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Winter Park, Colorado | June 23-24, 2015

Downhill bike park summit

Presented by

ScheduleTuesday, June 23

12:00 pm - 1:15 pm Lunch

Opening Remarks and Keynote

Sessions

1:30 - 2:45 pm Designing Features for a Downhill Bike Park – From Beginner to Advanced (indoor)

Downhill Bike Rental and Fleet Management (indoor)

Mountain Bike Patrol – The Challenge and Opportunity (indoor)

2:45 – 3:00 pm Break

Sessions

3:00 - 4:15 pm Event Risk Management – Covering Your Bases (indoor)

The Nuts and Bolts of Bike Schools (indoor)

Trail Construction Principles (indoor)

4:30 – 5:30 pm Bike ride

Roundtable Session

5:30 – 8:30 pm Happy Hour Reception

Dinner

Wednesday, June 24

Sessions

8:00 - 9:00 am Continental Breakfast

9:00 - 10:15 am Incident Investigation – The Challenges of Summer Incidents (indoor)

Bike Park Layout – The Importance of Trails for All Users (indoor)

Credential Programs and Your Bike School (indoor)

10:15 – 10:30 am Break

Sessions

10:30 - 11:45 am Working with the U.S. Forest Service – Partners in Opportunity (indoor)

Incident Investigation – The Challenges of Summer Incidents (on-hill)

Bike Park Layout – The Importance of Trails for All Users- green/blue trails (on-hill)

11:45 am - 1:15 pm Lunch

Keynote Panel

Sessions

1:30 - 2:45 pm Bike Event Management – From Planning to Teardown (indoor)

Downhill Bike Rental and Fleet Management (indoor)

Bike Park Layout – The Importance of Trails for All Users- blue/black trails (on-hill)

2:45 – 3:00 pm Break

Sessions

3:00 - 4:15 pm Legal Review of Bike Park-Related Litigation (indoor)

Mountain Bike Lift Evacuation (indoor)

Mountain Bike Patrol - The Challenge and Opportunity (on-hill)

TM

event sponsors

NOTICE: ABSOLUTELY NO RECORDING ALLOWED AT NSAA CONFERENCES!NSAA seeks to foster an open and candid exchange of ideas between ski area personnel with its educational seminars. Accordingly, NSAA strictly prohibits any recording – including both audio and visual recording – of any of the sessions, meetings, speakers or individual attendees at NSAA meetings and conferences, notwithstanding local or state laws. It is also NSAA policy that individuals may not attend any session or meeting without being registered for the conference. NSAA meetings and conferences are not public forums. As noted in registration materials, NSAA will seek civil and criminal penalties, as well as damages and attorney’s fees, if a person violates this policy. By registering for any NSAA event, you hereby agree to be bound by these policies.

All Photography Courtesy of Trestle Bike Park

Let’s support those who support the industry. Our generous sponsors provide funds to be reinvested back into educational programs that benefit the entire industry.

Sessions Tuesday, June 23

12 – 1:15 pm

Lunch and KeynoteSponsored by MountainGuard

How Did We Get Here? The Evolution of Lift-Served Mountain BikingRob McSkimming, VP of Business Development, Whistler Blackcomb» West Portal Station

1:30 – 2:45 pm

Designing Features for a Downhill Bike Park – From Beginner to AdvancedMark Hayes, President, Highland Bike Park, NHTom “Pro” Prochazka, Gravity Logic Inc.» Blue Room, 3rd floor Children’s Center

Some might say that the features in your bike park are what sets your park apart from every other bike park out there. But, what are the ingredients that need to be considered when you develop a new wood, dirt, or series of features. Who’s the intended user; how does this feature fit with the flow of the trail; what are the possible consequences of the feature; these are all questions that should be asked as you look to add those signature park elements that keep bringing riders back.

Downhill Bike Rental and Fleet ManagementPaul Mutch, Gravity Logic Inc.» West Portal Station

The best downhill bike programs know that it takes much more than simply providing lift access to your trails. Bike rentals can be a significant source of revenue, and a major influence on your guest’s experience. Providing the right gear can make all the difference between a good time and a great time on the trails you worked so hard to build. Join industry veteran Paul Mutch to learn the crucial information you need to analyze your existing rental program and details to get a program set up.

Mountain Bike Patrol – The Challenge and Opportunity Sponsored by MatbockKira Cailes, Safety Manager, Whistler Blackcomb, CanadaMarty Caivano, Field Programs Specialist, IMBARico LaRocca, Bike Patrol Supervisor, Winter Park Resort, CO» Green Room, 3rd floor Children’s Center

In the winter Ski Patrol is a critical part of your operation. As ski areas expand their summer oper-ations, there are many different considerations for summer operations. Our three resort panelists have had bike patrols in place from the beginning and will share their lessons learned and mistakes made. From opening and closing trails to signage to injury evacuation, this group has worked through the challenges and will share their knowledge so that you can avoid some of the pitfalls that caught them.

3:00 – 4:15 pm

Event Risk Management - Covering Your BasesBrian Finestone, Parks Manager, Whistler Blackcomb, CanadaBob Holme, General Manager Trestle Bike Park, Winter Park Resort, CODylan West, Assistant Vice President, MountainGuard» Green Room, 3rd floor Children’s Center

Events are a fantastic way to increase the awareness of your bike park and expose new and different customers to your resort. Any event carries with it certain risks. Learn from the experiences of our panel of resort experts as they guide you through the critical risk management elements of putting on world class events. From the World Cup to Crankworx to the Colorado Freeride Festival, our three panelists will give you tangible insights into what it takes to put on a safe, fun, and memorable bike event.

The Nuts and Bolts of Bike Schools Sponsored by DeasonbuiltBob Barnes, Trestle Bike School Director, Winter Park Resort, COMark Hayes, President, Highland Bike Park, NHKevin Jordan, Bike Coordinator, Aspen Snowmass, CO» Blue Room, 3rd floor Children’s Center

Bike schools provide a unique opportunity for each area to show its guests not only how great a park is but also how much fun downhill mountain biking can be. Important to a successful bike school is having the right coaches, a solid progression, and a supportive environment for bikers of all levels. Our panel of bike school operators will share their knowledge and insights into what makes their programs tick from how they are converting new bikers to bringing experienced riders into their coaching programs.

Trail Construction PrinciplesChris Bernhardt, Director of Field Programs, IMBATom “Pro” Prochazka, Gravity Logic Inc.» West Portal Station

Building trails requires an understanding of the users, the terrain, and the desired experience. Add to that the challenges that ski area terrain can pose and you have some serious homework to do before you ever put a shovel in the dirt. Choosing the right construction technique can make all the difference between a trail that stands the test of time and one that needs constant maintenance and re-work. Whether you are starting from scratch or adding a new trail, learn the techniques that will make for a sustainable trail that will hold up to the wear and tear of users (and the weather) and deliver the desired experience.

5:30 - 9:30 pm

Reception and DinnerSponsored by Leitner-Poma of America and New Belgium Brewing

Sessions Wednesday, June 24

9:00 – 10:15 am

Incident Investigation – The Challenges of Summer IncidentsMaya Lengerich, Human Resources and Risk Management, Angel Fire Resort, NMToni Leuthold, Risk Manager, Winter Park Resort, COMark Petrozzi, Principal, AlpenRisk Safety Advisors, LLC Brian Rosser, Specialty Claims Adjustor, Safehold Special Risk» Green Room, 3rd floor Children’s Center

Summer incident investigation brings with it much of the same processes and procedures that are used in winter investigations. At the same time there are nuances that must be addressed during bike investigations that might surprise you. Our panel of resort risk managers and insurance experts will discuss the specifics of a bike incident investiga-tion to help you make sure your investigations are as complete as possible. Following the indoor ses-sion, this group will then move to an on-hill practical session that will go over the incident investigation process using an actual feature.

Bike Park Layout – The Importance of Trails for All UsersTom “Pro” Prochazka, Gravity Logic Inc..Julian Tyo, Coordinator, Mountain Events and Summer Trails, Sun Valley, IDMark Hayes, Highland Bike Park, New HampshirePaul Mutch, Gravity Logic» West Portal Station

Everyone wants to have a great bike park, but what makes for a “great” downhill bike experience? Is it steep, gnarly, high-consequence trails for hard-core bikers? Or, are smooth, rolling, flowing trails the golden ticket that will entice people to your area? This session will bring together bike park operators and designers that have lived through the layout experience and have figured out the balance of beginner trails to advanced trails, and worked to create a bike experience for all skill levels. Support-ing on-hill sessions will give you an up close and personal look

at specific trails, either in the beginner/intermediate zone or in the intermediate/advanced zones.

Credential Programs and Your Bike School Bob Barnes, Trestle Bike School Director, Winter Park Resort, COKevin Jordan, Bike School Coordinator, Aspen Snowmass, COTammy Donahugh, Instructor Certification Program Manager, IMBAMike Johnstone, TerraMethod Cycling» Blue Room, 3rd floor Children’s Center

Credentialing programs are offered by many different organizations. At the root of each is the goal of creating better bike coaches. Bike instructors need many of the same skills that ski or snowboard instructors need. From communication to movement assessment, bike instructors need to be able to break down the desired skills and give their guests the right coaching the first time. Our panel of bike school operators and credentialing program experts will discuss credentialing programs and why their schools are certifying their bike coaches.

10:30 – 11:45 am

Working with the U.S. Forest Service - Partners in OpportunityDoug Laraby, Planning Director, Winter Park Resort, CORoger Poirier, USDA Forest Service Julian Tyo, Coordinator, Mountain Events and Summer Trails, Sun Valley, IDGeraldine Link, Director of Public Policy, NSAA» West Portal Station

Adding a downhill bike trail system to your re-sort impacts many different stakeholders including the area, the community, your guests, and in some cases, governmental land managers such as the U.S. Forest Service. This session will give you the chance to hear from Forest Service and ski industry experts with experience in the planning and approval pro-cess for adding significant biking operations on pub-lic lands. From applying the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Act (SAROEA) to NEPA review, these experts will provide helpful advice on maximizing your chances for a reaching a successful decision.

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Incident Investigation – The Challenges of Summer Incidents» On-hill session

Bike Park Layout » On-hill session for green/blue trails

11:45 am – 1:15 pm

Lunch and KeynoteSponsored by Safehold Special Risk

State of the Resort-Based Mountain Bike IndustryRob McSkimming, VP of Business Development, Whistler BlackcombDave Kelly, Gravity LogicChris Bernhardt, Director of Field Programs, IMBABrian Finestone, Parks Manager, Whistler BlackcombBob Holme, General Manager Trestle Bike Park, Winter Park ResortJennifer Boldry, President, Breakaway Research Group» West Portal Station

Sessions

1:30 – 2:45 pm

Bike Event Management - From Planning to TeardownTed Davis, Director of Mountain Operations, Windham Mountain, NYBrian Finestone, Parks Manager, Whistler BlackcombBob Holme, General Manager Trestle Bike Park, Winter Park Resort, CO» West Portal Station Whether you are putting on a community race series, a major regional or national event, or a World Cup there are certain things that you just need to get right. From planning to awards, it’s all the small details that will make the event a success for your competitors and your area. Learn from the masters as they discuss their experiences and what they’ve learned from putting on some of the most recognized events in the mountain bike world.Downhill Bike Rental and Fleet ManagementPaul Mutch, Gravity Logic Inc.» Blue Room, 3rd floor Children’s Center

The best downhill bike programs know that it takes much more than simply providing lift access to your trails. Bike rentals can be a significant source of revenue, and a major influ-ence on your guest’s experience.

Providing the right gear can make all the difference between a good time and a great time on the trails you worked so hard to build. Join industry veteran Paul Mutch to learn the crucial information you need to analyze your existing rental program and details to get a program set up.

Bike Park Layout » On-hill session for blue/black trails

3:00 – 4:15 pm

Legal Review of Bike Park-Related Litigation Sponsored by GEOauditRobert B. Kennedy, Q.C., Partner, Farris Law Mark Petrozzi, Principal, AlpenRisk Safety Advisors, LLCBrian Rosser, Specialty Claims Adjuster, Safehold Special RiskAdam Strachan, Principal, Strachan, Strachan & Simon, P.C.Dave Byrd, Director of Risk Management, NSAA » West Portal Station

Summer operations, and biking in particular, are becoming increasingly larger lines of business for areas as they seek to provide more activities for guests. Providing more access to the mountain during the summer months and offering downhill biking does not come without risk. Our industry panel of risk management experts, insurance company representatives, and ASDA attorneys will discuss the spectrum of cases, looking back for lessons learned from past litigations and at the present cases for insights that have, or will, affect bike operations at areas.

Mountain Bike Lift EvacuationBen Grafelman, Bike Patrol Supervisor, Winter Park Resort, COJimmy Lawrence, VP Loss Control, MountainGuardSid Roslund, Director of Technical Services, NSAA » Green Room, 3rd floor Children’s Center

Summer lift evacuations come with their own challenges with terrain that is more difficult to navigate, lift lines that might be hard to access, and

difficult egress routes for guests. Add to this the smaller number of

staff trained and ready to assist with a lift evacuation and you

have some serious challenges that must be addressed. This panel of industry experts

will work through each of these issues (and more) and provide tangible solutions that might make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major incident.

Mountain Bike patrol » On-hill session

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Winter Park Trestle Bike Park