Today we’d like to introduce you to Heidi Emery.
The Blue Angels Youth Ski & Snowboard Program was founded in 1992 by ski industry veteran Heidi to give children and teenagers an opportunity to experience the sports of snowboarding and skiing. The program caters to all ability levels, first-timers to experts, and provides a safe environment in which youth can ski or snowboard with other snow sports enthusiasts while learning new skills from a professional coach. The program is hosted by Mountain High Resort at Sierra-at-Tahoe.
The Blue Angels has had more than 15,000 children and teenagers attend its program. The company has been recognized by the industry as having a model program for youth entering or furthering their development in the sports of skiing and snowboarding. Program participants are placed in groups of 8-10, based on age and ability, and then assigned to a resort instructor (coach) for the duration of the program. The consistency of having the same coach each Saturday and having groups of equal age and ability are an ideal formula for rapid advancement. Blue Angel participants advance an average of three levels each season. According to Dena Yocom, parent of 13-year-old Weston, “Our son participated with the Blue Angels last year and is excited about doing it again this year. He started the program as a beginner, and with the small groups of similarly skilled snowboarders, he has rapidly advanced to an intermediate level. It has been a tremendously positive experience for our son.”
The resort instructors also enjoy being a part of California’s only comprehensive youth ski and snowboard coaching program. According to program director Heidi Emery, “Our program is very rewarding to the instructors. It gives them a chance to really get to know each participant and work individually with everyone in their group. Assessing each participant’s progress over five Saturdays gives the coaches an opportunity to fine-tune each participants’ skills. In fact, the program is so popular with the instructors that they have been known to rearrange their schedules to compete for a position to coach the program.”
The on-snow experience is not the only feature that draws young snowboarders and skiers to this unique program. They also enjoy the lifestyle aspect of the sport that includes socializing with other young snowboarders and skiers during lunch and at the days end. The private group area designated for “Blue Angels Only” features a kid/teen friendly area with music, pro-rider appearances, sponsor giveaways from Billabong, Spy, Seirus and more. Plus, participants enjoy munching on food and snacks from Clif Bar, Subway, Domino’s and local restaurants.
The 2018 Blue Angels program dates are January 20, 27; February 3, 10 and 24. The program cost is $949 and includes five full days of coaching, lift tickets, luxury bus transportation and lunch. Sponsor goody bags and discounts on rental/leasing equipment also included. For more information visit the Blue Angel web site at www.BlueAngelSnow.com.
Heidi is no stranger to the ski industry. Born in Newport Beach, CA in 1964, she and her family moved to Brian Head, Utah when she was just three years old. Heidi’s parents, Bill and Gail Thompsen, packed up and left the beach behind for the snow to satisfy their newfound passion, skiing. Shortly after arriving in Brian Head, Heidi’s father became the General Manager of the Brian Head Ski Resort.
After seven memorable years in Utah, the family headed to Yosemite Valley where they spent their winter afternoons and weekends on the slopes at Badger Pass Ski Resort. Heidi’s parents enjoyed serving a term as co-presidents of the Yosemite Winter Club, while Heidi and her brother, Chris, ski raced under the direction of industry legends, Leroy “Rusty” Rust and Nick Fiorre.
South Lake Tahoe was the next chapter for the Thompsen family, where her father took on the job of Assistant General Manager of Heavenly Ski Resort. Although Heidi’s father passed away after only one year at Heavenly, he left an indelible mark on children’s lives through his passion for the mountains and skiing. This passion inspired Heidi to pass on her love of skiing and a newfound passion for snowboarding to her own children and other children throughout California.
Heidi attended college at the University of California, Los Angeles where she received a B.A. in Psychology, with a Business Emphasis in 1987. After college Heidi worked for Powder and Snowboarder magazines as Promotions Director. She traveled the country hosting Snowboarder magazines’ “Learn to Shred” events and overseeing Powder Magazines’ “Powder Performance Centers” for two years before embarking out on her own with the Blue Angels. Heidi met her husband Griff, also a ski industry veteran, while attending UCLA. Although Heidi, Griff and their two children, Cobi age 22 and Kaili age 19, love skiing and snowboarding, they decided to settle in San Diego, California.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We have gone through many ups and downs over the past 25+ years in business. First of all, we have seen the ratio of skiers vs. snowboarders’ flip-flop not once, but twice. We have gone through a major economic downturn, several winters virtually without snow, a few winters with too much snow and recently increasing competition from competitive youth sports. We have also been faced with continually rising costs in the ski and snowboard industries.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Our focus on customer service and strive to achieve our goals set in our mission statement each and every day:
Our mission is to provide positive snow-riding experiences for youth that will enhance their personal and social growth. Blue Angel Snow fosters this development by emphasizing athletic development and independence in a supportive, fun and friend-filled environment.
Contact Info:
- Address: 910 Camino Del Mar, Ste. F, Del Mar, CA 92014
- Website: www.BlueAngelSnow.com
- Phone: 858-509-8926
- Email: info@blueangelsnow.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blueangelsnow/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlueAngelSnow/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlueAngelSnow
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
