Free Ride Coaches
Nick Gaddy – Head Coach
Nick has a deep appreciation for skiing and the mountains he skis on. His background in backcountry guiding, mountaineering, avalanche education, and in the ski industry makes him a perfect fit for the free ride team. He has a passion for sharing his love of the outdoors with other skiers of all skill levels. Nick grew up in Washington and has a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University. The Red Lodge area is a great location for his explorer attitude. In his spare time, he likes to climb, works at Beartooth Basin in the summer, and slings a mean cocktail at Natalie’s Front Bar.
406.425.2774
gaddynj@gmail.com
Peter O’Brien – Part Time Coach
After graduating from the University of Montana, Peter dedicated his life to coaching Freeskiing. After a five year stint as the head Free ski coach for Ski and Snowboard Club Vail in Colorado, Peter was hired by the US Free ski team working with elite level Slopestyle, Halfpipe, and Bir Air athletes. After a successful four years coaching world cups, NorAms, and having athletes named to the Olympic Team in PyeongChang it was time to focus on family. Peter moved to Billings and continues his passion for the sport with the Silver Run Freeride Team. As a Level 300 certified coach, he is focused on long term athletic development and safe progression of skill development. Peter strives to find the fun each and every day on the hill and hopes to instill a love for the sport in every athlete he gets the opportunity to coach. When the snow melts you can find Peter and his family fishing, hiking to go fishing, and camping near good fishing.
406.861.0025
peter.joseph.ob@gmail.com
Graham Messe – Part Time Coach
Graham Messe is a New Hampshire native who first made his way to Red Lodge in 2014, and has finally decided to stay. He began skiing at the age of 5 in New Hampshire and began working in the ski industry while attending college at the University of NH. After graduating with a BS in Geology, Graham began a decade of seasonal drifting and rewarding seasonal work around the western US. During this time he, lived and worked in AZ, WA, WY, MT and traveled extensively while focusing on skiing and geology. Highlights of this time include an MS in Geology from Western Washington University, five seasons as a federal park ranger, three seasons as a research geologist for North Cascades NP, two international research expeditions, and four seasons prospecting for precious metals. Ski highlights include ten seasons of coaching at AZ Snowbowl, Mt. Baker Race Team, Jackson Hole Evolution Freeride team, the Mount Snow Competition Freestyle Team, and Beartooth Basin. Graham currently maintains numerous professional ski certifications across several organizations including, PSIA (Alpine 2, Freestyle 1, Telemark 1, Children’s Specialist 1), USASA (Freestyle 200), and IFSA (coach), as well as avalanche, mountaineering, and WFR medical certifications. When not skiing or working as a geologist, Graham pursues guitar, rock climbing, traveling, mountaineering, and learning strange new things. He is excited to call Red Lodge home after years of drifting, and wicked stoked to have the opportunity to ski with the Silver Run Freeride rippers.
603.381.1536
graham.messe@gmail.com
Zach Brown — Part Time Coach
Zach grew up skiing at Red Lodge Mountain. A self proclaimed “kid at heart”, he spent many years as a fishing guide in AK, and was on the ski patrol staff at RLM. His fun loving, easy going spirit makes him a great fit as a ski coach. Zach and Julia live in Red Lodge. He spends his summers as a concrete worker.
406-208-4695
zbrownmt@gmail.com
Ben Daley – Part Time Coach
While leading a backpacking trip in the Beartooths in 2016, Ben was inspired to return to Red Lodge. Since landing here permanently, he’s worked at the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Foundation and hasn’t missed a chance to ski Red Lodge Mountain or get into the Beartooth backcountry. Before being in Montana, Ben lived between Bolivia, Peru, and the United States, instructing study abroad and gap-year programs that focused on indigenous social movements, history, and language. Ben spends a disproportionate amount of time staring at the overview map of the Beartooths on his living room wall, and can’t wait to become a better skier with the athletes at Silver Run.
414-400-8336
bhessdaley@gmail.com
Maya Crosby – Part-Time Coach
Between her shifts baking at Cattail Bakery, Maya likes to spend her time skiing the trees at Red Lodge Mountain or deep in the backcountry amongst the snow-covered Beartooths. Growing up skiing in Crested Butte, Colorado led Maya to competitive racing at Sugar Bowl Academy in the Sierras and eventually landed her in Montana, seeking powder and steep descents. Maya is excited to pass on the fundamentals of skiing while also cultivating a love of big-mountain lines.
541-515-4113
maya.crosby@gmail.com