Friends of Berthoud Pass (FOBP) is a grassroots collective of backcountry enthusiasts committed to preserving the legacy of public recreation at Berthoud Pass through safety, access and education. Founded in 2003 by ski patrollers and backcountry riders, we are a non-profit 501(c)3 tax-exempt charitable organization managed by a volunteer executive board and supported by a diverse and active member base.
Our funding comes from generous donations from local supporters. Learn more about what we do.
Our funding comes from generous donations from local supporters. Learn more about what we do.
The Skiers Behind it
Rick Thompson – President
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Born in Missoula and raised in Colorado, Rick learned to ski at Powderhorn Resort on the flanks of Grand Mesa. He began backcountry skiing at Berthoud Pass, and has honed his skills by traveling and studying with experienced mentors, ticking off numerous big peaks and steep lines across Colorado. When he’s not managing our paper trail, Rick works as a metallurgical engineer in Denver.
Email Rick |
Brian Pollock – Director of Education
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Brian was introduced to the Berthoud backcountry by a few locals who wound up becoming the founding members of FOBP so he’s been around since day one. His extensive background in outdoor education, curriculum development and field operations keeps our grassroots avalanche education program thriving. When not skiing the Pass, riding his mountain bike or chasing after his two young sons, Brian runs his own sleep analysis company.
Email Brian |
Carl Dowdy – Secretary
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Carl joined the FOBP board in 2010 and served as President from 2012 to 2015. As Secretary, Carl continues to assist with day-to-day operations and handles government and legal issues. He enjoys Berthoud powder just as much as anyone, but Carl’s passion is ski mountaineering. He is among the handful of people who have skied from the summit of all of Colorado’s 14ers. When he isn’t outside playing, Carl works as an attorney in the ski industry.
Email Carl |
Mike Bean – Treasurer
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Mike grew up in Hawaii, but you wouldn’t guess it based on how much he loves the cold. On any given day, you’ll find Mike ski mountaineering, trail running, or mountain biking. Mike’s enthusiasm, never-ending energy, and keen safety sense make him an ideal partner for mountain outings of all kinds. An engineer by day, Mike joined the FOBP leadership team as Treasurer in 2012.
Email Mike |
Jeff Welch – Team Director
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Jeff was born and raised in Colorado, and has pretty much been skiing since he could walk. Eventually that led to walking uphill on skis, first at Berthoud Pass, then on many other mountains around Colorado, where he enjoys scaring himself senseless on steep lines. As FOBP’s Team Director, Jeff manages our volunteer instructor team and keeps everyone up-to-date on training. In his spare time between skiing, rock climbing, and otherwise wandering around in the mountains, he works as a Mechanical Engineer near Denver.
Email Jeff |
Chris Groves – Member at Large
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Chris switched from racing to backcountry skiing when he moved to Colorado several years ago and got involved with FOBP. He’s been a Field Team instructor since 2009, on our board of directors since 2011 and is a member of the American Avalanche Association with advanced training from Silverton Avalanche School. When he’s not coordinating our volunteers, managing events or hiking the Pass, Chris works in Denver in the oil and gas industry.
Email Chris |
Rusty Perry – Director of Sponsor Relations
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Rusty has been a year-round explorer of Berthoud Pass for 25 years. Despite a serious skiing addiction, he manages to practice law full-time and has launched several successful start-up businesses over the years. As FOBP’s Sponsor Relations manager Rusty works with partners and vendors to create lasting relationships to support FOBP’s mission. Rusty lives in Denver with his wife and a small army of aging Labrador Retrievers and relies on his “uncanny aptitude at eating and drinking” to impress and win friends in the industry and around the globe. He is very good at this. Just ask him.
Email Rusty |
JP McDonough – Public Outreach
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A Colorado native, JP has spent his whole life skiing the Winter Park & Berthoud Pass area. JP has been with Friends of Berthoud Pass since 2012 and manages the FOBP website, newsletter, and event announcements. JP is a firm believer that chairlifts are heavily underrated.
Email JP |
Becca Hedley - Member at Small
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Becca began her snowboarding career when she joined the National Ski patrol in 2009. She soon grew bored of chairlifts, and ventured into the splitboarding world and took her hand at guiding, where she had built a backcountry skiing resume including hut trips and a tour up Mt Rainier. 5 years ago, she latched onto the Friends of Berthoud Pass crew, who quickly realized they couldn't get rid of her so they eventually allowed her to teach some classes! Becca never lost her passion for emergency medicine, and now works as an ER nurse in a busy south Denver hospital. She's very excited to be on the board this year as an instructor and ambassador for female backcountry education.
Email Becca |
Zach Wilson - Member at Large
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Zach grew up snowboarding and snowmobiling in the Montana backcountry before moving to Colorado in 2004 for graduate school. He’s been exploring the Colorado backcountry via splitboard ever since. He loves to get off the beaten path, away from the crowds and find new areas to play in. You can usually find him in the skintrack with a big camera strapped to his chest, a ratty old hat on his head and Krieger, his German Shepherd Dog, following behind. When he’s not splitboarding, composing some landscape photo, backpacking or otherwise exploring the wilderness, he’s working as a Biological Safety Professional to keep infectious diseases contained in medical research laboratories
Email Zach |
Gary Apostolou – Ambassador
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Gary is our resident split-knuckle-dragger and is responsible for our close relationship with several snowboard companies. Gary has mentored countless Berthoud Pass riders over the years and you’ll frequently find him splitboarding around Berthoud with his dog Cody, who is a very good boy, and a crew of die-hard BP powder hounds who may, or may not, on any given day, be good boys.
gary@berthoudpass.org. |
Jordan Copenhafer - Ambassador
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Jordan grew up in Pennsylvania and started snowboarding at age eleven. After graduating with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Penn State he moved north to chase better snow in Vermont. It was here that he really dove into the backcountry scene and realized that his passion for snow and engineering background were tied together perfectly in Avalanche study. In 2011 he made his lifelong dream of moving to Colorado a reality. In addition to chasing deep pow and making technical snowboard descents throughout the state, Jordan instructs avalanche awareness for FOBP and also teaches AIARE Level 1 courses.
jordan@berthoudpass.org |