VentureX Instructors

Billy Rankin started his outdoor career instructing and course directing for Outward Bound in Colorado, UT, Mexico, and Alaska, working long courses from 23-85 days mountaineering, rafting, canyoneering, and sea kayaking. Billy has worked as an avalanche practitioner in several diverse operational settings including backcountry ski guiding, ski patrolling, and avalanche forecasting. He has also taught avalanche courses for over 20 years and is currently an AIARE Rec 1 & 2 Course Leader and Pro 1 & 2 Instructor. Currently Billy is a lead guide for Irwin Guides and Eleven Experience in Crested Butte, Colorado working as a snowcat ski guide in the winter and guides many of summer’s activities. Billy has been a Wilderness EMT-B for 30 years and has patient care experience in ambulance, Search and Rescue, and Ski patrol settings. He has taught wilderness medicine for over 25 years with the Emergency Care & Safety Institute, NOLS Wilderness Medicine, and currently with Desert Mountain Medicine. Billy brings his years of diverse experience to create dynamic courses designed to prepare participants to care for patients and manage risk in real life situations.  

 Conor Finney was born and raised in Gunnison, CO and graduated from Gunnison High School in 2004. After taking a few years off from school he attended Western Colorado University formerly known as Western State College, where he received his Bachelor's degree in Mathematics with a minor in Economics. Finney briefly went to the University of Montana to pursue a PhD in Mathematics, and then traveled and skied and kayaked around the world. Returning to the Gunnison valley in the fall of 2017, Finney spent a few years working seasonal jobs and then went back to WCU to earn his Masters in Education. He did his student teaching at Gunnison High School and later accepted a position as the Technology teacher where he has been for the last three years. Finney has been teaching Ski Design and Production since then, updating and expanding the class every year.

Dawn Cooper is a classroom teacher and mtb instructor from Grand Junction. Born and raised in Grand Junction, Colorado, Dawn combined her background in education with her love of mountain biking to create Boneshaker Adventures, with the goal of providing transformative bike programs to inspire personal growth in kids and adults. 

boneshakeradventures.com

• Jen & Dawn will be accompanied by class assistant, teacher, and WSSCC E.D., Colin Sullivan.