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FROM THE DESK OF more about your unique point of view. We share a recap of the
Kelly Pawlak survey results on page 20. Please know that we are listening.
Much of the buzz at the Convention centered around two

NSAA PRESIDENT important issues that you have identified as top priorities for
NSAA to address: climate change and growing the sport.
These industry challenges have much in common:
I dedicate this note to our National Convention and • Both are urgent matters. But let’s not be fooled—there
Tradeshow in San Diego, because whether you were able to is not a singular silver bullet to solve these problems.
attend or not, it is important that you hear some of the event Strategic, long term planning is essential to our success.
highlights and themes. We had a fantastic turnout with • Now is the time for everyone to get on board—no more
959 people in attendance and 138 ski areas represented. stalling. We all need to make these top-of-agenda,
That is our best attendance since 2008 when the Convention daily conversations.
UPGRADED was held in San Francisco. Is it something about California? • Collaboration with groups outside our industry is vital.
PROGRESSION Next year, the Convention will be held in Amelia Island, FL, These issues are bigger than us so we have to join forces
May 4–7, 2020. I think everyone can handle a little beach
with other like-minded groups to elevate our voice.
BOA® BOOTS time after a long winter. At the Convention, both climate and growth were discussed
Overall, a sense of celebration was in the air due to a
strong winter season. In fact, the Rocky Mountain Region at the NSAA Board meeting, at committee meetings, in a
Progression BOA® Boots are posted their best season ever and, overall, we had our fourth- variety of sessions, in the tradeshow hall, at restaurants and
now integrated with Burton best season in the last 40 years on record. in pop-up meetings … the importance of these challenges
Exclusive New England Ropes Not to be made complacent by a great snow year, there was clearly on your minds.
with a Lifetime Warranty and were many conversations at the Convention about welcoming
an updated BOA® dial shield for a new generation of skiers and riders to our mountains. There
added durability. was agreement that the next generation has to better reflect the We have to join forces with
diversifying U.S. population, meaning we need to invite more other like-minded groups to
Asian, Latino and African-American skiers and riders to our elevate our voice.
slopes. We want everyone to feel welcome to try our sport,
and it will take authentic outreach in ways that make sense
for your ski area. On the climate side, there was more discussion around
If you haven’t attended one of NSAA’s events in a while the importance of advocacy. Our education sessions shared
(or maybe you have never attended), we want to change that. information to help ski areas understand the immediate
In San Diego, NSAA launched the Mountain Foundation, impacts of this issue, and to learn how some resorts are trying
a newly-formed 501(c)(3) that will provide grants to NSAA to tackle this. Geraldine Link writes more about our collabora-
NOW WITH members to increase access to educational opportunities that tive advocacy efforts on page 10.
On the growth side, we started off the Convention with
NEW ENGLAND help you and the future leaders in your organization further one of our most productive Growth Committee meetings
your career in the snowsports industry. Now you can apply
ROPES for a grant to attend the NSAA winter show in your region to date. This committee is only one year old and has already

or send a lift mechanic to LMS or RMLA. A summary of the modeled a long-term skier day goal and formed several small
program, FAQs, qualifying events and grant applications can groups to work on some of the top ideas that have emerged
all be found on our website. from our brainstorming sessions. There are over 30 highly
What is really amazing is that over $100,000 has been qualified people from all sectors of the ski industry working
donated to the Mountain Foundation since its launch. This on the Growth Committee and in its small groups.
allows us to hit the ground running and award grants as soon My favorite moment of the Convention was when Les
as August 1. The generosity has been astounding. See more Sommets won the Conversion Cup. Their excitement and
in Drifts on page 6. appreciation was endearing, especially when they announced
Thank you to everyone that took the Convention post- to the packed room that Canada would be getting their cup.
event survey. The NSAA staff have key performance goals tied It may not be Lord Stanley’s Cup, but the Conversion Cup
to your feedback, and that feedback and ideas help us plan for was held high by the proud Canadians!
future events. This year we developed a separate survey for I look forward to my summer travels and meeting you
our supplier members, understanding that we need to learn at your mountains, which continue to inspire me.
PROGRESSION BOA® PROGRESSION BOA® PROGRESSION BOA®
MEN’S BOOT WOMEN’S BOOT KID’S BOOT

SUMMER 2019 | NSAA JOURNAL | 5