Endurance Coaching

I have a passion for teaching, and supporting people to become their "best self". That is my life motto and reflects in my day to day lifestyle. I've been training as a runner most of my life.

I ran more competitively for a junior olympics team called Striders when I was an adolescent, and then joined the cross country and track team at Watauga High School. My senior year I placed 2nd in the 2 mile, division 4A in the State of NC. I had the BEST High School Coach, Leigh Wallace, who taught me how to believe in myself and learn to trust the process in order to be my best self. In college, I found success early (MVP FR/SO year in Cross Country), but like many college athletes I was burned out and unmotivated to compete after a couple years. 

Over the years I’ve competed in ultras triathlons,road bike, mountain bike and skimo becoming a well developed endurance athlete, and fell more and more in love with the mountain endurance lifestyle.

Joe Howdyshell founded the Summit Endurance Academy (SEA) in 2013 with a vision to help athletes of all levels achieve their goals while thriving in Colorado’s demanding high-altitude environment. Drawing on his extensive experience as a professional coach since 2006, Joe recognized a need for personalized coaching programs that balanced the science of endurance training with the unique challenges posed by mountain sports.

The Academy offers a range of services, including customized training plans, performance assessments, and group coaching tailored to activities like skiing, running, cycling, and adventure racing. Under Joe’s leadership, SEA has become a trusted resource for athletes aiming to excel in both competitive and recreational pursuits.

Danny is the owner and head coach at Dynamic Performance Systems based in Carbondale, CO. He specializes in helping mountain sports athletes reach their peak performance. Danny has coached multiple USA Skimo National Champions and National Team Members, both locally and remotely, as well as professional alpine and freeride skiers.

A former NCAA Division I skier, Danny holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Physiology, with a minor in Biology, from Plymouth State University. He further advanced his expertise with a Master of Science in Kinesiology from California State University, Fullerton, where he led research in the Biochemistry and Molecular Exercise Physiology Laboratory, investigating human skeletal muscle structure and function.

Danny is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), a Certified Sports Nutritionist (C*ISSN), and an accomplished outdoor athlete himself, competing in ultra-marathons and skimo racing. In addition to coaching and training,. 

Above all, he loves pushing his limits and going fast in the mountains.

Founder of Cripple Creek Backcountry, Doug has been dedicated to growing and participating in the sport of ski mountaineering since 2011. After living for a brief time in the Pacific Northwest and participating in local Mount Hood races and Vert Fest, he moved back to Colorado taking over as head of course for the Sunlight Heathen Challenge and the Power of 4 helping to grow it into one the biggest and fastest selling out races in the country.

Doug has consulted with more skimo athletes than anyone in the country. He has experience giving gear advice for the top athletes to course beta for the first time racer and training plans to get any athlete to the next level. 

As an athlete Doug has raced the Grand Traverse 10 times and finished every Power of 4 since its inception in 2012. In addition to growing the COSMIC series with Joe Howdyshell and course setting many of the easiest races, he has participated in over 100 North American Skimo races and brings a wealth of experience with specialities on technique, race prep and the all important gear prep.

Coach Dean Hill

Dean Hill is a seasoned outdoor sports professional with over two decades of experience in ski mountaineering, alpine skiing, snowboarding, and endurance sports. With a deep passion for adventure and performance, Dean has built a career that seamlessly blends athletic achievement with expert coaching.

Since 1998, Dean has been an instructor and instructor trainer with the renowned Ski and Snowboard Schools of Aspen. Teaching disciplines ranging from alpine skiing and snowboarding to Nordic skiing and ski mountaineering, Dean has guided countless athletes to elevate their skills on snow and beyond.

From 2012 to 2024, Dean competed as a ski mountaineering athlete while coaching clients through some of the world’s premier ski mountaineering races. Whether tackling rugged alpine terrain or pushing limits in high-stakes competitions, he brings an unmatched depth of knowledge and experience to every challenge.