Loon Freestyle is fortunate to have a highly competent and motivated staff with a diverse coaching experience. Our coaches have a variety of USSA certifications in various disciplines as well as CPR and first aid training. Wes Preston leads as the Director. Along with his coaches, they continue the long Loon Freestyle tradition of a maximizing the potential in each athlete.
In addition, each year we welcome guest coaches, often current and former NorAM, World Cup, and Olympic competitors. These guest coaches augment our coaching staff and offer our team members a perspective from athletes at the pinnacle of freestyle skiing.
Are you a great mogul skier or freerider? Do you have what it takes to lead and inspire competitive athletes? Contact Wes Preston at wes@loonfreestyle.com to book your spot today.
Learn more about our existing coaches below
Wes Preston- Director
Wes grew up in the sport of freestyle skiing. His parents Nick and Suzi Preston were both freestyle coaches. Wes started competing in freestyle in 1990. He competed in Moguls, Aerials, Slopestyle, Halfpipe, and Ballet Skiing (or Acro Skiing), eventually earning a spot on the US Ski Team in Aerials. Wes started coaching part-time at summer ski camps in 1997 and began coaching full-time in 2001. Wes has worked at Waterville Valley BBTS since 2005. His athletes have been named to the US Ski Team and the US Olympic Team. His athletes have won titles at the Eastern Championships, Jr. National Championships, National Championships, World Cup, World Championships, and the Olympics. Wes has also done contract coaching for the US Ski Team. Wes is a Level 500 certified coach. He has been the clinician for the Level 200 Aerials coaches clinic for the past 8 years. In 2013, Wes was honored with 3 coaching awards: the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Freestyle Domestic Coach of the Year; the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Development Coach of the Year (out of all snowsports disciplines); and the U.S. Olympic Committee Developmental Freestyle Coach of the Year. Wes enjoys teaching athletes of all abilities and has focused on the U11 - U15 age groups for the past 10 years.
Abbie Sawyer- Assistant Director
Abbie Sawyer grew up skiing at Loon at the young age of three. She was in Peekaboo for a couple years before moving over to Jr Seasonals. Abbie stayed with Dev Team until she was seven, then she then moved back to the Gov side for X-Team where she stayed for two years. Her brother Owen joined LFT when Abbie joined X-team. After the two years on X-Team, Abbie wanted to join LFT as well. She’s now 21 and hasn’t left freestyle since. Abbie was an athlete for six years, a CIT for two years, and this will be her fourth year as a LFT coach. In the six years that she was an athlete, her dad took her to almost every comp there was, sometimes the end result was good and sometimes it wasn’t; but most importantly she always had fun!!
She has lived in the Lincoln-Woodstock community for her entire life and having Loon in my backyard has always been a treat. Abbie has been so lucky to have a supporting family that has always made it work for both her and her brother to ski for so long. She is now the Park and Recreation Associate Director in nearby Bethlehem NH.
Abbie is also a NH HS State Champion ski racer. She does it all. Abbie is level 100 certified in moguls and level 200 aerials.
Kevin Lynch- Head Coach
Kevin started his skiing journey as a rut rider on the LRT. He quickly realized those tight pants were not for him, however the Loon Freestyle team was right next door. The allure of moguls, jumping, and rails peaked his interest. He spent the next eight years climbing up the eastern freestyle rankings. Kevin trained hard every day, whether it be ripping laps on Flume or hiking the MONDO jump at the aerial site. Kevin has recently joined the Loon Freestyle team as a coach for the young guns in the last few years.
Kevin is also currently a school teacher working in the Boston Public School system. His outright love for working with children is evident on the mountain. He is a USSA level 100 certified moguls coach.
Owen Sawyer- Head Coach
Owen Sawyer started skiing when he was three years old at Loon Mountain and has skied there every season since. He is a local and his family still lives in the Lincoln area. Owen is a LFT alumni as he was on the team for three years and competed for two years. Owen was even on the dark side as he raced throughout middle and high school. After Owen stopped competing for LFT, he coached the real little skiers in the Loon Kinderbear (now Scouts) program for two years. Owen then came back to Loon Freestyle as a staff coach and he earned his level 100 mogul coaching certificate and level 200 aerials.
He graduated Plymouth State University. In his free time, Owen likes to rock climb, ski, swim in the Pemi, and play all types of sports.
Sawyer Murphy
Sawyer Murphy started at the age of three skiing at his home mountain Sugarloaf. Taught by his parents he progressed from bunny hill to big boy hill in no time. His passion for skiing started him with a love for groomers which eventually lead to racing. Sawyer spent most of high school in the gates making turns and having fun. He soon made the change to moguls, park, and powder. Sawyer found a new love for backcountry skiing and park. He began skinning backcountry terrain last year, skied moguls most of his life, and has many years of slow progression in the park. Sawyer is a senior at Plymouth State.
Connor Robert
Connor started skiing at the age of three at his home mountain Cranmore. He was taught by his parents and progressed quickly as he wanted to beat his older sister who was a racer. As he grew up, he found a passion for skiing bumps and backcountry and couldn’t get enough of it. He is currently a junior at Plymouth State University playing football in the fall and skiing as much as he can in the winter.
Kevin Owens
Kevin grew up skiing at Loon since he was two years old. His family still does have a place at the mountain. As a kid Kevin often skied the terrain park and was a true park rat. Once he got into high school he got backcountry skis and has stayed in the woods ever since. He loves to do mogul and tree runs all day. He hopes to ski more over the country and world. He’s currently a sophomore at Plymouth state and enjoys mountain bike racing in all other seasons of the year. He’s really excited to work with the team for his first year!
Additional Coaches: