TRAILBLAZERS: After 45 years at Deer Valley, Letitia Lussier still finds magic on the mountain

Letitia Lussier, a longtime Deer Valley Resort ski pro, reflects on a 45-year career centered on safety, confidence and connection to the mountains. Photo: Letitia Lussier

PARK CITY, Utah — Letitia Lussier remembers the woman from South Africa with gorgeous red hair who broke down crying at the top of the bunny hill.

“She just got so terrified at the top of what is considered an easy run,” said Lussier, a ski pro at Deer Valley Resort. “Working with her over time to get over that fear, and to feel comfortable and confident — that’s the other thing. I try to build confidence in their skills so they can enjoy the sport and the whole package of skiing.”

This experience shaped how Lussier approached instruction throughout her 45-year career at Deer Valley—a career that began before the resort officially opened in 1981.

“The thing that I’m most concerned about is safety, and I won’t compromise safety in any fashion,” Lussier said. “We’re going out in the mountains with conditions and terrain that are constantly changing, and it’s important that they are willing to do what I ask them to do to maintain that level of safety, so that they can feel more confident.”

Lussier’s journey to Park City began in Maine, where she grew up skiing and dreamed of exploring the West. The chance to be a part of a new resort after ski vacation at Snowbird was both exciting and daunting. “I realized I could pursue a dream and go to college while teaching skiing,” said Lussier. “Teaching paid my way through university.” She earned an art degree from the University of Utah, continues to paint, and spends summers as a park ranger.

Deer Valley has grown from 23 instructors when it opened to hundreds today. Lussier said she tries to introduce herself to colleagues she hasn’t met. She wants them to feel welcome and realize that they’re a team. While she misses the intimacy of the early years, she appreciates the benefits newer ownership has brought to staff. “Many of my colleagues are like family, and I value that very highly,” she shared.

Another meaningful change over the years has been seeing some of Lussier’s students return each season. Now, she even skis with the grandchildren of families she first taught decades ago. “It’s a wonderful feeling to just know these people. You become sort of like family friends,” she said. “I’m an extrovert, so I have no problem meeting new people. I hope to turn them on to skiing. I’ve always felt I was really good at skiing with a fearful, reluctant person, and helping them find the fun, the excitement, and the thrill of it all.”

Lussier tells adults learning to ski later in life to start slowly and communicate openly. “I’m not a mind reader,” she said. “Quite often, somebody might have some sort of goal in mind for that person, and that might not be the right thing for that person or what they want. In order for learning to happen, it has to be that two-way communication.”

Lussier hopes students leave with a deeper appreciation for the environment, beyond just technique. “Skiing gets people who really don’t have the opportunity to be outside like that. It gives them a chance to connect and experience our wonderful landscape, our wonderful mountains,” she said.

Her favorite moments still reflect that wonder—stellar snowflakes landing on children’s gloves, or pausing to observe a sun dog with students. “Sometimes you can never repeat it,” Lussier said. “As an artist, I’m constantly inspired by the landscape. It doesn’t matter how many years I’ve skied at Deer Valley. It still feels like magic, each day can look quite different, and I can always see something I’ve never seen before.”

After 45 years, she is amazed at how fast time has passed. “I’m grateful to have done this,” Lussier said. “People should appreciate what they have when they’re outside skiing. Sometimes people get so focused on skiing that they miss what’s around them. Appreciate it and share that moment with people you care about.”