Mountain Rec Welcomes New Aquatics Supervisor, Opens Learn to Swim Registration
Gypsum, CO – Mountain Recreation is delighted to extend an overdue welcome to our newest team member, Christina Hovater. Hovater joined Mountain Rec at the end of September as the new Aquatics Supervisor and has quickly become an integral part of our dynamic team, contributing joy, energy, expertise, and dedication.
“Since Christina stepped in, the positive impact has been undeniable,” said Anna Englehart, Superintendent of Recreation Programs. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective from her previous roles. Over the last couple months of behind the scenes work, Christina has been improving current systems and building depth across our aquatics team – with the goal of increasing access to aquatics for our community,” said Englehart.
Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Hovater earned her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Simpson College in Iowa. Soon after, she landed her first Aquatics Coordinator role for the City of Des Moines Parks and Rec, where she oversaw five pools and up to 150 staff. Hovater quickly grew in her profession, serving as the Aquatics Manager with LifeTime Fitness in Des Moines, and not long after headed west, where for the past three years served as an Aquatics Coordinator for the City of Mesa Parks and Rec in Arizona. During the peak summer season, she co-managed all aquatics offerings at up to nine pools and the hiring, training, and managing of up to 500 employees.
“I am excited to be working with such a receptive, motivated, and aspirational aquatics team, everyone has been very helpful and I’m grateful for the close relationships we’ve built so far,” said Christina Hovater, Aquatics Supervisor at Mountain Rec. “Above all, I am keen on teamwork and culture, and through frequent communication, trainings, feedback, and a focus on safety and consistency, we are all becoming the teammates we’d want to have in life saving situations,” said Hovater.
With Hovater’s implementation of new systems, increased incentives for lifeguards, a focus on team building, and by allowing her aquatics staff to have ownership and be part of departmental decision making – Hovater is thoroughly building up a strong and knowledgeable aquatics team, necessary to offer pool hours consistently, and secondly bring back youth Learn-to-Swim group lessons.
To kick off 2024, Hovater will offer the first youth Learn-to-Swim lessons starting January 16th through February 1st, with registration opening on Friday, December 1st at 12pm. Youth lessons are designed for levels to build on one another, and students must pass an initial skills assessment to remain in the class safely. To ensure your child is registered for the proper level, we encourage parents to visit our Youth Swimming webpage where parents can view all available levels, course descriptions, and prerequisites.
“I am thrilled to be bringing back swim lessons, and that’s only been possible thanks to all our lifeguards showing up consistently for our community,” said Hovater. “We’re feeling good, thanks to our most recent lifeguard training course with six new individuals interested. We’ve brought four of them onboard already, and are hoping to bring on another two in January. This will be a big help as we anticipate opening the Gypsum Creek Pool in the summer, and soon enough the Eagle Pool – where we are being very mindful about lifeguarding needs in the replacement pool’s design,” said Hovater.
Click below, to view our 2024 Learn to Swim dates and register, as well as learn more about the December 7th Eagle Pool open house where the initial design concept will be shown.