End of Season Letter from Matt Clos

Dear Mountain Sports School Team,

As we wrap up the season, I want to thank you all for an incredible winter. I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on the season, and what stands out most is the deep sense of gratitude I feel for each of you. Your hard work, dedication, and passion made this season a success, and I feel fortunate to be part of such an exceptional team of inspired professionals.

While the winter started slowly with a historically low snowpack in December, we closed out the season with 445 inches and some amazing conditions throughout February and March. The strong late-season snowfall helped drive business and gave us all the chance to enjoy some all-time conditions on the mountain.

As I look back, there were many highlights worth celebrating across the resort and within the MSS.

We received excellent feedback from our guests this season. Our Overall Performance of Instructor and Overall Lesson Experience scores both finished at 9.4/10. These results speak directly to the experiences you created, and to your belief in the power of real mountain adventure and genuine human connection.

To support the beginner experience, we successfully implemented Terrain Based Learning at Solitude Station. The terrain shaping created an intuitive and more enjoyable learning experience, and we saw firsthand how it helped many of our first-time skiers and riders build confidence and have fun sliding on snow.

This winter was a record-setting year for MSS professional development. Our instructor staff logged over 21,000 hours of training, with 552 individuals participating. We had 75 instructors earn their PSIA/AASI Level 1 certification, 20 earn Level 2, 3 achieve Level 3, 4 join the Intermountain Devo Team, and more than 35 earn CS certifications. Many others completed exam modules and worked toward future goals. These accomplishments are a testament to our shared commitment to growth and excellence.

We also made significant strides in our commitment to safety. Through a resort-wide effort to reduce reckless skiing and riding, we increased Speed Control staffing by 50% and recorded an 83% increase in guest interactions, including conversations, warnings, and pass or ticket suspensions. We also stood behind our values and led the industry by removing the vertical foot leaderboard from the JH Insider app, an industry leading step that reaffirmed safety as our priority.

The most impactful moment of the season for me was the group ski on closing day in honor of Peter Wuerslin. His passing last April had a profound impact on many, including myself. Seeing our staff, coworkers, and community come together to remember Peter and support Cindy was powerful and reaffirmed for me that community and showing up for people is one of the things that make this place and our team so special.

As we look ahead to next winter, we’re already planning for staffing and operations. We truly value each of you and hope to be part of your plans for many seasons to come. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to fill out the Intent to Return form. Your input helps us understand our hiring and recruiting needs for 2025–2026, and more importantly knowing who is coming back keeps us excited and energized through the off-season.

Thank you again for an incredible season. It’s an honor and privilege to be part of the Jackson Hole Mountain Sports School, and I’m already looking forward to working with you all again next winter.

Sincerely,

Matt