All American Lisa Perricone to join Aspen Valley Ski Club

Lisa Perricone, currently Eldora Mountain Ski and Snowboard Club’s head alpine ability class coach, has been tapped to join the AVSC staff beginning in September.

Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club Alpine Director Greg Needell announced Thursday that Perricone, 28, joins Head Coach Kent Towlerton and coaches Torey Greenwood and Austin Nevins in a newly created position to accommodate AVSC’s growing ability class program.

“Lisa brings strong coaching experience and race experience to an already excellent staff,” said Needell.

A member of the University of Colorado’s 2006 NCAA Championship Team, Perricone was a five-time All American and captain of the CU ski team. Early in her career, she was a medalist at the Trofeo Topolino in Italy, and while a college student, Perricone represented the U.S. at the World University Games.

“That kind of high level race experience throughout the course of a career is very rare in the coaching world and we are looking forward to helping Lisa share her experiences with AVSC athletes,” Needell said.

Perricone, whose accomplishments include creating Eldora’s Elite Team, a post-graduate program designed for athletes racing at a high level of competition, said she’s wanted to move to Aspen since her first NorAm race as a teenager.

“The coaching staff is the best in the country which is shown through the tremendous successes of their athletes,” Perricone said. “As the head coach of a smaller program, I was able to help athletes find success at all ability levels. I am very excited to bring these skills and a fresh perspective to a club with amazing resources and leadership.”

Needell expects Perricone to have a seamless transition, as she’s already a known quantity among the coaches.

“The town is beautiful, the skiing is amazing and there is a very strong sense of community. I can’t imagine a better place to be,” said Perricone.