About Us
“Elevation Everest was created to facilitate more unique finish line moments for the endurance community.”
In 2022, I crossed the finish line of my first Ironman triathlon. It was the first long-form endurance event I'd ever attempted, and what surprised me wasn't just the physical challenge- it was the entire journey. The months of training, the highs and lows, the discipline of executing a plan, and ultimately crossing that finish line in front of friends and family. That experience was genuinely transformational. It shifted something in me about what I believed I was capable of, and that shift carried into every corner of my life - my athletic pursuits, my professional work, all of it.
It made me want to create that experience for other people.
The question was format. There are thousands of races across the country, but nearly all of them are defined by distance. Living in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, the answer felt obvious: build an event defined entirely by elevation gain. A race measured not in miles, but in vertical feet. And when it came time to choose a measuring stick for what "going the distance" really means in the mountains, there was only one choice — the world's tallest peak.
That's how Elevation Everest was born.
We've poured enormous effort into curating an event-day experience worthy of the challenge, one that brings athletes and teams into the mountains for a day of competition, community, live entertainment, and celebration. Beyond the race itself, we're committed to leaving the mountains better than we found them, which is why a portion of every ticket sold goes toward planting trees in our national forests.
We're proud of the community that's grown around this event and are just getting started. We hope to see you on the mountain.
— Dan, Founder & Race Director
Meet the Team
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Dan Mosko
Founder & Race Director
Dan is an avid outdoorsman, Ironman, and big brother. During the warmer months, you can find him tearing through front range mountain bike trails on his mountain bike, losing flies on the Eagle River, or searching for a new campsite. Winter brings first chair laps at Winter Park, back country exploration on Vail Pass and backyard bonfires. Dan spent years in the corporate world before leaving that behind to focus on building experiences and products in the mountains. His favorite quote is “Life is too short to spend weekends on a couch”.
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Alex DeSantis
Co-Founder & Finance Lead
Alex joined the EE team with a background in corporate finance, venture-backed startups, and strategy consulting. Outside of work, you can find him in the Rocky Mountains chasing powder on his snowboard, hiking to new peaks, camping with his friends, or napping in his hammock.
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Kayla Mackay
Co-Founder & Marketing Lead
Kayla comes from a career in product marketing and has experience organizing philanthropic events. Coupled with her love for the outdoors, she’s excited to be leading the marketing efforts for Elevation Everest. Outside of work, you’ll find her taking part in all the activities CO has to offer, from hiking, backpacking, and mountain biking in the summer, to skiing and watching Dan ~ attempt ~ backflips on the mountain in the winter.
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Michael Raspatello
Strategic Advisor
Mike founded Rivalfish at the University of Michigan in 2003, later taking on roles such as producing a prominent national radio show, co-founding major music festivals, and earning an MBA from Kellogg. His work at AB-InBev included launching a joint venture with Condé Nast and directing "Festival," a documentary that explores the impact of music festivals. In 2023, Mike turned his full attention to Raspatello & Co., aimed at driving industry innovation and enhancing brand connections. He currently leads Kinsfield, offering cannabis-friendly hospitality in Michigan, and his consultancy assists notable clients like Outside Interactive in developing experiential events and strategies across the hospitality and CPG industries
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Loni Peterson
Event Production and Logistics
Loni has over ten years in event production experience and is a full-time college professor at the University of Colorado Boulder in the Advertising and PR Department. When she is not executing her client's events she is freelancing for a major ad agency and has had the opportunity to produce for Coachella and the Super Bowl. In her free time she likes to take walks with her pup Dax, and hit the trail with her horses Dusty and Sarge. She is excited to be a part of the EE team and looks forward to welcoming all the athletes and supporters at Base Camp!
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Derek Spence
Base Camp Operations
Derek is an Event Producer and Operations Director with 20 years of experience working to develop ideas into experiences for brands from Red Bull, Mr. Beast, Google and more. Organizing logistics for intimate gatherings to large-scale human gatherings for countless music festivals (Coachella, Lollapalooza, Ultra, etc) and government-run relief efforts with FEMA and Refugee Camps. His passion is creating new experiences for people to enjoy, be challenged, and feel inspired.
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Chris Gabayan
Media Director
Chris is a U.S. Army Veteran turned filmmaker and photographer with an affinity for endurance events. He is an ultra-marathon runner who loves anything to do with fulfilling one’s purpose, passion, and happiness. While building his business, “Gabayan Media” Chris returned to service in the U.S. Army Reserve as a leader in an Airborne Combat Camera unit. On the weekends, you can find him parachuting out of aircraft documenting our nation’s service members.