KMS names Kris Pepe as freestyle mogul program director and head coach

Courtesy of KMS

KRIS PEPE

KILLINGTON—Killington Mountain School has recently hired Kris Pepe as its new freestyle mogul program director and head coach. From 2008-2014, Kris Pepe was the head mogul FIS/Nor-Am coach at Telluride, Colo., and served most recently as the head freestyle coach at Aspen.

Pepe began his freestyle career as a competitive athlete at Hunter Mountain, N.Y. From there he traveled to Park City, Utah, to compete nationally, attaining strong results. Kris got his start in coaching at Park City, before moving on to Telluride, where he was instrumental in developing one of the most highly successful FIS programs in the country.

Some of the highlights from Pepe’s coaching career include:

2014: 10 Nor Am podiums, four athletes named to US Development Group, two athletes named to U.S. Freestyle Ski Team, two podiums at U.S. National Championships

2013: top results include Lake Placid World Cup: two top 15 finishes; NorAm Tour: seven podiums; Jr. World Championships: three gold medals in single and dual moguls

60 podium finishes at FIS-level competitions

15 athletes named to the U.S. Development Team

Five athletes named to the U.S. National Team

Most recently, at Aspen, Pepe was tasked with building a grassroots freestyle mogul program. He has been developing training plans, athlete development models, and appropriate coaching plans from the ground up, focusing on what athletes need at each stage of development from U8’s through U21’s. His fellow head coaches in disciplines ranging from freeski to alpine, as well as Walt Evans, the former sport development director for USSA and current Director of Excellence at Aspen Ski Club, describe Pepe as a “wonderful investment” and an outstanding member of the head coaching staff.

Kris Pepe will be joined on staff by his wife, Nori, a U.S. Ski Team member from 1997-2001, and three time Jr. National Champion in freestyle aerials and combined. Nori’s career stats include: two time National Champion; two time NorAm Grand Prix Champion; Jr. World Championship Bronze Medalist; the Ski Magazine Cup Award, 1996; and the Hart Cup Award, 1996.

Nori was the Junior Mogul Team coordinator and head coach at Telluride from 2008 to 2014, and most recently the Freestyle Devo 2 coordinator and head coach at Aspen. Before moving west in 2008, Nori was the development program director and head development freestyle coach at Waterville Valley.

Kris and Nori Pepe are very much looking forward to moving to Killington this August and to getting started working with KMS athletes.