Meet the Team
Ryan Lachapelle - Club Director & Coach
Ryan grew up skiing at Blue Mountain in Collingwood, ON. Looking back he feels super fortunate to have been able to night ski pretty much everyday after school until 10pm. He quickly became obsessed with terrain park skiing and joined the Blue Mtn. Park & Pipe team at age 14. He went on to compete for the Ontario Team at age 16 and began his first freestyle coaching gig with Blue at age 17. After high school Ryan fulfilled his childhood dream and moved out west to ski in the mountains. He bounced around over a number of years working at various ski resorts; from Banff, to Nelson, Revelstoke, Castle Mountain and finally ended up at RED. It was at RED where he felt right at home, running the events at the resort for 8 years and organizing his favourite of them all: The Canadian Open Freeride Championships. Ryan also was the Head Freeski Coach in 2016 for Team Treblecone in Wanaka, New Zealand and coached the Red Mtn. Freeski Team in 2021. Ryan skis for Faction Skis and has a deep passion for the outdoors and working with youth in sport. @ryangiver
Jamie Rizzuto - Coach
Born and bred right here in the Kootenay’s, Jamie lives and breathes in these mountains. Jamie is not only an elite skier but he’s competed on the Freeride World Tour for snowboarding and has had some huge achievements on the World Stage: 2nd overall on the FWT in 2014, 1st at Snowbird in 2014 & Silver at Chamonix in 2016. He coached the Whitewater Freeski Team for two seasons in 2022 & 2023. Jamie is one of the most passionate, experienced riders out there and loves passing on his expertise and growth mindset to the next generation. He also rides for LibTech both on skis & snowboard and The North Face. @jamierizzuto
Cameron Farmer - Coach
Cameron started skiing with his family in Ontario at the ripe age of two, but the real progress came from an annual pilgrimage to Jay Peak, Vermont; which would become his stomping grounds for both tree skiing and Freeski. Cameron started instructing at fifteen and has been teaching (nearly) consecutive seasons ever since. In 2011, he fulfilled his dream to live in the mountains and taught at Whistler. In 2013/14, Cameron worked at Mike Wiegele Heli-skiing BC and received guidance and training with the heli-ski pioneer and industry legend himself. To the detriment of his teachers, Cameron was always that kid asking “why?” too often. On the snow, Cameron recognizes how important it is for students to know “the why”. Lack of confidence and mental blockages nailing that trick, stomping that landing, committing to that line, or even back-seat riding; Cameron works with the athlete to align mind and body. Cameron is professionally certified with the Avalanche Operations industry training standard and has coached the Junior RED freeride team during the ‘15/16 and ‘19/20 seasons. Cameron eats, sleeps, and breathes mountain culture and freeskiing. He’s passionate to share with others and loves to challenge students with trivia on mountains and topography. @farmer.flow
Kirsty Exner - Coach
Kirsty grew up skiing Red Mountain and has been involved in the ski industry for over 25 years. She competed on the World Freeskiing Tour for 4 years earning many podium finishes, including two silver medals at the Worlds in Alaska. From her own personal freeskiing background, she created her own women’s freeskiing camps at Red Mountain, and coached hundreds of women through her multi-day camps. This competitive skiing and coaching background, paired with her physiotherapy expertise, makes her a sought-after coach.
Though she is a busy, working mom, she still likes to get after it in the mountains and each year has a few personal goals to ski big peaks and technical lines. In the summer months, she loves biking, rock climbing, and hiking and enjoys sharing her passion for outdoor adventure with her family. @kirstyexner
Dane Tudor - Coach
The name speaks for itself. Dane Tudor is one of the best all around freeskiers in the World. Earning the Male Skier of the Year in 2022 and in 2009, he has been a professional skier / backcountry film athlete for over 15 years and an X-Games Medalist. Dane has countless jaw dropping film segments with Poor Boyz Productions, Matchstick Productions and Teton Gravity Research. From skiing the biggest spine lines in Alaska, to the most technical pillow lines in BC, and huge tricks in the backcountry and terrain park; Dane’s talent shines through in a multitude of skiing disciplines. We couldn’t be more stoked to have him a part of the team and to create our Club Content through his company -Shred House Media @danetudor @_shredhousemedia_
Sally Steeves - Coach
Sally is a Rossland local who started skiing by following her ski patrol parents around RED, learning their secret stashes and setting up the occasional bamboo line. She started competing in junior big mountain freeski competitions at age 11. In her first competition, the head judge said that she would be “a threat to the future of freeskiing” and she took that to heart, winning 16 competitions over the next 6 years.
Her biggest highlights include winning the North American Freeski Championships twice at Snowbird and Crystal Mountain. Sally was in the Red Freeski Academy her entire highschool career, growing from a young straggler to a team leader by her final year. After high school, she moved to Calgary to pursue electrical engineering degree and took a hiatus from competitive skiing. During that time she helped coach the Red Freeski Team when they competed at Lake Louise.
Sally is now embracing being a weekend warrior and has competed in multiple FWQ events over the past 3 years, and loves passing her competition experience to other athletes! @sallysteeves
Jess Kuzik - Coach
Born and raised in Canmore, Alberta, it is inevitable growing up in the mountains would foster an appreciation for the outdoors. Jess started young ski racing at Mount Norquay, a foundation she later built upon as she transitioned into a big mountain rider skiing at the larger nearby resorts. Upon completion of college in Calgary; a combination of job prospects, Pandemic re-routing and the hunt for more powder led her to Rossland where she began to deepen her passion for freestyle skiing - and hasn't looked back since.
Jess rides for Rossignol and POC Sports and is passionate about being a female figure in an evolving industry with opportunities to further break down barriers for future generations. Excitedly embarking on her coaching journey, she looks forward to creating a fun and positive learning environment. @jesskuzik