Kristin Cooksey – Women’s History Month Spotlight

Department: Development Teams

Years at Palisades Tahoe: 8 years

Jobs Held: Palisades Tahoe Development Teams Senior Manager

How did you first come to Tahoe and Palisades Tahoe?
I originally came to Tahoe because I wanted to raise my kids here and knew skiing was an industry I wanted to work in long term. I grew up in Big Bear Lake, California, near Snow Summit, and worked there for my father and brother. I also worked at Mammoth Mountain. Once I had kids, I knew Tahoe would be the place for us, and I had a job at Sugar Bowl Academy. I moved to Team Palisades Tahoe specifically for the coach educational opportunities and US Ski and Snowboard level 300 support.

I’ve always worked with kids and teens. After a severe ski accident as an athlete, I started coaching at a young age and never stopped. I moved into coaching development racing because traveling with older athletes for their race schedules was becoming too difficult with having a family. The only ski coaching positions that allowed me to have a 9-5 schedule are with younger age groups. Eventually, I worked my way into Ski Team Management.

My dad was a ski school director, so I was born into the industry. When I had to stop ski racing, I had a lot of opportunities to learn about the ski industry. Coaching ski racing was important to me, and I was passionate about it. I remember my first female ski coaches and bosses, Karen Lundgren and Dolores Poodts, and I thought they were so amazing, that we need more of them. If we don’t have more women involved with athletes and staff, we won’t be able to instill the same mentorship and guidance that I experienced when I was younger. Ski racing can feel very cowboy and edgy and having women in those roles is powerful. You can be a girl and professional and enjoy yourself and have this adventurous edge. It’s a very freeing experience.

What is your favorite part of your job?
The community is my favorite part of the job. Within the staff, families, and athletes, we really foster a sense of togetherness. It’s amazing to watch the growth in athletes and coaches over the years—sometimes we work with athletes for 8-9 years and see them come back as coaches or sign up their own children to be TPT team athletes. This is incredibly rewarding. Things truly come full circle.

I believe that fostering this community is key. If we don’t maintain it, it won’t continue. I don’t know of many industries that are like that.

What are the most challenging parts of your job?
Staffing is always a challenge. Team Palisades Tahoe is the largest in North America, maybe even the world, and we serve 1700-1800 athletes, from fundamentals to FIS. Finding coaches with the right potential and fit can be tough, especially when you want to retain quality coaches. The demand for our Team is high, and it can be difficult to meet the coaching needs of all the programs. Our Team is 3 years into bringing in international coach talent through our H-2B Visa program, which has helped with staffing immensely. My experience as a coach for the Queens Town Ski Team in New Zealand helped me when developing the team’s visa program and finding staff through those past coaching networks.

Growing our team while prioritizing our legacy and athletic excellence can be tricky. We want our team to perform at its best, but the sheer popularity of our program can bring some challenges. How can we be fast-paced and professional, but create a small team feeling within a large staff? We have a huge focus on creating a positive culture, which ultimately leads to better retention.

What are you most proud of?
I’m incredibly proud of how many people have moved through this team and risen up the ranks. I love helping people find something they are passionate about and excel at. Seeing them fall in love with coaching skiing and finding opportunities at Palisades Tahoe is so rewarding. I’m proud to create an environment where people can live out their passions and pursue a career they love, outside of a traditional office setting. We don’t all fit in a cubicle!

Not everyone thinks that this industry supports being a working professional. I’m so happy my dad and brother were big examples for me on how to make it work and figure it out along the way. I really enjoy my role now and have the consistency I want.

What’s a key lesson you’ve learned through these projects?
Don’t take everything at face value. It is incredibly important to be observant. Whether you’re on the hill with an athlete or working within the company with staff and other departments, being observant allows you to find solutions and have a larger impact. There are so many moving pieces every year—300-400 employees—so you must work with many people with different levels and needs. Don’t be quick to judge. Observing goes hand in hand with problem solving which is so important with moving pieces and multifaceted parts of this industry. I love how it’s all tied in.

What is a typical day in the life?
My day varies. During the week, it’s mostly meetings, team projects, and getting coaches ready. On the weekends, I get up early for safety meetings and athlete drop-offs. It’s a massive operation. We have to be punctual to get athletes up early on the Funitel and Tram, I with my team make sure approx.. 480 athletes are out of the base area on time and safe. It’s a great opportunity to connect with the athletes and warm up for the day with positivity.

On race or training days, I support head coaches, ensure training venues are ready, and check in with staff. A big part of my job is coach education and on-hill logistics. I also conduct meetings with Teams families to help parents understand the language of our sport and program.

After all of that, I still find time to do some laps and check in with head coaches to prep for the next day. It is so important to get face time with the head coaches to see what their needs are and how to best support them. Paperwork and athlete injuries may be part of the day as well.

Favorite ski runs?

Heidi’s, especially on a powder day. Chute 75 for great moguls. North Bowl for wind buff. Magoos whenever I can.

Outside of work, what activities do you enjoy?
I’m a busy mom and wife, balancing being a caretaker for my father and raising two kids—one in middle school and one in elementary school. I try to be as present as possible, attending baseball games and being involved in my kids’ school activities. I also love going on walks, hikes and traveling the world with my family. Watching my kids grow is my favorite thing. Through coaching and seeing so many generations of kids, I realize how fast they grow. It is one of my top priorities to be present with my kids and savor every moment.

What advice do you have for women in the ski industry?
I remember watching a 2018 video by Deb Armstrong “The case for more female coaches in ski racing”, with Karin Harjo who was the first female head coach of a national ski team. Karin said, “If you can see it, you can be it.” For women in the industry, it’s so important to find a place where you will have support and female role models who can help you along the way.

Dee Byrne, the former President and COO of Palisades Tahoe, was another major influence. She was one of the first women I saw in such a prominent position. She was great at bringing teams and differing opinions together. Having role models like her gave me the confidence to pursue my career and believe I could make a difference.