Important Dates: 2012 Winter Conferences and Tradeshows January 17-19, 2012 Squaw Valley, CA February 7-8, 2012 Killington, VT Lodging Deadline: January 3 National Safety Week January 14-22, 2012

Welcome to NSAA online:
Today is: 2/3/2012

About NSAA

The National Ski Areas Association is the trade association for ski area owners and operators. It represents 321 alpine resorts that account for more than 90 percent of the skier/snowboarder visits nationwide. Additionally, it has over 400 supplier members who provide equipment, goods and services to the mountain resort industry.

The association's primary objective is to meet the needs of ski area owners and operators nationwide and to foster, stimulate and promote growth in the industry.[more...]

2012 National Wage & Salary Survey
Announcing the Launch of the 2012 National Ski Resort Association Salary Survey
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – January 30, 2012 – The NSAA and Sierra Research Associates LLC announced the launch of the 2012 National Ski Resort Salary Survey to be filled out by member resorts earlier this month via email. Last season, over 120 industry members participated in the survey. It is important to note, participating resorts will be able to purchase the final report at $55.00 per copy which is a significant discount over the non-participant NSAA member rate of $250.00, and non-participating/non-NSAA member rate of $500.00. [More...]

Congress Passes Ski Area Summer Activities Bill
New Act Paves Way for Expanded Summer and Year-Round Offerings on Public Lands.
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – October 19, 2011 – The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) announced today that a bill authorizing summer and year-round activities at ski areas on Forest System lands has passed Congress and is expected to be signed into law soon by President Barack Obama. The Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act (S. 382/H.R. 765) paves the way for more robust summer operations at the nation’s 121 ski areas that operate on public lands. The measure will allow ski resorts located in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming to offer their guests a wider array of activities in summer, including zip lines, mountain biking and mountain bike parks, ropes courses and Frisbee golf courses. [More...]

ANSI B77.1-2011 for Passenger Ropeways NOW AVAILABLE.
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Sept 26, 2011 – The ANSI B77.1-2011 is now available for purchase. This new edition is available in three formats, a soft cover book, loose leaf binder and PDF. The 2011 edition updated the operational requirements for operators and attendants for each ropeway type. Terminology and usage for “bullwheels and sheaves” was also updated throughout the standard. Order online, get the order form here or contact Emily Torres in member services.

Late-Season Surge Pushes Skier/Snowboarder Visits to New Record
Report Shows U.S. Ski Areas Tallied 60.54 Million Visits in 2010/11 Season.
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – July 14, 2011 – The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) announced today that U.S. ski areas set a new all-time record of 60.54 million skier/snowboarder visits during the 2010/11 season, according to the final Kottke End of Season Survey. The association announced preliminary figures in May projecting that, at an estimated 60.1 million skier/snowboarder visits, the 2010/11 season was the second-best on record. However, an unprecedented turn of events that saw many ski areas operating late into the spring, and even summer, helped fuel the industry toward setting the new visitation record. [More...]

Ski Industry Releases Annual Environmental Report
Sustainable Slopes Grant Program and Climate Challenge Highlighted
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – July 6, 2011 – The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) today released its 11th Sustainable Slopes Annual Report detailing the ski industry’s progress in implementing the principles of its Environmental Charter during the 2010/11 season. Based on information submitted by member resorts, the report highlights the Sustainable Slopes Grant Program and the new Climate Challenge. The report also highlights the latest environmental implementations at ski areas including the use of electric vehicles, composting, local purchasing programs, efforts to reduce carbon footprints, water conservation efforts, and employee and guest education as it relates to sustainability. [More...]

NSAA Names Eight Ski Areas as Winners of Annual Marketing Awards
Annual Awards Recognize Top Ski Area Campaigns That Spur Visitation Growth
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – May 5, 2011 – Today the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) named eight ski areas as the winners of its annual Marketing Awards. The awards, sponsored this year by strategic marketing and database technology firm Ryan Solutions based in Ohio, are presented annually to ski resorts nationwide, both large and small, for their successful marketing programs that ultimately help grow the sports of skiing and snowboarding. New this year, NSAA added a special category to this year’s awards, Best Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month Campaign. This season, more than 75,000 kids and families took ski and snowboard lessons in January, and this year’s marketing awards recognize four ski areas that did a particularly effective job of incorporating the grass roots initiative into their operations. Also new this year, NSAA announced this year’s winner live May 5 at its National Convention and at La Costa Resort and Spa, Carlsbad, Calif. [More...]

Ski Area Eco-Efforts Hailed with Annual Golden Eagle Awards
Grand Targhee, Jackson Hole and Park City Capture Top Ski Industry Honors.
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – May 5, 2011 – Today the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) honored three ski areas, including Wyoming’s Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole, and Park City, Utah, with the 2011 Golden Eagle Awards for Environmental Excellence. Established in 1993, the Golden Eagle Awards are the ski industry’s most prestigious award for recognizing resort environmental programs and projects. This year’s Golden Eagle Awards were awarded to ski areas of three size categories: Up to 200,000 skier and snowboarder visits; 200,000 to 500,000 visits; and 500,000 or more visits. [More...]

Twelve Ski Areas Recognized With Annual Industry Safety Awards
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – April 12, 2011 – Today the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) honored 12 member resorts with its annual National Ski Area Safety Awards. Each season the awards recognize those resorts that have done an outstanding job of educating employees and guests about skiing and snowboarding responsibly. [More...]

NSAA Awards California Ski Executive with Lifetime Achievement Award
Snow Summit Ski Corp. CEO Dick Kun Recognized for Industry Contributions.
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – April 11, 2011 – The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) today announced that Dick Kun, CEO of Snow Summit Ski Corporation, has been selected as the recipient of the 2011 NSAA Lifetime Achievement Award. Snow Summit Ski Corp. owns and operates Snow Summit and Bear Mountain ski areas in Big Bear Lake, Calif. [More...]

New York Ski Area Operator Honored with Sherman Adams Award
Bristol Mountain President Dan Fuller Recognized for Industry Contributions.
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – April 1, 2011 – The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) today announced that Dan Fuller, president of Bristol Mountain Winter Resort in Canandaigua, N.Y., is the recipient of this year’s Sherman Adams Award. The Sherman Adams Award is presented annually to an individual from an Eastern ski area that has significantly influenced the industry. The award is named after the former governor of New Hampshire who was also the founder of Loon Mountain, N.H. [More...]

NSAA Response to Men’s Journal article: “The Future of Snow” by Kitt Doucette, Dec. 2010. Click here.

NEW! Draft Template OSHA Job Hazard Assessment forms added to NSAA website
Click here for draft template JHA forms to assist ski areas in complying with state and federal regulations under OSHA requiring employers to have prepared, written Job Hazard Assessments, with accompanying training, abatement actions, and equipment to ensure employee safety.

Update on State Ski and Snowboard Helmet Laws
Off and on over the past decade, attempts have been made in various states to mandate ski and snowboard helmet usage through legislation. To date, those efforts have been unsuccessful for a number of reasons, as ski helmet bills have either failed to make it out of committee or stalled after passing just one house of the legislature. Click here for the latest update on helmet legislation.

NSAA Member Health Care Information Center: Planning for 2014

Click here to go to the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) central website on healthcare reform. Provides updates, reports, press releases and other information on health care reform and offers email subscriptions for health care reform updates.

The Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight will work with the Department of Health and Human Services to issue regulations and implement many of the provisions of the legislation that address private health insurance. Visit this page frequently for links to proposed regulations, requests for comment, and other updates.

Ski Industry Releases Annual Environmental Report
Grant Program Generates $100,000 Worth of Environmental Funding and In-Kind Donations.
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – September 7, 2010 – The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) today released its 10th Sustainable Slopes Annual Report detailing the ski industry’s progress in implementing the principles of its Environmental Charter during the 2009/10 season. Based on a survey of member resorts, the report highlights resorts’ progress in conserving energy and water, reducing solid waste, educating employees and guests, and partnering with communities. [More...]

H1N1 Influenza Management in Hotels
Click here for information from the American Hotel & Lodging Association website on managing any potential H1N1 flu outbreak in your lodging business.