Ski Pros in Aspen

Breakthrough-On-Skis Pros

My intensive ski weeks in Aspen were always a smash success for two reasons: the enthusiasm and commitment of the students; and the dedication and skill of the ski pros I have been lucky enough to work with over the years.

I think so highly of this elite group of ski teachers that I'd like to introduce them to you — and recommend them heartily. They are all available to schedule intensive ski weeks for you and your friends at any time diuring the season. (For my money, there is no better learning experience than a week with the same skilled and focused pro. The continuity of a week of continuous coaching builds deep skiing habits that really stick.)

These pros are simply, the finest ski instructors I have ever worked with.... great friends, great skiers, great teachers.

You can, of course, contact these ski pros through the Ski School reservations desk at the Aspen Skiing Company, (1 800 525 6200) but I have also included their phone numbers and email addresses so that you can discuss your schedule and your skiing goals directly with any of these amazing pros.

Lavelle Saier
is a woman of infinite patience and optimism, and in instructor of great skill and, perhaps, even greater dedication. Lavelle was a member of the prestigious United States Demonstration Team at the Aspen Interski Congress. But ski teaching honors don't make a great teacher, years of deeply motivated, intensely focused teaching do. And Lavelle has spent much of her life in search of better, more effective ways of teaching the sport she loves. And it's paid off. Lavelle is simply the most inspiring and successful ski teacher I know. And I know a lot of great ones. Today Lavelle co-directs the annual Breakthough On Skis weeks with Mike Romanus. You can email her at ocean-eyes@email.msn.com, or phone her in winter at 970 923 4790.

Mike Romanus
has been one of the star instructors in the the Breakthrough program since the beginning and today, along with Lavelle, Mike directs the program. He is quiet and thoughtful and patient, subtle rather than flamboyant, and an incredibly successful ski pro. Why so successful? Probably because Mike takes every class, every student, so seriously. When you are skiing with Mike Romanus, you know you are getting 110% of his attention - maybe more. Mike lives in the Roaring Fork Valley year round, and collects vintage Leica cameras in his spare time. You can reach mike at 970 963 1468 or by email at rom@rof.net.


HOME SKI COURSES		Breakthrough-On-Skis Pros My intensive ski weeks in Aspen were always a smash success for two reasons: the enthusiasm and commitment of the students; and the dedication and skill of the ski pros I have been lucky enough to work with over the years. I think so highly of this elite group of ski teachers that I'd like to introduce them to you — and recommend them heartily. They are all available to schedule intensive ski weeks for you and your friends at any time diuring the season. (For my money, there is no better learning experience than a week with the same skilled and focused pro. The continuity of a week of continuous coaching builds deep skiing habits that really stick.) These pros are simply, the finest ski instructors I have ever worked with.... great friends, great skiers, great teachers. You can, of course, contact these ski pros through the Ski School reservations desk at the Aspen Skiing Company, (1 800 525 6200) but I have also included their phone numbers and email addresses so that you can discuss your schedule and your skiing goals directly with any of these amazing pros. Lavelle Saier is a woman of infinite patience and optimism, and in instructor of great skill and, perhaps, even greater dedication. Lavelle was a member of the prestigious United States Demonstration Team at the Aspen Interski Congress. But ski teaching honors don't make a great teacher, years of deeply motivated, intensely focused teaching do. And Lavelle has spent much of her life in search of better, more effective ways of teaching the sport she loves. And it's paid off. Lavelle is simply the most inspiring and successful ski teacher I know. And I know a lot of great ones. Today Lavelle co-directs the annual Breakthough On Skis weeks with Mike Romanus. You can email her at ocean-eyes@email.msn.com, or phone her in winter at 970 923 4790. Mike Romanus has been one of the star instructors in the the Breakthrough program since the beginning and today, along with Lavelle, Mike directs the program. He is quiet and thoughtful and patient, subtle rather than flamboyant, and an incredibly successful ski pro. Why so successful? Probably because Mike takes every class, every student, so seriously. When you are skiing with Mike Romanus, you know you are getting 110% of his attention - maybe more. Mike lives in the Roaring Fork Valley year round, and collects vintage Leica cameras in his spare time. You can reach mike at 970 963 1468 or by email at rom@rof.net.
RETURN TO TOP
		Lisa Heininger is one of the most joyous people you will ever meet on skis. Her good humor is infectious and lends a light-hearted flavor to her ski teaching that only adds to its effectiveness. She is patient and persistent, and seems totally impossible to discourage, She is a born teacher and runs her own wind surfing and sailing school on a Minnesota lake in the off season. You can contact Lisa at ajaxexplorer@aol.com by email, or at 970 927 1202 in the winter, at 231 599 2801 in the summer.. Dan Connley or "Dapper Dan" to his friends, has leveraged his passion for ski instruction into a year-round lifestyle. He teaches at Snowmass in winter, and in summer flies to Australia for a second ski season at Mt Buhler. And in between, manages to dive in all the most exotic locations in the Pacific. But when he is out on the mountain with his students, Dan is 100% there for them, he is the master of value-added ski instruction. And need I say, a superbly graceful skier. Contact Dan by email at pacificrimdiver@hotmail.com or by phone, in winter, at 970 927 9107.
		"Luby" Luberant is simply exuberant (rhymes with "Lubrant"). Like his longtime neighbor and friend, Mike Romanus, Luby is a practical joker in the best sense of the word. His classes seldom stop laughing. But he is a practical ski teacher as well. His enthusiasm is contagious, his focus and concern for his students unflagging. In eight years of working together, I have never seen Luby frown. He is based on Buttermilk Mountain, Aspen's very best teaching/learning terrain. Luby is a house builder in the off season but puts down his hammer with glee when the snow flies. You can reach Luby at 970 963 3795 or by emailing him at lubrant@sopris.net.
RETURN TO TOP
		Ed Petrosius sings in Aspen's Community Chorus, and skis with a graceful, almost musical rhythm. Ed's background in sports, not just skiing, is awesome: he sails, dives, golfs, water skis, bicycles, rollerblades, and plays darn near all the classic "ball" games - although how he finds the time is beyond me. Ed's other passion is travel, often with his skis: He participated in an instructor exchange program in France and has skied in Austria, Canada, and Japan - oh yes - and Montana. Ed's ski teaching is witty and dynamic. He is a great story teller. And a great person to share a Colorado winter day with. Reach Ed by phone at 970 925 5035, or by email at Ewpskimela@aol.com. Mike Freund is low-key, charming and sophisticated, both as a person and as a ski teacher. Never pushy or aggressive, always genuinely warm and interested, Mike achieves wonders with his students. His perseverance is legendary. I don't think Mike has ever given up on a student, no matter how awkward or timid or unathletic. He really shares my own conviction that there is an expert skier inside everyone on the slopes, just waiting to emerge. And he proves it, all season long. Contact Mike at 970 925 1636 or email him at RoyleMike1@aol.com.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO TOP		Bart Lipori has the warmest, widest smile of any ski pro I know. He doesn't just teach skiing for a living. Bart is really in love with ski teaching. It's a true vocation. He is one of the more experienced pros on Aspen mountain, and I'm delighted to have him on my team. Bart is a real mountain enthusiast summer as well as winter, and knows the high country in the West Elk mountains surrounding Aspen better than almost anyone I know. You can reach Bart by phone at 970 963 4467 or reach him electronically at skilip@rof.net. Victor Gerdin completes this roster of exceptional Breakthrough-On-Skis pros. I am sure that my enthusiasm for these remarkable ski pros speaks for itself. But let me say it once again - these are the most talented, skillful and committed ski teachers that I have ever had the good fortune to work with. If you are looking for a lesson that is way beyond, way above the norm, you can't go wrong spending a day, or two, or hopefully more, with any of these amazing instructors. Even though every instructor in the Aspen/Snowmass area has, so to speak, a home mountain, all Aspen-Snowmass pros teach at all four of Aspen's great ski mountains.

*ski pros in Aspen*
		BreakthroughOnSkis.com

photos by Lito Tejada-Flores, except where otherwise credited		All contents of this web site © Lito Tejada-Flores unless otherwise credited.