work we do in the gym and on the trail builds the strength, mobility, and endurance that translate directly to skiing harder lines and pushing further into the season.

It’s also where the team gets built. Athletes train together, push each other, and form the bonds that carry into every weekend on the mountain.

Dryland for the 2026–27 season kicks off October 15 at SnoBahn. Dryland coaching fees are included in your tuition — facility fees are not. See “What’s included in tuition?” below for the details.

Yoga, stretching, and breathwork. From there, athletes gear up and spend the day on-mountain with their coaching group. Training includes terrain assessment, skill drills, competition focused freeride skiing sessions, and avalanche awareness. Days are structured but not rigid — we adapt to conditions and the group’s development needs.

Three dates anchor the 2026–27 season:

October 15 — first dryland session at SnoBahn.

December 5 — assessment day for all age groups.

April 18 — final day of the season.

On-snow training follows assessment day, and the competition season runs January through April.

Yes. Loveland Freeride is a ski and snowboard team. Snowboard training is available in both the One-Day and Two-Day programs for our U15 and U19 age groups, led by a dedicated snowboard coach.

Snowboarders train alongside the ski groups, ride the same terrain, and compete in the same IFSA events. Tuition, assessment requirements, and the season schedule are identical.

Coach-guided trips to some of Colorado’s most legendary big-mountain terrain, run on top of weekly training. They’re a chance to ski and ride steeper, wilder lines — and earn a little adventure along the way.

This season we’re taking on Arapahoe Basin (February 21) and its hike-to East Wall, Crested Butte (late February), which some call the birthplace of freeride, and Silverton (April 3), a one-lift, expert-only proving ground for true big-mountain skiing.

See the Programs page for full details.

Safety is the foundation of everything we do. Our coaches conduct thorough terrain assessments before every session. Athletes are trained in avalanche awareness, terrain judgment, and decision-making. We maintain professional athlete-to-coach ratios and follow established risk management protocols.

All of our coaching staff hold IFSA coaching certifications. Some coaches hold Avalanche Level 1 and Level 2 certifications, and Wilderness First Responder training. Head Coach Eben Mond holds IFSA Level 300 certification and Avalanche Level 2.

Yes — every athlete receives avalanche awareness training. Though it is not a certification, this training includes understanding snowpack, terrain assessment, companion rescue, and beacon/shovel/probe use. It’s a core part of our program, not an add-on.

Safety is our top priority. Coaches carry first aid supplies and communication devices, and we coordinate closely with Loveland Ski Patrol in the event of an emergency. We continually review and refine our emergency response procedures.

We maintain a 12:2 athlete-to-coach ratio, with an additional coach added for every 6 athletes beyond. For competition inspection, we use a 4:1 ratio. Group sizes are managed to match terrain complexity and conditions.

Required: Helmet, back protection.

Recommended: Vest or backpack, avalanche equipment.

Please visit our Programs page for current pricing. We believe in transparency — tuition covers your athlete’s Loveland season pass, coaching, on-mountain training, and avalanche awareness. Personal gear and travel to away competitions are not included. Coaching is covered at local competitions; however, tuition does not include competition registration fees or personal travel expenses to competitions.

We never want cost to be the reason a motivated athlete misses out on the mountains.

Financial assistance options for the 2026–27 season are still being finalized. Families with questions are encouraged to reach out to Darcee at darcee@lovelandfreeride.org to talk through what may be available.

Yes — we offer a 10% sibling discount on each additional athlete registered within the same family.

A Loveland season pass is included in registration. Your athlete's pass is covered as part of the program tuition.

Included: all coaching for training days, dryland coaching fees, coaching support at local competitions, and your athlete’s Loveland season pass.

Not included: facility fees for dryland venues — SnoBahn, yoga, and the rec center — which run $5–$25 per session, or you can purchase an individual membership at the venue.

Also not included: personal gear, individual IFSA memberships, Rocky Mountain regional memberships, competition registration fees, and travel to away competitions.

Independence gives us full control over our coaching standards, program direction, and financial transparency. As a 501(c)(3), we can accept tax-deductible donations, pursue grants, and build a governance structure designed to outlast any single individual.

Loveland Freeride is led by Head Coach and Program Director Eben Mond, Executive Director Darcee Mond, and Operations Director Sam Yanis, and is supported by a professional coaching staff and an independent board of directors.

We operate under a 501(c)(3) nonprofit structure with an independent board of directors, transparent financials, and professional governance policies. This structure ensures the program is built to last.

We train at Loveland Ski Area and have a strong, longstanding relationship with the mountain. However, Loveland Freeride is an independently governed nonprofit — not a resort-owned or resort-operated program.

IFSA (International Freeride Ski Association) is the global governing body for freeride competition. IFSA sanctions competitions, certifies coaches, and provides the competitive pathway from regional events through the Freeride World Tour.

Yes. FIS officially recognized freeride as a discipline in June 2024, and the first FIS Freeride World Championships were held in February 2026. The sport is targeting inclusion in the 2030 Winter Olympics, with the 2034 Games in Salt Lake City. We’re excited that big mountain skiing is heading in this direction, and athletes in our program are well-positioned to pursue that pathway if they choose.

Athletes leave Loveland Freeride with lifelong mountain skills regardless of pathway. Competitive athletes may continue on the IFSA circuit, pursue the Freeride World Tour, or transition to other mountain disciplines. Every athlete graduates as a confident, skilled mountain skier.