By Christian Green, Executive Editor

Deer Valley, Utah, instructor and trainer Josh Pugmire fondly remembers when his dad introduced him and his sister to skiing in Washington State.

“My father has been a ski instructor most of his life, and after we moved from Hawaii when I was 6, he found a part-time job at Crystal Mountain [the state’s largest ski resort],” the 2026 Angus Graham Rising Star Award recipient said. “It became a weekend event for us to go up with him.”

It didn’t hurt that Pugmire’s dad carried an enticing treat with him on those cold chairlift rides in the Cascades. As they headed up the mountain, his dad would produce a bag full of rainbow fruity-flavored yumminess in the form of frozen Swedish fish, which helped pacify Pugmire and his sister during the ride up.

Over the next several years, Pugmire skied regularly with his family, and when he was a junior in high school, he became an instructor, because, as he described, “I didn’t have anything else to do.”

For the next two years, he taught six to 12 Saturdays each winter, but he didn’t catch the teaching bug until he moved to Utah for college. “Skiing was never really a passion until I started working at Deer Valley, and I realized how bad of a skier I was,” he said.

Pugmire added that before he became an instructor at Deer Valley, skiing was mostly about being outside and appreciating the fresh air, nature, and breathtaking views. However, it’s since evolved into what he describes as a puzzle. At the start of each lesson, he’ll often ask himself how he can provide guests with the best experience by determining what they want and catering to their needs.

“The puzzle is bringing it together and making sure that they’re having fun, but also learning,” he said. “Each individual is a unique challenge, and I find it exhilarating when I can figure out that challenge, change starts to happen, and it starts progressing down the hill.”

Employing People Skills, Showing Empathy in Instructing

Like most instructors, Pugmire understands that it’s often much easier to teach someone how to ski and then use those teaching concepts in practical application, based on a student’s ability and desired outcomes. But the magic ingredient is often the third domain of the Learning Connection^SM – people skills.

“I think the main pillar of what we do is being able to connect with people and be there in the moment,” he said, adding that he’s constantly focused on finding ways to engage his students, while also not being uncomfortable with silence.

He also strives to stay in the moment and values what he learns through interacting with his students. “Every single person you’ll ever meet knows something you don’t, and trying to find that and connect with it is a hobby of mine,” he said, as he strives to add others’ knowledge to his own knowledge and understanding.

Pugmire recognizes that what’s most important to students is what they take away from a lesson and the time they spend on snow. “At the end of the day, it’s not about the ski performance; it’s really about the experience being memorable and enjoyable,” he noted.

Therefore, when teaching lessons, Pugmire appreciates one demographic in particular. “I’ve been telling people the last year or two that I think my niche is middle-aged women,” Pugmire said. “They’re just so apt to learn and there’s a lack of ego. It’s a great group because they really want to improve so that they can ski with their kids, spouse, or whomever.”

Pugmire’s dedication to teaching is not lost on those at Deer Valley. As former PSIA National Team member/Alpine Team Head Coach and now Vice President, Skier Services Rob Sogard related, “I’ve witnessed firsthand the personal engagement, skill, professionalism, and humility that Josh has brought to our guests through his role as a ski teacher.”

Collaboration, Culture Help Define Deer Valley

After becoming a certified Level III alpine instructor in 2023, Pugmire, who also has his Children’s Specialist 1 credential, recently became a trainer at Deer Valley. To date, it’s been the highlight of his instructing career because he’s “been able to share knowledge with other instructors and vice versa and build upon those blocks of learning.”

His supervisor, Deer Valley Training Manager Maggie Loring, has seen this collegiality day in and day out, noting that Pugmire has “shown exceptional initiative in supporting instructor development – volunteering his time to coach and counsel staff working toward their own credentials.” Beyond Pugmire’s desire to see other instructors succeed, Loring added that he’s approachable, has a strong sense of purpose, and has established an environment where learning and collaboration go hand in hand.

As a trainer, Pugmire focuses on being present, being kind, and uplifting others, regardless of their certification level. It’s as simple as “two people sharing their experience on the hill and sharing information,” he expressed, adding that it’s easy to do so at Deer Valley because there are so many talented instructors.

“The culture is what really stands out,” Pugmire said of Deer Valley. “We have so many high-level instructors who are eager to share their passion with new instructors and those who may not have their Level II or III.”

This team-oriented environment referenced by Pugmire and Loring permeates the ski school. “People want to help each other, and they want to give the best lesson possible,” he said. “It’s the kindness that we share between each other as employees and that we share with guests that really makes Deer Valley what it is.”

A PSIA Success Story

Pugmire is grateful for the opportunities he’s received through the association, but despite being a Level III instructor and member of the Intermountain Region Development Team, there’s more he’d like to accomplish. “I’m pretty sure I still suck at skiing, but PSIA is the reason I am where I am,” he said. “I like to say that I’m a PSIA success story; I started from Level 0.”

Pugmire characterizes himself in this manner because he got a late start in being exposed to quality skiing on a consistent basis. Although his dad had strong roots in the association, he did not advance beyond Level I. Pugmire also pointed to the fact that he didn’t come from a racing background, nor did he have friends who pushed him on the slopes.

“I came into Deer Valley and PSIA, and they anchored me into what good skiing is,” he said. “So, I really appreciate the time I was able to devote to learning and becoming a dedicated instructor during college,” he said.

He also noted that Deer Valley and PSIA have helped develop him into the person he is today by providing discipline and a career path. “A lot of my values resonate with PSIA’s values – the teacher I am, the skier I am, the technician I am,” he said. “All of that is because I adopted these values as my main core.”

But Pugmire has also gotten to where he is today because of his humility and curiosity. “You can learn something from every interaction and from every event,” he said. “If you cultivate a learner’s mindset and go into everything trying to find value, you will always come away with added benefit rather than disappointment.”

Moving forward, Pugmire wants to continue to help make Deer Valley a hub for teaching, where instructors can feel like they’re valued and able to achieve their goals, while passing on what they’ve learned to guests and other instructors. After all, as Pugmire maintained, “Everyone wants to share that ‘Deer Valley Difference.’”

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In addition to Josh Pugmire, National Team member Justin Arndt also received this year’s Angus Graham Rising Star Award. You can read his Member ProFile in the Spring 2025 issue of 32 Degrees.

2026 PSIA-AASI National Award Recipients

Below are this year’s national award recipients. Watch Part 1 (above) and Part 2 of the 2026 Awards and Recognition Ceremony, from Copper Mountain, Colorado.