As I write this newsletter, I realize it has been four months since the last STEEP Newsletter—shame on me. Yes, I have been busy, but not to the point where I can use that as an excuse.

From what I can sense from one ski show and following Open Snow and various snow reports, the season has generally been decent. I hope you have had a good season, and the rest of your season bodes well.

I got a sense of tentative confidence from those at the NSAA Easter Winter Conference and Trade Show held at Mount Snow. The general uncertainties in the world around us are producing tentative feelings. I will not venture into the abyss of trying to dissect the cause. But seeing people with upbeat attitudes and interest in moving forward was great. One thing that inspired me was talking to the students from Vermont State University who are enrolled in the ski management program. Their enthusiasm for wanting to be part of the ski industry was infectious.

This newsletter has content written by other folks that I have collected and felt was of value to share with the ski area world. Some come from other parts of the globe, from ski area folks, and some of it comes from outside the industry, but

I believe they are beneficial for the ski industry.

STEEP Management has some interesting projects in the works with all three products represented by STEEP. Some will be announced at InterAlpin in Innsbruck in May; another is waiting for clarification as we speak. It will be exciting to share them with you in the future.

August is almost over. Time to think about the ski season getting started. This time of year was one of my favorites. There was so much energy building at the mountain in anticipation of spinning the lifts yet so much to do.

AURO Ropeway system is a great window into the future of lift technology. It is encouraging and inspiring to see Doppelmayr and Leitner taking such bold steps into the future,

THere are questions for sure and I have raised a couple but this is the beginning of a big step forward just like detachable chairlifts were back 50 years ago.

In many past posts, I have written about leadership and culture. Leadership is the source of health and culture, good or bad. I don’t think anybody would argue that the culture and health of a ski resort or divisions with a ski resort come from the leadership of those entities. Arguably, there are many forms of leadership, and there are numerous sources to learn about leadership, from books, podcasts, and articles in various journals.

From the groomer’s perspective.

As I pen this under a heat dome, I remember summer’s diverse experiences.

Ski areas face various challenges today, including climate change, rising energy prices, and increasing competitive pressure. To be successful under tougher conditions, ski areas need a mix of data analysis, resource-saving strategies, and clear communication—in short, modern slope management.

Why so many bad bosses rise to the top.

A personalized letter fail.

As we close for the 2023/24 winter season, what innovations should your team be considering for next year?

As we close the 2023/24 season and gear up for the next, what tools can help your team innovate into next year?

The January/February 2024 issue of the Harvard Business Review’s main thrust is about the leadership mindset.

The 2023-2024 season ski season started well in some areas and some areas not so well, and December was a bust across the US and Canada.