S'no Joke: There’s a Conference for Snow Professionals
The 41st Annual Colorado Ski Country USA Snowmaking & Slope Maintenance Conference Celebrates the Experts Behind the Snow
It makes sense when you think about it: snowmaking, slope maintenance, and terrain park maintenance don’t just happen- it takes a fleet of highly-skilled snow experts who groom the trails, make the snow, and maintain the terrain parks after the rest of us call it a day.
There’s a conference for the folks “behind the snow”: the 41st Annual Colorado Ski Country USA Snowmaking & Slope Maintenance Conference in Grand Junction, Colorado April 4-6.
The conference “snowcases” the people behind the plow, the class-acts driving the snow cats and the folks that make our fun, funner. Whatever you may call them, the people that work behind the scenes making our skiing and riding possible will take the spotlight for several days of networking, education, and collegial competition for the title of Snowmaker, Groomer, or Terrain Park Specialist of the Year.
“These are truly the people who make skiing and riding possible for all of us,” said Colorado Ski Country USA President and CEO Melanie Mills. “They’re out all night, in all kinds of weather, making sure the slopes are in great condition and ready to go each morning of the ski season.”
Resorts nominate candidates for the awards. Experts and veterans of the snow industry will interview the nominees and choose the finalists which will be announced Wednesday, April 5, 2023.
This year’s nominees are:
Groomer of the Year
Trevor Mathes – Arapahoe Basin
Mark Gressett – Aspen Snowmass
James “Jimbob” Arnold – Copper Mountain
James Tierney – Steamboat Ski Resort
Danny Bagley – Sunlight Mountain Resort
David “Baker” Stidger – Telluride
Tim Lobdell – Winter Park Resort
Snowmaker of the Year
Jonathan Mika – Aspen Skiing Company
Charley Bovee – Aspen Snowmass
Gabriel Hodge – Copper Mountain
Christian Metzelaars – Eldora
Jenna Lechowicz – Steamboat Ski Resort
Kreyton Lane -Sunlight Mountain Resort
James Schold – Winter Park Resort
Terrain Park Specialist of the Year
John Asta – Steamboat Ski Resort
Phoebe Shaw – Sunlight Mountain Resort
Jake Halvorsen – Woodward Copper
Award winners will be announced at CSCUSA’s annual meeting in June.
Sarah Beatty, APR