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HOW SMALL HILLS PLAN FOR BIG GAINS 44

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EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION Editor Dave Meeker dave@saminfo.com Senior Editor Katie Brinton katie@saminfo.com Production Manager Donna Jacobs donna@saminfo.com Production Assistant Jordyn Ossanna jordyn@saminfo.com Graphic Design Consultant Joerg Dressler joerg@dressler-design.com

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR Rick Kahl

CONTRIBUTORS

Bob Curley April Darrow Leslie Desrosiers Iseult Devlin Linda Goodspeed

Scott Hannah Claire Humber Peter Landsman Travis Talbot

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VOL. 64, NO. 5, SEPTEMBER 2025

ON THE COVER Wisp, Md., expanded its snowmaking system, adding 28 new automated TechnoAlpin sticks and 2,500 feet of pipe across three trails. >> 48

Cover design: Joerg Dressler

40 AFTER THE ICE

After a catastrophic March storm glazed The Highlands in inches of ice, it took grit, teamwork, and chainsaws for the resort to recover. By Katie Brinton

44 “OUR PLAN IS OUR POWER”

58 WARM-UP ACT

Learn what happens to our joints, muscles, and nerves when we don’t properly prepare for physical activity (it’s not good), why warming up is necessary, and simple ways to do it. By Dr. Leslie Desrosiers

How strategic planning helped two small ski areas grow their bottom lines, engage staff, and future-proof their businesses. By Claire Humber

48 CONSTRUCTION SITE

A look at summer construction projects across the country, including new lifts, lodges, and snowmaking infrastructure. By Peter Landsman 48

51 A WORRISOME “NEW NORMAL”

Ski areas are receiving lower guest satisfaction and loyalty scores; they shouldn’t be complacent about it. By Scott Hannah

54 WIND HOLD

Wind is a constant variable in lift operations, but experience, technology, and teamwork help mitigate the risks. By Dave Meeker

8 NEWS AND VIEWS A budget pass boom; Nederland’s Eldora gambit; Kottke conclu- sions; early SIA data; and more. 16 ROUNDUP Ski area J-1 recruitment for 2025-26 is proceeding mostly as normal, but the future of the program is less certain. 20 NEW PRODUCTS Several products and services aimed at optimizing ops and enhancing guest engagement. 26 MOUNTAIN SPY The Spy asks: “I’ve never ridden a bicycle. Can I learn to mountain bike at your bike park?” 28 TECHNOLOGY Early use cases illustrate how ski areas are experimenting with AI tools in ops. 34 FOOD & BEVERAGE How to use oft-overlooked menu design to protect your margin and drive sales. 62 CLASSIFIEDS Industry job listings and equipment for sale. DEPARTMENTS

EDITOR’S NOTE Ready-ish

By mid-summer, the quiet hum of off-season operations starts to pick up. Emails go out. Pre-onboarding tasks are assigned. Purchase orders are placed. Capital projects inch closer to completion. The months between July and November are full of work that isn’t always flashy, but is essential. Most of this effort happens well out of sight of the people it’s meant for. While guests are enjoying their own summer pursuits—traveling, hiking, spending time on the water—they may not give much thought to the ski season ahead. In their minds, winter belongs to a future self. For those of us in the industry, though, that future is already here. Operators are deep into the work that will make their guests’ first turns possible. That’s the paradox of preseason: the most important work often happens when few are paying attention. And yet that’s part of what makes the transition to winter so special. Guests step off the lift on opening day and are greeted by a world that seems to have materialized overnight. They don’t see the long days cleaning clogged culverts, the careful choreography of a lift installation, or the quiet hours spent refining product offerings and marketing campaigns. They see a mountain, ready for them. From tech innovations that improve operations (“AI on the Hill,” p. 28) to critical recruitment initiatives (“Status Quo for J-1 Visas—for Now,” p. 16) and smart strategies for food and beverage (“Margins in Plain Sight,” p. 34), this issue highlights the many forms that preparation takes. Major lift installations, snowmaking upgrades, and facility renovations—a fixture of the ski area summer in recent years—also help set the stage for a better winter experience (“Construction Site,” p. 48). And as explored in “‘Our Plan is Our Power’” (p. 44), sound strategic planning turns these moving parts into a cohesive, successful business with room for growth. Sometimes the path to winter isn’t a steady march. It can be a scramble and then a slog. The Highlands, Mich., knows all about that. In “After the Ice” (p. 40), we share the story of their months-long recovery following a devastating spring ice storm. The damage was unusual, but the resourcefulness, problem-solving, and persistence will feel familiar to anyone in this industry. The weeks ahead will be a balancing act, finishing the final projects, training teams, and testing systems, while the anticipation builds in quiet ways. We all know that anticipation is part of the magic. It’s in the first snowmaking test, the hum of a freshly tuned grooming machine, the buzz of a preseason staff meeting. Guests may not see these signals, but they will feel the result: a mountain primed for winter. Whether your road to opening day is smooth or full of surprises, the work you’re doing now is quietly shaping the moments guests will remember long after the lifts stop turning. That’s the true art of readiness—building joy in the off-season so it can be discovered in an instant.

DR. LESLIE DESROSIERS, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, is a San Diego-based physical therapist with 18 years of experience in orthopedics and sports injury rehab. She founded ACL Strong, a neuromuscular training program that protects knees, prevents injuries, and elevates performance to empower active people to stay strong and resilient. » 58 TRAVIS TALBOT helps hospitality brands make their mark. As a food and beverage consultant, he is trusted by operators globally to deliver concepts that perform. Travis blends data, psychology, and behavioral science with creative execution to help brands elevate guest experiences, increase profit- ability, and secure a lasting market position. » 34 KATIE BRINTON is the senior editor at SAM, an award-winning writer, and a certified alpine ski instructor and PSIA-AASI examiner. She also holds a master’s in English Literature from Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English. Katie lives in southern Vermont with a husband, a baby, and a dog—all usually found somewhere on the snow or in the nearest body of water, season depending. » 40

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Katie Brinton, Senior Editor katie@saminfo.com

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at 15 ski areas in the northeastern U.S. and Eastern Canada for $199. COO Dave Belin calls it a bridge between high-com- mitment season passes and high-cost window tickets, a middle ground for bud- get-conscious casual skiers and riders. While volume and prestige still shape multi-resort pass strategy, with prices climbing again it may pay to keep affordability and flexibility in focus.

ations. The deal would also bring Eldo- ra’s roughly 700 winter employees onto the town payroll, and annexation could add $1 million to $2 million in summer sales tax revenue. As the Colorado Sun ’s Jason Blevins detailed in a July report on the deal, skep- ticism abounds. Locals still remember fighting off Eldora’s expansion plans a decade ago, and some bristle at the idea that annexation could bring more sum- mer traffic to the valley. Others doubt the town’s capacity to run a capital-intensive, for-profit ski area, pointing to its decision in 2023 to shutter its police department. Longtime industry leader Andy Daly called the model “disruptive” in a good way—but warned that without deep cap- ital commitments, Nederland risked fall- ing behind in a competitive market. Federal approval is another hurdle. The Forest Service must agree to trans- fer Eldora’s special use permit, a process that includes vetting the new operator’s finances and technical chops. Supporters say the experienced management team and Powdr’s two-year bridge bolster cred- ibility. Critics, like one 25-year Eldora regular who likened the deal to “Eldora buying Nederland,” fear a “train wreck.” If the deal closes, it will mark Col- orado’s first sale of a major resort to a non-corporate owner since 1997, and a rare case of a multi-resort operator sell- ing to a single-hill buyer. Whether it becomes a model for community-driven resort ownership or a cautionary tale will hinge on Nederland’s ability to manage debt, keep locals happy, and keep Eldora competitive in a market dominated by Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Co.

BUDGET PASS BOOM

Starting at 419 Swiss francs (about US$515), the Swiss-born Magic Pass now unlocks year-round unlimited access to nearly 100 ski areas in Switzerland, France, and Italy. The addition of 17 more ski areas for 2025-26 marks the program’s biggest leap since its 2017 launch. Gsta- ad’s recent entry into the cooperative irked some larger Swiss neighbors, who called it price dumping, but illustrates a continent-wide shift toward volume-driv- en, affordable, multi-destination access. Pre-sales for the 2025-26 pass have already topped 300,000 units, according to Seilbahnen International . That appetite for affordability echoes the continued growth of Indy Pass on this side of the pond. The $369 pass (adult base pass rate, general public) capped sales in early March after another record renewal period, and its upcoming low-cost, learn-to offering aims to hook new skiers and riders with three days of bundled tickets, lessons, and rentals for $189. With the Learn-to- Turn Pass, “Indy Pass will attempt to move the needle on skier development by keep- ing it cheap, simple, and widely accessible,” said founder Doug Fish. Indy anticipates strong participation from Northeast and Midwest resort partners. Joining the value lineup is Snow Partners’ new Snow Triple Play card, which offers three total days of access

NEDERLAND’S $200-MILLION ELDORA GAMBIT

In an unconventional mountain resort ownership play, the town of Nederland, Colo., (pop. 1,500; annual budget $3.2 million) is working to buy Eldora Moun- tain Resort from Powdr for somewhere between $100 million and $200 million, according to town estimates. The plan is to fund the deal with municipal rev- enue bonds, paid back entirely by Eldo- ra’s own income and Ikon Pass revenues, while building a $10 million reserve for low-snow years. Early projections show little free cash for the first decade, until subordinate bonds are paid off, but the town hopes to net $2 million to $5 mil- lion a year after that. Powdr, which purchased Eldora in 2016, would stay on for two years during the transition, after which “303 Ski”—a group of former Vail Resorts and Powdr executives—would take over daily oper-

ICYMI: Headline News (from saminfo.com)

MCP to Acquire Controlling Stake in Chilean Resort Company Andacor July 3 Local Groups Agree to End Long- time Opposition to Palisades Tahoe Development Plan July 10 Career Event Seeks Industry Support July 14

Vermont Adaptive, Bart Adaptive to Merge, Expanding Access in Southern Vermont July 17 Leelanau Conservancy to Acquire Sugar Loaf Ski Area (Mich.) July 21 Whiteface Joins Mountain Collective for 2025-26 Season July 22

KOTTKE CONCLUSIONS

The National Ski Areas Association’s (NSAA) Kottke End of Season and Guest Experience Report puts 2024-25 skier visits at 61.6 million, the second-highest total ever and 6.6 percent above the 10-year average. Visits rebounded in the Midwest

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(+21.4 percent) and Pacific Northwest (+10 percent), and the season ran a week lon- ger than last year on average, with fewer midseason closures. Participation was up for a fifth straight year, with 3.1 percent of Americans (an estimated 10.7 million people) skiing or riding. But the sports’ demographic profile keeps aging: skiers and riders over 55 accounted for 24 percent of visits, while the under-25 share slid to 33 percent, markedly below the NSAA Growth Com- mittee’s 40-percent target. In the vein of growth, lessons per area increased 3.3 percent, but still remain below the 2022- 23 post-Covid high. Guests also remain overwhelmingly white (86 percent), male (62 percent), and high-income (74 percent from $100K+ households), underscoring the gap between the partic- ipant base and the U.S. population. Inter- estingly, the share of skier visits made on a season pass declined for the first time in a decade, down from 51 percent to 49 percent, suggesting, if not a shift in con- sumer, a shift in consumer behavior. For a dive into the Kottke’s guest expe- rience findings, see “A Worrisome ‘New Normal’” (p. 51).

with alpine touring also posting solid gains. Average days on snow ticked up across most disciplines, echoing NSAA’s Kottke finding that average days per pass holder had increased for the first time in four years. SIA’s full report lands in September.

ate Finance and Revenue Committee this summer, but died without a floor vote when the legislature adjourned. The incidents are a study in how two neighboring states can look at the same risk landscape and choose entirely differ- ent approaches, serving to highlight how much liability law can potentially shape the viability of ski area operations.

LIABILITY WHIPLASH IN THE PNW

PFAS: THE WAX THAT WON’T QUIT

In June, the Idaho Supreme Court reversed its own 2023 decision in Milus v. Sun Valley , restoring long-standing assumption-of-risk protections for ski areas. The earlier ruling had briefly expanded operators’ duty of care and sent some shivers through the industry, draw- ing amicus briefs from the NSAA and oth- ers. The about-face was welcome news for operators, but it came with a caveat: the court introduced a “reasonably pru- dent person” negligence standard when fulfilling statutory duties, language that could invite more legal challenges in the future. State lawmakers, who shelved a clarifying bill while the rehearing played out, are now weighing statutory changes that would further enshrine liability pro- tections for ski area operators. Across the border in Oregon, the trend is going the other way. Safehold Special Risk, a longtime ski insurer, announced in June it will pull out of the state by year’s end, leaving Mountain- Guard as the only insurer for at least 14 ski areas. Safehold pointed to mounting losses in a state that refuses to enforce lia- bility waivers, where jury awards can be both unpredictable and enormous. A bill that would have reinstated the enforce- ability of waivers passed out of the Sen-

New Hampshire legislators are the lat- est to eye a ban on ski-waxes containing PFAS, aka “forever chemicals.” Research this winter found measurable PFAS in slope soils and water at three New Hampshire and Vermont ski areas, mir- roring the findings of similar studies in Europe. Recent crackdowns against PFAS have been seen across various industries and states, and many PFAS-containing ski waxes are already being phased out. Beginning in 2023-24, FIS began enforce- ment of its ban of all fluorinated waxes to reduce environmental contamination and the risk to human health. While compliance is a challenge, maybe it’s time for resorts to help speed the shift by promoting the use of PFAS-free waxes.

EARLY SIA DATA: NORDIC HEATS UP, ALPINE SOFTENS

CAN AN ALGORITHM LAND A 1440?

A Snowsports Industries America (SIA) Participation Highlights Report preview shows overall U.S. snowsports partic- ipation up 2.4 percent year-over-year. According to SIA, though, the growth was uneven. Alpine skiing slid 1.8 per- cent, and snowboarding 1.2 percent. Winners were cross-country skiing (+5.8 percent) and snowshoeing (+5.7 percent),

At X Games Aspen 2025, an experimen- tal Google Cloud “AI judge” assessed airtime, trick difficulty, and execution in real time during superpipe events. The broadcast roll out was somewhat clunky. And the AI judge’s scores didn’t count, but organizers say the test proved accurate enough to commercialize the platform (now spun off as Owl AI ) for other sports. Purists fret that creativity could get coded out (and bias coded in), but backers see the tech as a transparent, multilingual scoring win. SUPPLIER NEWS Phil Van Why will lead HKD SNOW- MAKERS ’ newly established service department, HKD Service, and has been promoted to senior technician and North American training manager. As

sam industry calendar Find more events and details at saminfo.com/industry-calendar

Sept. 8-9

New England Summit

Portland, ME

nesummit.com

Sept. 15-17

SKI NY-SKIPA EXPO

Ellicottville, NY

iskinyexpo.com

Sept. 23-26

Mountain Technology Symposium

Camelback, PA

nsaa.org

Oct. 7-8

Mountain Towns 2030

Breckenridge, CO

mt2030.org

Oct. & Nov

Snowvana

WA, OR, and WI

snowvana.com

Nov. 14-16

Snowbound Expo

Boston, MA

snowboundexpo.com

Dec. 5-7

Ski Dazzle

Los Angeles, CA

skidazzle.com

Paradise Awaits With the completion of the new high-speed 4-CLD Paradise Express at Powder Mountain, skiers can now reach untouched powder in a fraction of the time. The upgraded lift cuts the ride in half, tackling rugged terrain while playing a key role in skier flow across the mountain. Completed in 2024, Paradise Express marks a major investment in the guest experience and promises endless turns for years to come. doppelmayr.com

[News & Views]

part of this move, Mark Horton will step into the role of Western sales. Horton is HKD’s vice president of business devel- opment and also supports customers in Ontario, Canada. SKIDATA was awarded the Red Dot: Best of the Best award for the sMove access gate. This award recognizes sMove as a significant advancement over tradi- tional turnstile systems.

SNOWCLOUD appointed Nick Mar- vin, formerly of Boyne Resorts and flaik, to vice president of product. Other appointments include Chris Mospaw to director of program management, Jeff Matson to martech engineer, and Payton Baker to fullstack engineer. MND named Steve Daly director of ropeways. In his new role, he will focus on ski resort, eco-tourism, and peo-

ple-moving rope- ways for North America. OBERMEYER

named Kris Kuster its new CEO, Lilly McSwain is now customer service manager, and Kalin Tegman was promot- ed to director of sales. INDY PASS and ENTABENI SYSTEMS have hired four senior executives to their c-suite: Alex Lahood as chief operations officer; Olga Grunskaya as chief financial officer; Nick Niebes as chief marketing officer; and Andy Shepard as chief pur- pose officer, a newly created role. Seth Ogden also joined the team as produc- tion manager. WIEGAND Sports USA is celebrat- ing 20 years in business, and Wiegand GmbH & Co. is celebrating 50 years in business worldwide. PEOPLE Amanda Buswell was named region- al GM of King Pine Ski Area, Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort, and Purity Spring Resort, N.H. … Adam Robinson was named VP and GM of Granite Gorge Mountain Park, N.H. … Peter Weber , direc- tor of snowsports for Gunstock, N.H., has retired after 20 years in the ski industry. Steve Daly

Rob Linde

Amanda Buswell

Haystack Mountain, Vt., hired Joshua DeBottis as executive director and gener- al manager, succeeding Bill Benneyan , who retired after 40 years in the industry. … Dennis Barquinero was appointed gen- eral manager of Burke Mountain Hotel, Vt. ... Eric Kelley was promoted to moun- tain sports school director of Killington Resort / Pico Mountain, Vt. Zach Marlowe was promoted to gen- eral manager of Wintergreen Resort, Va., succeeding Jay Gamble , who retired after 44 years in the ski industry. » continued

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Arizona Snowbowl, Ariz., GM Rob Linde has retired after nearly five decades in the industry. … Taos Ski Valley, N.M., named John Kelly chief executive officer, and David Norden , current CEO, moved to chairman of the board. … Antelope Butte Foundation, Wyo., added Jon Scott , Pete Kilbride , Tom Bercher , and Travis Fack to its board of directors. ... Red Lodge Mountain, Mont., hired Jean Mikulas as

son , who retired. Chief executive officer Howard Katkov also retired.

general manager and president.

Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, Colo., appointed Jon Rucker to executive direc- tor. … Gavin Malia is now VP of engi- neering, maintenance and facilities of Steamboat Resort, Colo. Mount Washington, B.C., promoted Mike Manara to GM. … Mark Schroetel was named president of Red Mountain Resort, B.C., succeeding Don Thomp-

AWARDS The North American Snowsports Jour- nalists Association (NASJA) awarded Moira McCarthy , Lisa Ballard , and Josh Laskin with the Harold S. Hirsch Awards of Excellence; Bob Legasa received the Hirsch Award in the images category; Stuart Winchester received the Hirsch Award in the podcast category. Hugh Johnson was recognized with the Bob Gillen Memorial Award. Iseult Devlin received the Mitch Kaplan Award. Seth Masia received the Carson White Snow- sports Achievement Award. Jake Adicoff received the Paul Robbins Outstanding Competitor of the Year. Intermountain Ski Areas Associa- tion (ISAA) recognized Steve Parker and Bill Cheney , Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyo., with the Golden Wrench Award (Operations, Maintenance, Safe- ty & Equipment) and Golden Wrench Award (Lift Maintenance), respectively. ISAA also recognized Tim Hendrickson , MountainGuard, and (posthumously) Wayne Ragland , SMI and Park West Ski Resort, Utah, with the Outstanding Con- tribution Awards; as well as Paul Etch- everry , Pine Creek Ski Resort, Wyo., with the Pioneer Award. Dave Tragethon was honored with the Far West Ski Association’s Jordan-Rei- ly Award.

OBITUARIES Graham Anderson died June 2. His decades of service to U.S. Ski & Snowboard

and the Interna- tional Ski Federa- tion helped shape the sport, most notably through the advancement of super-G and improved race safe- ty standards. Ander-

Graham Anderson

son was a recipient of the Julius Blegen Award, a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame inductee, and was inducted into the Sun Valley Ski Hall of Fame in 2020.

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ROUNDUP

STATUS QUO FOR J-1 VISAS, FOR NOW

Ski area recruiting via the J-1 visa program shaped up well for this winter, but the future is less certain.

By Linda Goodspeed

A Matter of Time? “We do anticipate challenges to the pro- gram throughout the Trump adminis- tration,” said Stearns at Sierra-at-Tahoe. “The program has been challenged a couple times in the past few years and, thankfully, has been maintained. We fear it’s only a matter of time, though, so coming up with Plans B, C and D is im- portant right now.” Stearns mentioned more empha- sis on domestic recruiting and possibly in-country H-2B visa workers (that is, documented foreign workers who are already in the U.S.). The Trump admin- istration has noticeably expanded the H-2B program. But Stearns said, “We’re not even trying for regular H-2Bs due to the October 1 start date.”

each year, down to about 50 this year where we would like to keep it. “It’s not necessarily in response to the current administration or other chal- lenges,” she added, “but more of a com- pany initiative to further develop our local workforce and more year-round opportunities. “The J-1 program is a fantastic cul- tural program,” Benton continued. “It was really made to create international partnerships, friendships. It’s what we want to use it for; not rely on it as nec- essary. Obviously, we do use J-1 workers because we need to use them, but we want to need them less.” Interestingly, in an echo of what many businesses are saying about sum- mer tourism—that international visitors have increasingly decided not to come to the U.S. this summer—Benton said Taos sent out 40 offers to previous J-1 workers for this winter. “Only 10 responded pos- itively,” she said. “The other ones said they are not coming to the U.S.” Typically, Benton said, “80 to 90 per- cent of responses are positive. We get most of them back. Not this year.” Benton said Taos will still end up hir- ing about 50 J-1 workers for the coming ski season. “We are in a unique, lucky spot with the strength of our local workforce. We already want to reduce our internation- al numbers, and are taking advantage of this administration to help us do that.” An Eye on the Future Rachel Wessel, employee services man- ager at Brundage, Idaho, summed up the J-1 situation at many resorts: “We have not noticed any drop in participation or interest as we are preparing for winter 2025-26, but are paying close attention to ensure there aren’t going to be any interruptions or issues with the program coming to fruition this winter.” » cont.

Despite a new application process that requires J-1 seasonal workers to make their social media accounts public so authorities can review them for content that might be deemed hostile to the U.S., ski resorts report interest and participation in the pro- gram remained high heading into the all-important winter hiring season. “We have not seen an impact yet. Our numbers are strong, plus a waitlist of stu- dents,” said Melinda Stearns, HR director at Sierra-at-Tahoe, Calif. “We have had no drop in interest,” added Kate Sullivan, director of market- ing and communications at Windham Mountain Club, N.Y., which typically hires 40-60 J-1s and will bring on 43 this winter. “The agency we work with is still seeing a high volume of applications and enthusiasm for employment.” Ditto at Camelback, Pa., which hires a total of about 200 J-1s, summer and winter. “We are very fortunate to have them,” added Mary Popovich, VP of HR. Brian Heon, general manager at Sun- day River, Maine, concurred. “We have not seen a noticeable drop in interest or enthusiasm. Many of our returning team members stay in touch with us season to season. They typically support a range of departments, from mountain operations to food and beverage, and help us main- tain a high level of service for our guests.” The heightened scrutiny of J-1 appli- cants, which included a three-week pause in the program (that left many wondering if it would be available at all), is part of the Trump administration’s effort to weed out so-called “undesirable” immigrants. While the J-1 visa program is back up and running (for now), some are wondering about the future and how long it might be around. Many ski resorts and other seasonal businesses rely on the program to hire workers during peak business times.

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Reducing Reliance on J-1s Taos Ski Valley, N.M., is already learn- ing to live with fewer J-1 workers. From a high of roughly 100 J-1 employees in 2022-23, Taos has slowly cut its reliance on the program in half. HR director Suzie Benton said the high-water mark was due largely to a local labor shortage as a result of the pan- demic. “Since then, we have been slowly reducing our reliance on the J-1 program

U.S. HEADQUARTERS 406-777-9900 WIEGANDSPORTSUSA .COM

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ROUNDUP_>>

J-1s: Cultural and Labor Values Whatever the future of the J-1 program, there is no denying its value, both as an important source of short-term laborers and a way to break down barriers and deepen cultural understanding among people from all over the world. “We value the cultural exchange that happens across our resort and appreciate the diverse perspectives and experiences our J-1 and H-2B team members bring to the mountain,” Heon said. “Aside from filling a labor gap that cannot be filled locally,” agreed Sullivan, “our J-1 participants bring the vibrancy of their various cultures to our community. As soon-to-be young professionals in their respective industries, they contribute highly educated and service-oriented per- spectives to the departments they work in, elevating our entire team and creating a global network of connections among our guests and domestic staff.” At Camelback, Popovich said the value of the J-1 program is multi-faceted. “They help us to increase our staffing levels at peak times. Our local population is only so large. The J-1 program almost becomes a world-wide extension of our local popu- lation. We enjoy the opportunity to have a team as diverse as the guests we serve.” “J-1s are great to have around,” Ben- ton agreed. “They definitely bring a whole new facet to our work/life.”

“We’ll adapt to any regulatory chang- es as needed,” added Heon at Sunday River. “We will continue to review our seasonal staffing needs as we do each year, including both the J-1 and H-2B programs.” Zero Tolerance of Harassment Despite the popularity of the internation- al student/worker program, workplace issues inevitably can arise, including harassment that might be directed at some of these workers from guests or even other staff. HR officials are adamant that harassment of any kind, directed at anyone, is not acceptable or tolerated. “We have a zero tolerance harassment policy that applies to all guests and team members,” said Sullivan at Windham. “We teach de-escalation for any type of situation,” added Popovich at Camel- back. “It’s not just focused on interna- tional work and travel programs, but all types of situations.” Same at Taos, said Benton. “We have very few, very isolated incidents between guests and staff. We stress de-escalation training and tools. I don’t think it’s a huge problem where we are. We are more concerned for our community at large, and have sent out resources of community partners and resources for our employees to take home and spread to their friends and families.” What About Next Season?

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SKI AREA MANAGERS:

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The situation with J-1s could be quite different next season. The Trump administration’s budget proposal for fiscal 2026 imposes deep cuts to the State Department budget, including a 93 percent cut for the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA), which oversees the J-1 program. That would seriously limit the bureau’s ability to process visas. However, it is Congress that sets the federal budget, and Congress typically makes its own budget- ary decisions separate from the President’s budget request. Fortunately, the J-1 program has plenty of supporters in Congress, and even within the administration. Marco Rubio was a strong supporter while he was a Senator from Florida, which ranks third overall in states that use these special stu- dent visas, and he has continued to support the program as the Secretary of State. National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) director of risk and regulatory affairs Dave Byrd told SAM that the association is individually lobbying members of Congress, especially Republicans and newly elected members. It is also joining other stakeholders outside the ski industry in lobbying Congress to keep the program fully funded and alive. Further, NSAA plans to recruit Republican governors in ski states to send a letter of support for the program to Rubio, emphasizing how valuable the program is for businesses in their states and especially for rural economies. Individual resorts can get involved, too, by contacting their senators and representatives to make sure they understand the program’s value and urging them to keep it and the ECA funded. Byrd stressed that congressional representatives and senators need to hear directly from ski areas themselves. “NSAA can assist and coordinate in that outreach,” he added.

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SNOW SECURE: SNOW STORAGE SYSTEM > Snow Secure’s patented snow storage system is designed to cover off-season snow piles and significantly reduce snowmelt through ther- mal insulation and weather protection. Using materials like Finnfoam insulation and a patented rain/wind cover, the mats are engineered to preserve snow with melt losses as low as 10-20 percent, outperforming traditional methods that typically have a loss range of 30-50 percent, says the company. It also includes embedded sensors for 24/7 tempera- ture monitoring and data collection to help operators optimize snow farming efficiency. The system is scalable, durable, and intended for long-term use, with the insulation mats expected to last for 10-20 years. snowsecure.com

» continued

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SHINETOO: G7 LED LIGHTING SYSTEM > The G7 LED lighting system from Shinetoo is purpose-built to meet the demands of the sports lighting market, designed for outdoor durability, energy efficiency, and environmental sensitivity. With outputs ranging from 300W to 1600W, G7 LED lights are DarkSky compliant and use op- tics that minimize glare and skyglow. Resort operators can use smart control systems to manage lighting zones by trail or mountain area via mobile or desktop app. G7 lighting systems are tailored for new builds or retrofits and are engineered for high-elevation weather conditions. shine2sportslighting.com

< SKYLINE ZIPLINES: EZLAUNCH EZLaunch is a zip line launch system from Skyline Ziplines designed to reduce op- erator error and improve safety. The system uses a weatherproof unit to communi- cate between the launch and landing decks. When a guide on the landing deck holds the “Landing Ready” button, a yellow light illuminates on the launch platform to indicate that the landing deck is ready to receive flyers. Only when the yellow light is illuminated can the guide on the launch platform hit the “Launch” button to ac- tivate a patented Universal E-Launcher. The system is a cost-effective solution that can cut operators’ insurance costs by up to 15 percent, according to the company. It can be installed on any zip line. skylineziplines.ca » continued

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RISELINE: DURABLE CARBON REMOVAL CREDITS > Riseline Carbon offers scientifically-verified carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits with storage durations ranging from 100 to more than 1,000 years. Riseline positions its CDR credits as a more transparent and per- manent option to traditional offsets, with a focus on scientific rigor and quality. The company’s services include custom CDR credit portfolios, education, and support for in-setting projects and verification. Its team brings deep experience in the voluntary carbon market, says Riseline, and offers guidance tailored to the outdoor industry. riselinecarbon.com

< NEVEPLAST: TUBBY WHOOPS Neveplast has introduced Tubby Whoops, a new add-on feature for its synthetic Tubby tubing tracks. Whoops adds a series of gentle undulations to straight track sections, delivering a playful “jump” experience that boosts rider excitement while maintaining safety. The optional insert can be added as part of a new instal- lation or to existing tracks to refresh the experience and drive repeat ridership. neveplast.it

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THE QUESTION: “My friends want to go mountain biking, but I’ve never ridden a bike. Can I learn to mountain bike there?”

Ski and snowboard schools regularly welcome never-evers, but what happens when someone shows up to the bike park with zero riding experience?

The question we posed to bike parks around the country was inspired by a mountain bike director who’s fielded it more than once. Still, it’s rela- tively rare in the world of mountain bike lessons to encounter a student who’s never put foot to peddle, even as a kid.

The goal wasn’t to stump anyone, but to see how guest service teams respond to an unexpected request. Responses ran the full range: Some resorts took the query in stride, offering thoughtful guidance and creative options. Others were less prepared for the concept that someone might not know how to ride a bike, and a few weren’t shy about showing it.

Has a guest asked you an interesting question lately? Send it to jordyn@saminfo.com for the Spy to pose to other mountains.

MOUNTAIN 1, UT

SAM: Yeah, I figured it was unusual. Staff: I guess. We don’t offer lessons. SAM: OK. Dangit. Staff: Yeah, you could just go out and try it. SAM: ( laughs ) I’m not sure I am comfortable with that. Do you have beginner trails? Staff: Yes, we do have a few. I mean, you could have one of your friends teach you? SAM: I guess they could if they were up for that. Staff: Yeah, unfortunately that might be your best option. SAM: OK, well, thank you. Staff: Yep, good luck! Score: 6 Comment: She was nice enough, but clearly caught off guard by the question. Her best suggestion was “have a friend teach you,” which rarely goes well. But she can’t invent a mountain bike lesson program that doesn’t exist, and she did recover reasonably well from her initial long pause. MOUNTAIN 3, NC

First Contact: Female. SAM: Stated question. Staff: Well, we don’t have lessons on our trails. ( sincere ) So, you’ve never ridden a bike, or you’ve never ridden a mountain bike? SAM: I’ve never ridden a bike in general. Staff: Hmm, OK. I would recommend trying a road or something flat first ( chuckles ). There’s roots, rocks, berms and things that if you’ve never ridden a bike before you would definitely not know how to go at them. SAM: Yeah, that makes sense. Staff: And like the balance and stuff like that. I mean, we have a nice big parking lot that you could definitely practice in. SAM: That’s cool. Thanks! Staff: But I wouldn’t want you to start on a full suspension bike. I would definitely start on a rigid bike with no suspension and then kind of work your way up into the suspension. SAM: Thanks. I don’t have much bike knowledge so that’s good to know. Staff: And we do rent bikes if your friends were still interested.

SAM: Great, thank you for that. Staff: Yep, have a great day!

Score: 9 Comment: This was a terrific customer service interaction. She was genuinely helpful. Instead of rushing me off the phone after telling me the bike park doesn’t offer lessons, she took time to give me honest advice about what kind of bike I should be learning on and where I should ride it to start. MOUNTAIN 2, MI First Contact: Female. SAM: Stated question. Staff: ( sincere ) I’m sorry, what was the question? SAM: [Restates question] Staff: Umm, ( long pause, chuckles ), I have never gotten that question.

First Contact: Female. SAM: Stated question.

Staff: Um, ( monotoned ) as far as I know we don’t have any lessons or anything, not here. So, you might have to do that somewhere else. SAM: OK. Staff: You are able to rent a bike here, and we do have easy trails. If you go on our website, you can see the easy and hard layout. SAM: Oh, OK. I wasn’t sure. You list mountain bike lessons on your website, so I wanted to call and check. Staff: Yeah, we do have a camp that is running, which I think it’s [dates], but I can double check and ask. I don’t believe there was anything aside from that, though ( quiet ). SAM: Yeah, that would be great if you could check. ( on hold )

WAIT! THERE’S MORE... Read all eight calls from this Spy mission at www.saminfo.com/this-issue

Staff: So, they do have lessons. The availability kind of depends on instructor availability. So, like I said ( annoyed ), with the camp during [dates] it may not be as available on those days. You would just need to come in and ask. It just depends. SAM: Is it OK if I call to ask? Or do I need to be there? Staff: No, you can call the day you want to go, and they can let you know if someone is available. SAM: We like to plan ahead. Can I call a week or so in advance?

SAM: OK, but you don’t offer lessons or anything? Staff: No. SAM: So, the trails you are referring to, are they flat so I could learn? Staff: Yeah. SAM: But not up on the mountain? Staff: No. SAM: OK. Do you rent bikes? Staff: No. SAM: Does anyone in the area? Staff: ( checked out ) Not sure. I would check with [shop] and give them a call. SAM: Alright, thanks. Staff: Goodbye. Score: 1 Comment: If there were a sport for one-word answers, she’d be on the podium. Not exactly overflowing with assistance. MOUNTAIN 6, ID First Contact: Female. SAM: Stated question. Staff: Um, hold on, let me ask for you. SAM: OK. Thank you. ( on hold ) Staff: ( chipper ) So, yes, we do offer mountain biking lessons. SAM: Oh, perfect. Staff: Yeah, so it’s a two-hour private lesson tailored to your ability, trails, choice, and goals. SAM: And it’s OK that I’ve never ridden a bike before? Staff: I mean, it says that it’s tailored to your ability, so even if your ability is that you don’t know how to ride a bike ( chuckles ), they will work with you on that. SAM: That’s great. Staff: If you want to go ahead and book that now for a certain date, we definitely can. SAM: OK. Let me talk with my friends first. We didn’t pick a date yet. I wanted to make sure I could tag along first. Staff: Perfect. SAM: I don’t own a bike—do you do rentals? Staff: Yes, we do rentals. You would get your rental whenever you get here, just so you can figure out which one works best for you. We typi- cally do the lessons from [a.m. time slot] and then another batch from [p.m. time slot]. So if you wanted to do the lesson in the morning and then all of you go out together, we can schedule it that way. SAM: Oh, that would work out great. I will call back once we know more. Staff: Sounds great. Have a great day. SAM: Thank you! Goodbye. Score: 10 Comment: She was cheerful and solution-oriented. After confirming the lesson could be tailored to my skill level, she laid out the details with clarity and confidence. AND offered to book me right then but didn’t force it. Nicely done!

Staff: That should be fine ( she’s over it ). SAM: Do you know, are the lessons private?

Staff: Again, it depends. If there is more than one person that wants to do it, then it’s a group lesson. But usually not a lot of people do it. SAM: OK, thanks for your help. Staff: Yep, goodbye. Score: 3 Comment: It’s OK not to be an encyclopedia of everything your resort offers. Don’t get annoyed when a caller subtly points out that you gave wrong info and you discover it to be true, though. She went from assert- ing that the resort doesn’t offer lessons to being an expert on how lesson scheduling works—but I’m not confident in her expertise. MOUNTAIN 4, CO

First Contact: Female. SAM: Stated question.

Staff: If you do a private lesson, we can teach you how to ride a bike. We did it for a lady earlier this year. So, ( excited ) we can do our best to try to teach you if you’ve never ridden a bike before. If you do want to do that, you would need to select a private lesson. SAM: Oh, that is so great. I have pretty good balance, but I’ve just never been on a bike before, so I wasn’t sure. Staff: Yeah ( chipper ), we taught a 38-year-old lady how to ride earlier this year, so we could probably do that again. SAM: Oh, that is awesome! We haven’t booked a date yet, but would I just book online? Staff: Yes! Just go to [website]. As long as you book at least two days in advance, you will get the pre-book rate. You’ll need to book a lesson and then your bike separately. SAM: Perfect. And do I need to say that I am a first timer, or do I just let them know when I get there? Staff: There are comment sections when you book the lesson, so you

can just put a note there. SAM: Great, thank you! Staff: Yeah, have a great day.

Score: 9 Comment: She was upbeat and reassuring, and I love hearing that I wouldn’t be the first newbie they’ve taught. Clear info, good energy—no complaints here. MOUNTAIN 5, NY First Contact: Female. SAM: Stated question. Staff: ( rude ) Yeah, we have areas where you could do this, not on the mountain itself.

Identity Revealed: Tamarack

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