January 18-20, 2022
Snowmass, Colorado

February 1-2, 2022
Killington Resort, Vermont

New for Winter 2021-22

NSAA's Lift Safety Boot Camp 

Held the Thursday after the Winter Conference, NSAA's new lift safety boot camp provides a full day of critical education to your lift operators, maintenance staff and mountain operations employees. We'll have a mix of indoor and outdoor sessions covering a range of operational topics that can immediately impact your ski area's lift safety programming. Your hosts for the event are Mike Lane and Earl Saline from NSAA; speakers will include folks from around the industry, including some of your fellow mountain operations professionals.

Enroll in Boot Camp
Note: Registration for the Lift Safety Boot Camp is separate from the Winter Show.

Schedule

7:30-8:00 a.m.	Breakfast
8:00-8:30 a.m.	Opening Remarks
8:30-10:00 a.m.	Maze & Ramp Design
10:00-11:30 a.m.	Unseated Passenger Plans
11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.	Lunch & Learn
1:00-2:30 p.m.	Root Cause Analysis
2:30-4:30 p.m.	Roundtable discussions

Session Descriptions

Lift Operations - Setting Your Guests up for Success: Maze Design, Load and Unload Ramp Setup
This session will discuss methods of setting up Mazes, Ramps and Signage to most effectively impact the success of your guests. Essential concepts to be covered will include calculating the appropriate maze length needed before the load board, and correct placement of unload signs. Bring your questions and ideas.

The What, Why, and How of Creating Unseated Passenger Plans
Unseated passenger plans are critical tools to help areas and their employees respond to incidents quickly, effectively, and safely. If you don’t have this plan already, or are in the process of updating yours, this is a session you won’t want to miss. This session will cover recommendations for what to include and, using an actual lift scenario, go through the process of creating a plan for that lift. You will then be able to walk through those same steps at your area to create or update your own plans.

Lunch and Learn Session
Be ready with your pen and paper as we dig into several topics during this working lunch. Our speakers and industry experts discuss the role communications and PR play in your guest education efforts along with examples of great guest education programs, the importance and impact of having a post-incident communication strategy, lift operations training best practices, and how to collaborate with your ski school and competition programs to keep lift riding safety front and center with students and athletes of all ages.

Root Cause Analysis & the Five Why’s
Incidents and near misses rarely ‘just’ happen. And, trends in incidents don’t appear overnight. Using thoughtful analysis and well-defined tools, you can identify the core (root) reason (cause) why something happened. Which then allows you to develop solutions to address that cause. Join this class to learn or brush up on how to conduct a root cause and trend analysis using example lift incidents. And, of course, we will also identify potential solutions so that you can work with your area team to address issues you are facing at your area.

Breaking the Cycle: A Lift Operations Roundtable
“But we’ve always done it that way!” Sound familiar? Change is hard - and we're here to help. This facilitated roundtable is intended to bring out and bring up the barriers and challenges you face making changes at your area. Maybe it’s terrain, snow, staffing, or culture – bring the challenges you face and we will discuss strategies to address those barriers, the takeaways from the other Boot Camp sessions, and help you move your lift operation forward.

Event FAQs

Is there a virtual component to the event?

No, we do not plan to livestream or record the in-person event at this time.

Will there be Covid-related requirements for attendees?

Yes. All attendees will be required to wear a mask in education sessions and indoor setting when they are not actively eating or drinking. These protocols are subject to change; NSAA will follow all local or venue protocols, and attendees should be prepared to be flexible. We encourage you to learn the best ways to protect yourself against Covid-19, including getting vaccinated. 

Will NSAA be utilizing a meeting app?

Yes, we will be using Whova for event information and details.  Attendees can expect to receive an invitation directly from Whova to create their profile approximately one month prior to the event.  Whova requires a unique email addresses for each individual attendee. To learn more about Whova click here.

How do I register? 

You can register online here. Select the show you plan to attend, then select your member type to begin the process.  You will need to use a credit card to complete your registration. 

Can I register multiple people at the same time? 

Yes, you may register multiple people at the same time when registering yourself online. Keep in mind each person you register needs a unique email address.

Can an assistant or admin register other people? 

Yes, an admin/asst. can register other people.  Simply click the “Register Someone Else” button. Please keep in mind each registrant needs their own unique email address. 

What if I need to cancel or exchange my/someone’s registration?

To make changes or cancellations, please send an email to nsaa@nsaa.org and we will make the change and/or refund.

Are there Mountain Foundation grants for this event?  

Yes - application information is available here.  The application deadline is December 10.

Mountain Foundation Scholarships

Want to attend this event but don’t have the financial means to do so? Consider applying for a Mountain Foundation scholarship. Click here to learn more. The application deadline is December 10.

NSAA COVID EVENT POLICY

NSAA values the health and safety of its members and event attendees. The association has issued the following requirements for all event attendees, including vendors and NSAA staff. These requirements are subject to change based on the latest local public health requirements and/or venue regulations, up to and through the event dates.

All NSAA event attendees MUST WEAR A MASK in all public indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status. Masks must be worn over the nose and mouth. This includes at registration, in sessions, at tradeshows and at any other event-related gatherings. In order for attendees to hear and understand our speakers, we may make adjustments that will allow them to alter or remove their masks while presenting. We will be working with our venues to promote physical distancing whenever possible. When eating or drinking, please try to keep physical distance from others, and pull your mask up when you are not actively eating or drinking. Masks are not required outdoors unless physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Please refer to the CDC guidance on the type of mask you should wear.

We ask that you do not attend the event if you are feeling sick or experiencing Covid symptoms.

Thank you to our Winter Show sponsors!

Leitner-Poma of America | flaik | TechnoAlpin | Safehold | PRINOTH | Interstate Parking Company | DEMACLENKO | Aspenware | Airflare | PistenBully