Our Coaches
About Our Coaches
At HVRC, our coaching staff is the heart of our program — a passionate, highly experienced team committed to developing well-rounded athletes both on and off the mountain. Many of our coaches bring decades of competitive racing and training experience, including backgrounds in USSA, NCAA, and international-level events. Their dedication goes beyond technique and speed; they mentor athletes in sportsmanship, resilience, and teamwork, fostering a love for skiing that lasts a lifetime. With deep roots in the local ski community and a shared commitment to youth development, our coaches create a fun, focused, and family-oriented environment for every athlete to thrive.
Brett Andrews
Brett brings a deep background in competitive alpine skiing to HVRC’s U14 program. He raced with the Killington Ski Club Alpine Race Team from 1992 to 2004 before joining the Yale University Alpine Race Team, where he led the squad to multiple team championships and captured the USCSA McBrine Division Male Overall Champion title four consecutive years (2005–2008). Brett rejoined the racing community as an HVRC coach in 2024, bringing decades of experience, technical knowledge, and a calm, analytical approach to coaching. Off the hill, Brett is an astrophysics research professor at the University of Pittsburgh, a field hockey player with the Steel Styx and USA Masters teams, a youth field hockey coach with the Cranberry Crushers — and a seasoned veteran in the art of stepping on Legos.
Lindsay Aroesty
Lindsay has a lifelong passion for alpine skiing and athlete development. She began racing with the Okemo Mountain Race Team (1988–1994) and later captained the Taft School’s Prep Alpine Team, earning MVP honors in 1999. From 2000 to 2023, she served as a ski instructor at Sugarloaf USA’s renowned Perfect Turn Ski School, blending technical expertise with an encouraging, learner-focused approach. A USSA Level 1 certified coach since 2022, Lindsay joined HVRC the same year and brings both professional polish and a personal stake — as a full-time working mom of two HVRC racers. Off the slopes, she serves as Vice President of Development and Donor Services at The Pittsburgh Foundation and finds time for marathons (she’s completed five), tennis, and golf.
Michelle Newstadt
Michelle brings over two decades of experience in youth ski instruction and coaching to HVRC’s U10 program. She began teaching at Campgaw Mountain in 1998 and coached with the Rattlers Ski Team before moving west to work with Park City Mountain Resort’s U10 race program and ski school. A PSIA Level 1 instructor since 2000, Michelle joined HVRC in 2023 and blends her background in education (PhD, 2014) with a thoughtful, technique-driven approach tailored for young athletes. Off the slopes, she is the Product Strategy Director at BrainPOP, an adventurer at heart (traveling, kayaking, camping, and baking), and proudly serves as the unofficial “equipment manager” and #1 fan for her kids’ other sports.
James Pottinger
With over three decades of experience in alpine instruction and race coaching, James Pottinger is a pillar of HVRC and our U16 program, serving as a coach and trusted Board Advisor. He began teaching at Hidden Valley Resort in 1988 and has trained athletes and instructors at Seven Springs Mountain ever since. A former MVSC club racer, James also coached with WPRC from 2009–2020 before joining HVRC in 2020. He holds a PSIA Level 3 certification and serves as an Eastern Division Examiner, and is also a USSS Level 200 Coach. James is an educator by profession and a lifelong outdoor enthusiast — whether mountain biking, remodeling homes, running youth NICA mountain bike teams, or just playing with his kids.
Steve Jupena
Steve has been a foundational member of HVRC’s coaching team since 2006, back when the club had just six racers. A 30+ year PSIA member and Alpine Level III certified instructor, he’s taught at Hidden Valley, Laurel Mountain, and Blue Knob since 1990. Steve also brings nearly two decades of experience as a USSS Level 100 coach, with roots in competitive racing at Penn State (1982–1983) and in the Boyne/Metro Detroit ski leagues. A former HVRC board member, Steve combines deep technical expertise with decades of mentorship. Off the slopes, he’s a seasoned mechanical engineer (Penn State ‘83) with 40+ years in industrial sales and application engineering. When not coaching, you’ll find him fishing for steelhead, boating on Lake Ontario, golfing, hiking, or playing in the Old Timer’s Baseball League.
“Exactly one day in your life your kid will ski as good as you do. The next day they’ll ski better than you.” – Warren Miller
Anne Jupena
A former HVRC athlete turned coach, Anne has been part of the Hidden Valley racing community since 2006. She raced with the club from 2006 to 2011 and returned in 2016 to begin coaching with the U10 program, where she shares her love of the sport with the next generation of racers. Anne is currently pursuing her USSS Level 100 certification (expected 2025) and brings a fun, athlete-first approach to skill development and team culture. Off the hill, Anne works as a Compensation Analyst in Human Resources and enjoys reading, running, traveling, concerts, and spending time with her husband Drew and their dog, Blue.
Cole Baughman
Cole is an HVRC alumnus who now brings his energy and leadership to the U12 coaching team. He raced with Hidden Valley Race Club from 2010 to 2019, then continued his competitive skiing career at Penn State, where he served as team president in 2022 and was named a USCSA Scholar All-American in 2023. Cole has been coaching with HVRC since 2019, and his deep understanding of the athlete journey — from grom to collegiate racer — helps him connect with skiers at every level. Off the slopes, Cole works as a software engineer and spends his time traveling (ideally to ski), golfing, playing volleyball, or experimenting with 3D printing.“Exactly one day in your life your kid will ski as good as you do. The next day they’ll ski better than you.” – Warren Miller
Patrick Koch
Patrick brings decades of coaching and race experience to HVRC’s U14 program. He raced with the Mercersburg Academy Ski Team from 1996 to 1999, earning a spot on the PARA State Team in his senior year. He went on to instruct at Sugarloaf USA’s Perfect Turn Ski School for over two decades, while also coaching U10–U18 racers at Whitetail and Mercersburg Academy from 2006 to 2008. Patrick joined HVRC in 2016 and earned his USSS Level 100 certification in 2022. As both a coach and HVRC board member, he brings leadership, technical expertise, and a deep commitment to youth alpine development. Off the slopes, Patrick works in mobile material handling equipment distribution and can often be found on the hill helping athletes push their limits — and having fun doing it.
Max Crossley
Max brings an international perspective and lifelong love of skiing to HVRC’s U12 team. He got his start in the French Alps with ESF’s 3ème Étoile program (1983–1989) and went on to race for the Mountain Lakes High School Ski Team in New Jersey from 1994 to 1998. Max joined HVRC as a coach in 2019 and earned his USSS Level 100 certification in 2022. His approach balances technique, fun, and athlete development in a supportive team environment. Off the hill, Max works as a Software Engineering Manager and spends his free time sailing, rock climbing, and mountain biking.