2021-24 National Team: Meet Ben Potts
Ben Potts is a member of the 2021-24 PSIA-AASI National Team where he will help set the standard for snowsports instruction. PSIA-AASI hand-selected the 37 team members – 8 coaches and 29 team members – for their range of skills that allow them to serve as inspirational leaders and build enthusiasm for learning and having fun skiing and riding.
Listen to PSIA Alpine Team member Ben Potts in this podcast.
Where is your home mountain?
Breckenridge, Colorado
What other occupations are you involved in?
Farming and noxious weed management
Describe a teaching or learning experience that sticks out in your mind.
A couple summers ago, I signed up for Dave Lyon’s Race Camp to expand my skills. Dave made me feel supported and included from the moment I arrived, and it was a fun week of learning.
What are your specialties as a team member?
I have always valued being a well-rounded skier, and for me, freestyle is a big part of a rounded skillset. I also enjoy the raw excitement kids have for skiing.
Any relevant certifications?
Alpine Level III and Adaptive Level I. Freestyle Specialist 3 and Children’s Specialist 2. United States Ski and Snowboard (USSA) Freeskiing Level 300.
Is there anything we missed asking?
As instructors, we put everything we have into our lessons – so it’s important we maintain our spark through the season. Find something that helps you stay excited. For me, it’s watching skiing videos while I eat breakfast.
Who is your greatest inspiration as an instructor?
I’ve been fortunate to work with a great number of inspirational educators. The first person who inspired me to strive for excellence as an instructor is Kevin Eddy of Breckenridge, Colorado. Kevin was my trainer for my Level I certification prep course. During training, Kevin created a session environment that fostered a lot of collaboration and community and made training feel like a group of friends going out for a rip. I was hooked.
Over the years Kevin has been a trainer, mentor, peer, and one of my best friends. I’ve learned a great deal from his experiences, both failure and success. You would be hard-pressed to find a more genuine person who loves skiing and is dedicated to helping other people have fun learning how to ski.
Best part of teaching?
I’ve always enjoyed watching people grow. Typically, I’ve thought of growth as “breakthroughs” during lessons. The longer I teach, the more I get to see students compound growth not only in skiing, but also their growth as a person. Having a positive influence on people’s skiing as well as their lives is the ultimate reward.
What’s your favorite run at your home mountain?
Park Lane, or “The Lane,” is Breck’s main terrain park. Regardless of snow conditions, there is always something fun going on in The Lane.
