Instructor Profile #3: Susie Asmann

Susie Asmann has a colorful personality — from the tips of her decorated ski boots to her pink hair!  She has been an instructor at Blue Mountain for about five years, and has worked in many other departments as well.  She likes to hike, bike, tube, ride horses (she has even done a fox hunt — tally ho!), fish, wind surf, and do many things outdoors, often with her trusty camera phone!  She has a wonderful eye for pictures and has posted many beautiful shots on her Facebook page. ​

This “farm girl” grew up in Newtown, Bucks County, where her family had horses, cows, pigs, and chickens.  They rode the horses and raised the others for food.  According to Susie, “We named them, and then we ate them.”  She, her parents, two sisters, and a brother lived near Tyler State Park, where her dad built many of the bike trails.  Older relatives lived with them at the end of their lives, including her grandfather, who was born in 1896 and served in the last calvary, during World War I.  Susie learned how to ski on equipment that her dad had acquired through bartering for jobs he had done.  Her first pair was attached to regular boots with leather straps!

Susie graduated from Faith Christian Academy, where she was one of the “dirty dozen,” the twelve students that made up her class.  While in school, she played every sport available:  basketball, volleyball, field hockey, softball (she was a great pitcher and shortstop), track, and gymnastics.  If she wasn’t playing, she was cheerleading.  Whenever a call for volunteers went out, Susie’s hand was the first one up!

When she was fourteen, Susie met George Asmann, who told her father, “I’m going to marry your daughter.”  He was her best friend for six years and they tied the knot when she was twenty.  They’ve been husband and wife — and still best friends — for over thirty years now!  They have two daughters, Eliza and Olivia, and one adorable grandson, Abel, who is almost four years old.  Susie loves being “Mommom” and had a great time this winter taking Abel skiing for the first time.

Susie has always been a hard worker.  She started her first business when she was twelve, riding her bike to a neighbor’s house and offering to landscape.  She had no experience and no tools, but Mrs. Campbell let her trim the bushes and gave her a few dollars and lemonade.  Susie still appreciates this woman’s kindness.

A couple of years later, Susie decided to have a trapline to make money.  A neighborhood boy took her out to set the traps and left her in the woods.  When she checked them a few days later, she found a pheasant caught in a fox trap.  She asked her father to help her with it, but he told her to finish what she had started.  Susie “prayed for the pheasant’s death” so she didn’t have to kill it directly, and eventually her father did take care of it.  They had pheasant for supper that night, but Susie decided to not continue trapping after this “fowl attempt.”

Susie attended Baptist Bible College in Wisconsin, but decided to return home before graduating.  B.C. (before children), she and her husband toured the U.S. in their pickup truck, visiting 46 states, including Alaska.  Susie attended cosmetology school, where she “took every class.”  She also worked in a pharmacology company, where she rose through the ranks before taking time off when her girls were born.  About ten years ago, after being a stay-at-home mom for many years, Susie took a job in housekeeping at Blue Mountain.  She worked third shift, which is 10 pm - 4 in the morning.  She has done events planning at a country club, clerked at a store, and many other jobs.  At Blue, Susie has also worked in food services and several years ago, took the women’s clinic with Patti Meckler, who encouraged her to become an instructor.  She had Jack Hafer as her ITC coach and has been teaching for about 5 years.  She loves showing first time students how great skiing can be.  

A self-proclaimed “sore loser” and “obnoxious winner,” Susie is very competitive and has participated in the Warrior Dash, two Spartan races at Blue Mountain, and a Tough Mudder.  She finished first in her wave of over 100 people and was the second in her age group for a Spartan race.  Susie completed the VIA half marathon, and was especially gratified to beat some women who snubbed her when she was trying to chat.  See the sentence above!
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When asked what’s on her “bucket list,” Susie said she doesn’t like that term and is “not a planner.”  She lives life one day at a time and her philosophy is to “say yes to everything!”  Look for her skiing on the mountain in her bedazzled camouflage one piece and helping all over the resort with her dazzling smile!  Just stay out of her way if she’s in a race!

Sheri Miltenberger, May 2016
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