Hello! I wanted to jump in and write a brief note to all of you for the newsletter. It’s been just over three weeks since I started here in Lakewood, and it’s certainly been busy. The national board meeting, National Team winter training in Vail, and numerous Interski 2027 meetings have been filling up my days. It reminds me of when I first started teaching skiing at Breckenridge 26 years ago – there is so much going on and you feel like you are playing catch-up in every conversation. Luckily, the team here at the national office is on point and making sure all of you are being taken care of every day.
To be honest, I am so excited to have this opportunity within our industry. For years, I have seen so much potential for snowsports instruction to play a larger role in shaping the industry and having greater influence in the outdoor recreation space. As an association, we are over 30,000 strong and interact with millions of guests every season. The impact we can have is immense. I really believe that if we focus on what we want our role to be in the industry we can have a significant voice in the future of snowsports.
For me, it’s important that each of you understand how beneficial our association and community can be for your own personal growth, professional development, and leadership potential. The association is striving to provide you all with exceptional service, benefits, and value for your membership. This work is challenging, ever-changing, and always being adjusted to meet the present needs.
As we move forward together, we will need your help and feedback to fully understand how we can best serve you and the industry. Whether you are an individual member, a member school, a third-party vendor, or an ownership group, you have a valuable role to play in shaping our future.
I look forward to attending as many regional events as I can in the coming weeks including Women’s Summit, SoCal Rally, Outdoor Retailer, the unified assessment in Sun Valley (ID), National Academy, and Rider Rally. And, of course, working with our partners to plan, organize, and deliver the largest worldwide gathering of snowsports professionals at Interski Vail in 2027. There is so much coming at us in the next couple of years and I am grateful for the opportunity to help deliver for all of you.
I hope that each of you can enjoy some fresh snow or a day on the mountain with friends, soon, and maybe I will get to join you for a run or three.
Jeff