When David Loman skied, he was free.  

Floating and flowing, the weight of the world was lifted. There was no defined path, and the only choice that mattered was which line to take.  

Whether flying on powder or carving on groomers, skiing gave Loman the feeling of being able to do anything, and it gave him a community where he could create joy, said Dan Loman, David’s older brother. 

David MacIver Loman — also known as Dave, Dave the Rave, Davey Baby, Davey Jones, or Dirty Dave — died on April 15, 2025, at 37 years old. 

David was born in Randolph, Vermont, and raised in Killington. Growing up, he was an avid skier and soccer player, balancing competitiveness with comradery.  

He was creative and wicked smart. He found meaning in stories and choose to study English and films in college.  

Friends described him as present in the moment, adventurous, and able to make puns on the fly. 

David followed his father, Roy, to Whitefish a couple of years after high school. He continued to ski race with Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation before heading to Missoula to finish his degree.  

Madeline Williams, a longtime friend who raced with David, and a current Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation race coach, said that David was playful on and off the slopes.  

“Skiing with him was like being with a kid,” she said.  

He wouldn’t acknowledge that he was also an extremely talented skier.  

“He was incredibly humble. He would say, ‘Oh, you’re so good, so and so is better than me.” 

Like a true skier, David worked several different jobs, from a gig at the Mountain Mall, to maintenance, to summer resort operations, to instructing and coaching skiers on Big Mountain and Blacktail. A jack of all trades and master of skiing, he was also a bootfitter in Bozeman for a time.  

In everything he did, he was known for being kind and empathic.  

As an instructor, “like my father, he was always looking out for every kid,” Dan said. 

“He was a jovial guy,” Dan said. “Not light-hearted but smiling because he was interested in what you had to say, and he cared.  

“David would answer particularly to those who were overlooked. He would go the extra mile to find out how they were doing.” 

All of which was twofold. 

“He was genuine,” Dan said. “He wanted for no other reason than for someone to be happy. But I think also, as a part of the fact that he was struggling, he could see hurt more than most could.” 

David struggled with alcoholism and “had the weight of the world on him,” Dan said. 

Williams said that regardless, he was always there for other people.  

“He was always down to talk or go for a run or coffee or whatever,” she said. “You could ask him about what’s going on in his life and he would deflect back to you and want to talk about you.”  

ABOUT 10 days after David’s memorial in June 2025, Dan was driving back to California with his wife and Dave’s dog Pesto. 

The grief was “uncontrollable,” Dan said, but he had clarity in one thing.  

“I knew, pretty quickly, that good needed to come from the loss,” he said.  

While still on the drive, Dan filled out the paperwork to establish the David MacIver Loman Memorial Foundation.  

“It was certainly too early, but I wanted to harness that grief and put it to good use,” Dan said.  

The foundation’s goal is to prevent similar tragedies by reducing stigma around seeking help and by increasing access to mental health care resources. 

“While we can recognize the extent to which David was struggling, we never put the puzzle together to prevent the tragedy,” Dan said.  

Stigma is particularly tough in smaller Montana and Vermont communities, Dan said.  

“We believe that had there been a little less stigma, and maybe if the financial constraints hadn’t been there, he could have found help that would have prevented the loss of life.”  

A second goal for the foundation is to provide access to what David loved doing, through things such as skiing scholarships and film events.  

Underlying both goals is the desire to bring joy to the world in the way David would have, Dan said. 

THE LAST WEEKEND of January, Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation hosted the first ever David Loman Memorial Races at Whitefish Mountain Resort.  

Staff took the initiative in proposing the event last year, and regional programmers embraced it. 

“The organizers were gracious in letting the family play a substantive role as a tribute,” Dan said. 

Dan served as a forerunner and David’s father Roy officiated as the start referee. Sarah and Esther Loman, David’s mom and sister, created Ski for Dave signs at the finish area and provided special notes for racers.  

According to Roy, the foundation staff and board members, with further support from Whitefish community members and other friends of David, all together organized a program that successfully raised awareness of mental health and suicide prevention in a way that was impactful and age-appropriate for both families.  

“The weather turned out well, the resort gave a lot of support, and people who we didn’t expect, really picked up on it, and just filled in a lot of gaps, and expanded it,” Roy said. “It was profound for us as a family, to not only see the recognition that Dave got, but also to send the message that we hoped for.”   

A total of 140 U8-U14 athletes, 49 from Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation, raced.  

Each one had the opportunity to take in this manifesto, which played on speakers when Dan ran down the hill: 

Ski for Dave. Ski for the climb. Ski for the fall - and the rise after. Ski for those still finding their footing. Ski for the ones who fight uphill every day. Ski fast. Ski free. Ski kind. Ski for something bigger than snow. Ski for light, even in the storm. Ski for joy. Ski for strength. Ski for grace. Ski for Dave.  

The mantra was printed on the inside of the backs of T-shirts as well — an ode to the style of David’s favorite Bode Miller “Join Bodie” printed T-shirt growing up.  

Williams said that the event has fit into a larger conversation across the state about mental health, especially with young athletes and skiers. 

David’s story isn't the only one to reverberate throughout the community. 

From future events, to forming partnerships for mental health care, Dan said they look forward to continuing to spread the message and “David Loman love.”  

For more info and to support the David Maclver Loman Foundation, visit daveloman.com.

    David Loman with family. (Photo provided)
  

    David Loman with Pesto.
  

    Dan Loman stands near a sign at the finish area at the David Loman Memorial races at Whitefish Mountain Resort. (Photo provided)