In winter sports, coaching goes far beyond physical preparation.
It’s about building mental resilience in the face of pressure. It’s about preparing athletes to adapt when the weather conditions shift, when routines are disrupted, and when performance hinges on a single moment. It’s about managing unpredictability on the mountain, on the ice, and in the mind.
In this spotlight, we’re featuring three winter sport coaches with distinct approaches to shaping a winning season. Because the road to the podium isn’t solo. It’s built on trust, strategy, and the right coach behind the scenes.
Carolyn Williams: “Training on the ice needs variability.”
- Business: NEVE MOVE
- Niche: Mountain Sports Coach
- Instagram | Everfit Marketplace Listing
Carolyn came to coaching through years spent in alpine environments, combined with a background in education and movement training. Early on, she noticed a pattern: many mountain athletes had strong lungs and solid gym strength, but lacked the joint control, durability, and movement quality needed for long days on changing terrain.
That’s where her focus shifted.
Carolyn designs training that prioritizes tissue strength, joint stability, and efficient movement. Her approach is shaped by the unpredictable nature of the mountains. By building flexibility and variability into training, she prepares the whole body to adapt:
- Strength through full ranges of motion, unilateral loading, and multi-planar stability to support smart decision-making under fatigue.
- Proprioception, balance, and foot-to-hip integration so athletes can handle uneven terrain, low visibility, and constantly changing snow conditions.
It’s not about looking strong in the gym, but being adaptable on the snow.
One of her proudest moments was guiding an athlete through the demanding Power of Four ski mountaineering race. The real success wasn’t just the finish. It was seeing the athlete show up prepared, durable, and confident in complex terrain
During peak season, her approach shifts. Volume decreases. Strength work becomes intentional and efficient. Recovery, mobility, breathing, and nervous system work are built into the plan, not added as an afterthought. The goal is to sustain performance while minimizing injury risk and accumulated fatigue.
And when setbacks happen? Carolyn treats them as part of the process. Training adjusts. Confidence rebuilds. Progress continues.
Katie Prendergast: “Strength is the foundation to stay longer in the sport.”
- Business: KPX Fitness
- Niche: Strength Training & Sport Performance for Skiers & Snowboarders
- Instagram | Everfit Marketplace Listing
Katie’s journey started early—snowboarding with her school ski club in Ohio. After college, she moved to Colorado to be closer to the mountains. When she became a personal trainer in Denver, working with skiers and snowboarders felt like a natural fit.
Katie sees how strength work is often sidelined by many winter athletes. To her, strength training stands on its own. When athletes feel strong, they push harder, progress faster, and reduce injury risk. Stronger bodies are more resilient, especially in this high-risk sport.
Snow conditions and terrain may change, but her approach doesn’t. She builds programs based on an athlete’s “lifting age”, defined by their experience with strength training. Beginners master the basics. Advanced lifters refine them and layer in more complex strategies.
In the preseason, Katie focuses on building a solid base of strength, power, and agility. Once the season begins, training volume drops to allow for recovery between long weekends on the mountain.
When injuries or setbacks happen, Katie shifts the focus to what athletes can do. Having navigated injuries herself, she understands the mental battle. She helps athletes rebuild trust by moving well, correcting form, and rebuilding strength step by step, whether in person or through detailed video feedback online.
For Katie, the proudest moments aren’t medals. They’re the messages from athletes saying, “I felt strong out there today.”
Amber Leigh: “Durability in physical and mental.”
- Business: Amber Leigh Training
- Niche: Strength Training for Mountain Athletes
- Instagram | Everfit Marketplace Listing
Amber Leigh’s path into coaching started with her own love for the mountains. Like many winter athletes, she’d spend the off-season training hard, only to find that she couldn’t last full days and packed weeks on the slopes.
So she changed her approach.
After adjusting her own training and feeling a huge difference, she helped friends and clients do the same. The result? Longer days, safer seasons, and a lot more fun on the mountain.
Amber’s programs focus on durability. Expect plenty of unilateral movements, impact training, and smart “damage control” work to reduce injury risk. The goal isn’t just performance, it’s staying strong all season long.
For Amber, the proudest moments are simple: when a client finishes their first day of ski trip and says, “My legs still feel as fresh as day one.”
Her clients also receive lifestyle coaching alongside their gym work, helping them build balance, recovery habits, and mental resilience both on and off the slopes.
During peak season, training shifts to support time on the hill, more recovery-focused, controlled, and impact-aware. Off-season is where strength and endurance are built.
Wrapping Up
Carolyn builds adaptable athletes who can handle the unpredictability of the mountains.
Katie focuses on strength as the foundation for confidence, progression, and longevity in the sport.
Amber trains durability so athletes can show up strong not just on day one, but all season long.
Different methods, shared purpose: helping athletes stay resilient, prepared, and ready for whatever winter throws their way.
Medals may be won on the ice, but they’re built under pressure, steady guidance, and countless hard sessions long before competition day.
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