Lydia Lawhon, Executive Director
Lydia and her family recently moved to Durango from Nederland, CO. She previously was on the faculty for the Masters of the Environment professional program at the University of Colorado Boulder, and continues to teach remotely for the recently-launched Outdoor Recreation Economy program there. Prior to moving to the Front Range, Lydia lived in Jackson, WY, where she worked in the conservation and natural resources non-profit sector for nearly a decade. In addition to enjoying all types of skiing (*except anything having to do with breakable crust), she also is an avid mountain biker, gardener, and fiber arts enthusiast. She and her husband love exploring Southwest Colorado with their young daughter and two scruffy bearded dogs. Lydia can be reached at lydia@durangonordic.org.
Helen Low, NOrdic Center Manager
Helen has worked at the Durango Nordic Center for more than two decades. She started as a volunteer, transitioned to an instructor, and then took over as manager of the Center over a decade ago. She has a Masters in Outdoor Education and worked for Outward Bound for 11 years. Helen is originally from the Isle of Wight which is off the South coast of England, but she has now made Durango her home. In the summertime Helen is a river guide on the beautiful Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. Helen can be reached at helen@durangonordic.org.
Evan Elliott, Head Coach
Evan grew up skiing for Durango Nordic Ski Club (DNSC), attending multiple regional and national championship races. At Fort Lewis College, he competed in their multi-national championship cycling team as a member of their downhill mountain biking team. Evan began his coaching career in 2007 and moved up to the assistant head coach position for DNSC, a title he held though the 2013 season. He was the assistant head coach for the Boulder Junior Nordic Race team for the 2014-2015 race season and then moved over to the Ski and Snowboard Club of Vail in the summer of 2015. In 2017, Evan accepted the Head Coach position for his home club of Durango Nordic Ski Club and held the position until the fall of 2019, when he joined Rossignol as their Nordic Race Manager.
Evan has been a coach for the Junior National team, Rocky Mountain Division, since 2012. In 2016, he became the head glide wax technician for the Rocky Mountain Division and was the head glide wax technician for the US Ski Team at the 2016 U23 World Championships in Roznov, Romania, and in 2017 at the U23 World Championships in Heber City, Utah. Evan can be reached at evan@durangonordic.org.
