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. Safety on the Slopes

    • Safety initiatives on the mountain from this last season.

  3. Risk Management & Marketing Working Together - Matt Clos, Ski School Director, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

    • Discussion Safety program from 24/25 Review safety program from JMHR.

  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.

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. Ski School - Nick Heron, Senior VP of Snowsports, Boyne Mountain

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

    • Moderator,

      • 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 - Kurt 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. Managing the Guest Flow -

    • Crowding on the mountain, capacity, how much is too much?

  5. Drone Utilization - Travis Crawford, President, Great Divide Ski Area

    • Join Travis Crawford, President at Great Divide Ski Area, for a demonstration and discussion on flying a drone and a classroom discussion how to create an investigation.

  6. The Importance of Contracts in Mountain Operations - Dave Byrd, Director of Risk & Regulatory Affairs, NSAA; Ryan Lavoie, Director of Education, MountainGuard

    • 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 Class- Logan Still, Rocky Mtn NDT

    • Overview of lift requirements regarding NDT. Not a certification course.

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

    • Haul Rope maintenance and inspections, ANSI compliance.

  4. Conveyors - Sun Kidd

  5. Little Shop of Horrors & ANSI Update - Mike Lane,

  6. Lift electrical troubleshooting -

    • Bearing selection and replacement.

  7. Failure to load -

    • Lift misload training

  8. Motors, Maintenance and Installation - Trent John, Western Industrial

    • Overview of electric motor maintenance and installation.

BAVO (Base Area Village Ops)

  1. Sustainability: Working with your local communities- Rachell L, Bonnie Hickey, Bridger

  2. Upgrading Facilities & Infrastructure - Grand Targhee Resort

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

    PANELDISCUSSION

    • 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

    • Summer Ops Liability, revenue, free recreation.

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 Area 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. 

Cart (0)