Loon Instructor Repping Parlor This Season
Costa Leotsakos first got into skiing at the age of 13 through Cambridge Ridge and the Latin Alpine Ski club. He hasn't looked back since. He has been an instructor at Loon for over 25 years, and we're stoked to get him on some Parlors!
Parlor: Tell us your life story as seen through skiing (skip all that boring stuff that doesn't involve playing in the snow).
CL: Simply put I love skiing. It defines who I am. I am very passionate about the sport. I see every day on snow as an amazing gift that I do not take for granted. There is something terrific I can find in any condition of skiing. As Warren Miller once said there is no such thing as bad weather but bad clothing. Recently I took my wife and six year old son skiing in the rain. All three of us had smiles from ear to ear.
I became a junior instructor at Youth Enrichment Service (YES) in Boston volunteer during sophomore year of high school. I actively volunteered and ran ski trip for YES while attending Norwich University. I received my PSIA level one certification while volunteering for YES. I would regularly take anywhere from 12 to 100 high school kids from Boston public schools every Saturday and Sunday on day trips to many of the large ski area’s in New England. I loved my YES experience however I wanted to challenge myself so 26 years ago I decided to become a part time Ski Instructor. I have had the opportunity to teach people from age 2 to 83. I love teaching. I am PSIA level II certified instructor. I have passed the level III ski portion of the exam and am in the process of taking my level III teaching exam. I have had the opportunity at Loon to be on the training staff for almost twenty years. I have trained Loon new hires and returning staff for early season and ongoing training.
Parlor: Your home mountain is Loon. Tell us a little about what makes Loon so great.
CL: I have had the honor to teach at Loon Mountain for twenty six years. I have developed some amazing friendships with fellow instructors and many of the customers / pass holders. For twenty five of the last twenty six years I have taught Loon’s most high profile customers in the adult seasonal program. Many of my students are current or former business titans in the Boston area. These folks are Doctors, Partners in high profile law firms, and Executives in the entertainment industry, etc. These folks are type AA people with large ego’s and my job is to show a good time teach or refine their current game and keep everyone happy.
Parlor: Tell us about the most epic ski day of your life.
CL: I could tell you about a time in Zermat or I could tell you a time about skiing in the back bowls of Vail. But my most epic ski day was teaching my son how to ski at Loon Mountain magic carpet when he was twenty months old. That day rocked my world!
Parlor: What do you like about working with Parlor?
CL: Everyone I have met has been very nice. The ethos of the business is built by people who love skiing and are passionate about skiing.
Parlor: Favorite apres beverage?
CL: I love drinking my day old coffee in the front seat of my car in the employee lot at Loon while reflect on an awesome day of skiing. Then a tall glass of water and two to three Long Trail IPA’s while I ice my knees and start suppah on a Saturday night.
____
There you have it! Make sure to keep an eye for Costa at Loon this year. Maybe if you ask nicely he'll let you take a run on his Parlors!