National Team 2021-24: Meet Emily Lovett
Emily Lovett is a member of the 2021-24 PSIA-AASI National Team where she 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.
Meet PSIA Cross Country Team Coach Emily Lovett in this podcast.
Where is your home mountain?
Lake Catamount Touring Center in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
What other occupations are you involved in?
Co-director at Steamboat Nordic Camp and West Yellowstone Ski Camp and ski school manager at Lake Catamount Touring Center.
Describe a teaching or learning experience that sticks out in your mind.
In a clinic setting, we used the teaching, people, and technical fundamentals as our foundation and then explored participants interests and goals for learning. The format let us all learn from each other and we had so much fun together. I get excited about environments that realize the learning potential of a connected team.
What are your specialties as a team member?
Train the trainer, new trainer development, team building facilitation, certification standards training, indoor presentations, coaching youth program, coaching master programs.
Any relevant certifications?
PSIA Cross Country Team Coach. Rocky Mountain Division trainer. United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) Level 200 Cross Country Coach.
Who is your greatest inspiration as an instructor?
Jon Engen was an inspiration to me as an instructor and coach. He would introduce a basic fundamental of skiing and then we would practice, practice and practice more, usually while taking an adventurous ski. He never tried to explain too much verbally, but he did have brilliant coaching cues. By the end of clinic, we would often be able to answer our own questions about a technique or tactical point he had made earlier. I still use many of his simple coaching cues in my clinics today.
Best part of teaching?
The best part of teaching is the connections I make in the present moment while helping someone achieve or make progress toward their goals. The other “best” is how much I learn each time I teach. After teaching a lesson or clinic I love tuning into what I learned that day.
What’s your favorite run at your home mountain?
My favorite trail at Lake Catamount Touring Center is Baldy (it sits at the base of Mt. Baldy). There is never a dull moment on this 4.5 km trail. You climb and then descend, climb again and then enter a fun skate turn descending curve. A couple more ups and down wrap up the loop. I always get my Nordic flow mindset on this trail.
