2025 Learning Tracks

We are working with our presenters on getting class descriptions and other information you may need and will update the website as we get them.

We have 5 tracks for this year’s convention classes:

Mountain Operations Core

  1. Industry Report Card – Litigation, Risk and Operations Session. Closed Session – Ski Area Personnel Only.

    ISAA’s Annual Legal and risk management update highlights the latest in injury statistics, litigation, liability trends and operational issues in the ski industry with a focus on recent cases, legal updates, emerging issues, and lessons learned.

    The panel of industry-leading insurance companies, ski defense attorneys and risk managers will lead the always well-attended and important session.

    This year’s session we will dive into discussion on catastrophic lift incidents, padding and marking update, snow safety education, alcohol and drug use, employee collisions, employee housing, managing events like snowmobile hill climbs, waiver and contracts, incident investigation technology and the educational show and tell of lesson learned in the field.

  2. Signage & Beyond: Enhancing a Visible Safety Presence - Chauncey Johnson, Snow Angels & Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

    • Develop strategies to reinforce collision prevention through signage, safety campaigns, and nudge messaging.

    • In this course, we will learn about the importance of existing signage, introduce new signage concepts and how to nudge staff and guests towards a safety mindset. Participants will also explore practical strategies for increasing their safety efforts through safety campaigns and get a first look at Safety Month in a Box, a new concept designed to provide resources for ski areas of any size to enhance safety month and carry it throughout the ski season.

  3. Winter 24-25 Jackson Hole Safety Initiatives - Matt Clos, Ski School Director, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

    • Discussion and reveiw of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort's Safety program from 24/25.

  4. NSP Update & The Future - Stephanie Cox NSP, CEO.

    • Join Stephanie Cox, CEO of the National Ski Patrol, for a candid and strategic update on where NSP stands—and where it's going.

    • This session will cover key initiatives underway to modernize the organization, expand member value, and solidify NSP's role as the leader in mountain safety and service. From reimagining training and technology, to forging industry partnerships and building long-term financial sustainability, this session will cut through the noise and get real about what’s next. Come ready to think big, ask questions, and be part of the future of NSP.

  5. Enhance guest experience with extended hours of operations and night skiing. Hiram Towle - GM, Bridger Bowl, Brad Wilson - GM, Bogus Basin, Mike Doyle - GM, Brighton

    • Learn from industry experts on how extended hours of operations have helped create many different advantages for thier operations and guest experience. Thinking differently about the 9am - 4pm ski day could be an valuable strategy for your ski area.

  6. Drone-Assisted Incident Investigation & Scene Modeling - Travis Crawford, President, Great Divide Ski Area

    • Learn how drones can support ski area incident investigations through aerial documentation and scene modeling. This session includes a live drone demo followed by a classroom discussion on capturing evidence, reconstructing incidents, and improving investigative accuracy.

Revenue Centers

  1. Rental shop ROI: Streamlining for Service and Success - Duke Grewe, Alta & David Eames, Beaver Mountain

    • The rental shop is a key ingredient to creating and retaining new skiers and snowboarders. Learn best practices for optimizing the experience for the guest, as well as which systems and processes streamline efficiency and maximize profits.

  2. Snowsports School Optimization and Alternative Sales Channels - Nicholas Herrin, Senior VP of Snowsports, Boyne Resorts

    • Explore strategic optimization of Snowsports school revenue through targeted segmentation of business units including seasonal programs, daily lessons, and private instruction. We'll examine the evolution of sales channels in the industry and provide frameworks for understanding your resort's unique regional and destination clientele to design product offerings and daily operational schedules that meet both guest expectations and instructor capabilities.

    • Additionally, we'll discuss innovative approaches to leverage the instructor-guest relationship, empowering instructors to become active participants in both the sales process and the development of long-term learning partnerships that drive retention and revenue growth.

       

  3. Small Resort Roundtable - Closed Session--Ski Area Personnel Only. Closed to Vendors.

    • Moderator, Alicia Etcheverry, Assistant Manager, Pine Creek Ski Resort

      • Two consecutive sessions.

      • Join fellow leaders from small ski areas for an open, collaborative round table discussion. We’ll dive into the unique challenges and opportunities facing small ski areas, from staffing and marketing to guest experience and sustainability. Bring your questions & your ideas—this session is always full of meaningful discussion.

Resort Management & Administration

  1. General Session/Role Call

  2. Forest Service - Curt Panter USFS

    • Update on Forest Service and discussion around Incidents and quality assurance.

  3. Guest Surveys, Connecting with the Guest - TBD, RRC & Guest Research

    • What Your Guests Really Think: Surveys, NPS, and Clear Communication

      How do you know if your guests are having a great experience—or if they’ll actually come back next season? In this session, we’ll dig into the power of guest feedback: from simple survey strategies to tracking Net Promoter Scores (NPS) and using data to drive decisions. We’ll also explore one of the most underrated parts of guest satisfaction—setting clear expectations before a guest even arrives.

      Learn how to collect meaningful insights (without overwhelming your team), how to communicate what to expect in a way that builds trust, and how to turn feedback into action. Whether you're already surveying guests or just getting started, you'll leave with tools and ideas you can implement right away.

  4. The Importance of Contracts in Mountain Operations - Dave Byrd, Director of Risk & Regulatory Affairs, NSAA; Ryan Lavoie, Director of Risk Management and Education, MountainGuard; Kevin Gregory, ASDA Attorney, White and Steele, PC

    • A Two-Part Deep Dive into Understanding Contracts

    • This two-part session is designed for those who want to move up into management and mountain operations positions, to help them understand the importance—and the mechanics—of contracts. As a two-part session, you must attend both the first and second part of these sessions.

    • One goal of these sessions is to help de-mystify these agreements from the “legalese” of contracts. We will focus on how contracts impact all levels of mountain operations, everything from lifts, construction projects, third-party vendors, special events, weddings, and even down to purchase agreements for bigger-ticket items.

    • We will spend time on key provisions of contracts, including indemnity, insurance, venue, safety requirements, releases of liability, and importantly, OSHA. Our panel will include both insurance professionals and attorneys from ASDA (the Association of Ski Defense Attorneys). This two-part class is essential for those interested in management positions at ski areas.

Lifts (Maintenance & Ops)

  1. Lift Blog - Peter Landsman, Lift Blog Founder

    • The Lift Blog Session. Join Lift Blog Founder, Peter Landsman, as he discusses visiting every lift in North America, shares stats on aging lifts and highlights recent lift stories.

  2. NDT in the Lift Industry- Logan Still, NDT ASNT NDT Level III, Rocky Mountain NDT

    • The first half of this session will cover what entry level technicians should know before attending an NDT training class. The second half will be an open discussion for senior technicians and managers on the implementation of an NDT program and any changes to NDT regulations coming down the pipe.

    • Presentation by an ASNT NDT Level III. Class participation and questions are welcomed throughout the presentation.

    • Pre-reqs: Knowledge of the NDT requirements in the carrier inspection section of ANSI B77 and/or knowledge of ASNT - SNT-TC-1A will be helpful but not necessary for senior techs wanting better understanding of the regulations.

    • Knowledge: What is required of entry level technicians before getting NDT certified?

      What is required of senior techs/management to implement an NDT Quality Program?

  3. Haul Ropes and Lift Inspections - Jason Zakotnik, Owner and Ropeway Inspector, Above and Beyond

    • Haul Rope maintenance and inspections, ANSI compliance.

  4. Lift Maintenance, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - Mike Lane, NSAA B77 Administrator, Director of Technical Services, NSAA

    • We will celebrate the really good things we’ve seen over the past few years, some things probably considered bad, and some of the really tragic things, giving all of us an opportunity to take pride in what we do, learn some things and gain an understanding of things going really wrong.

    • In addition an overview what has changed in B77.1-2022. The changes include over 40 significant items, some of which you must know. Then we look forward at potential changes coming in 2027 and why.

  5. Lift Maintenance for Pro's - Mike Lane, NSAA B77 Administrator, Director of Technical Services, NSAA

    • A deep dive into advanced methods, tricks and tips in Lift Maintenance.

  6.  Bearings 102 - Handling, Installation, and Failure Analysis - Ed Kaineg and Jac Shafter, Schaeffler Group

    • Proper handling of bearings

    • Installation processes

    • Bearing heater demonstration / discussion

    • Bull Wheel bearing / tool for assisting with lifting and handling large bearings

    • Bearing failure analysis

      Bearing Mate showcase / discussion

  7. Failure to load - Unseated Passenger Training - Dustin Johnson, Director of Mountain Operations, Brundage Mountain Resort

    • Creating training programs and buy-in from resort departments that involve the entire resort. From Lift ops, lift maintenance to Marketing and sales it takes all departments to create a culture of safety around lift safety.

  8. Electric Motor Education and Maintenance Practices - Trent John, President, Western Industrial

    • Overview of electric motor maintainance and installation. Laser alignment techniques , vibration analysis and belts.

BAVO (Base Area Village Ops)

  1. Strengthening Sustainability Through Local Community Partnerships- Rachelle Leishman, Sustainability Manager, Brundage Mountain Resort; Bonnie Hickey, Director of Sustainability, Bridger Bowl

    • Discover how mountain resorts can amplify sustainability impact through strategic local partnerships in this session featuring case studies from Brundage Mountain and Bridger Bowl.

    • Learn practical approaches for developing cross-sector collaborations that address climate challenges while delivering measurable environmental and economic benefits for mountain communities.

    • Attendees will gain actionable insights for building their own sustainability networks with diverse stakeholders

  2. Upgrading Facilities & Infrastructure - Travis Seeholzer, Operations Manager, Beaver Mountain; Grand Targhee Resort

    • Going through the process of expanding and upgrading base area facilities. From planning to construction of new facilities. Upgrading old utilities and infrastructure.

  3. From Lifts to Lodges: Leveraging Surveillance for Safe and Smarter Operations - George Clark-Gold, Showdown, Jeff Abelin, Bridger Bowl, Kaitlyn Schwable, Snowbasin

    • Explore how advanced surveillance enhances safety, streamlines training, prevents theft, and provides valuable guest flow insights. Allow these tools to help manage crowds and optimize mountain operations at your resort.

  4. Summer Ops & Mtn Biking - Mark Neff, Grand Targhee Resort; Lexey Wauters, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort; Steve Lawlor, MountainGuard; Tish Lopez, Snowbird

    • Join our panel of industry experts for a lively discussion about Summer Activities and Events. What's working, what isn't. Anything new and exciting on the horizon? What's the liability of these different activities and events?

The Intermountain Ski Areas Association (ISAA) is a trade organization focused on providing our membership of resorts, suppliers and regulatory authorities opportunities for training, exchange of ideas and to foster relationships in order to enhance the guest skiing experience.  Resort membership is made up of ski areas located in Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.  Supplier members are local, national and international.

The Intermountain Ski Areas Association does not permit or allow harassment, sexual abuse or molestation to occur within its membership or at any conference or activity sponsored by or related to it.  ISAA requires all members act with integrity and be respectful of each other and our membership. ISAA is committed to maintaining a positive learning environment free of harassment and is sensitive to the diversity of its members. ISAA prohibits and will not tolerate harassment because of age, race, sex, gender, color, religion, creed, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, uniform service or veteran status, or any other legally protected status.  Members have a right to learn, socialize and work in an environment free of harassment, whether racial, sexual, or on any other basis described above. 

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