MSS January Update: A Wrap on Holiday Rush

MSS staff snake their way down Werner in the torchlight parade on New Year's Eve

Thank you to everyone who made this holiday rush hugely successful! We managed larger volumes this year compared to last, while simultaneously maintaining a higher quality of guest experience. On December 28th and 29th, we saw our busiest days of the rush which helped to bring us ahead of our budget for this point in the year. Thanks again for doing excellent work. We hope you enjoy some slower days before we ramp up to Presidents’ weekend starting on February 16th.

Events

Corbet’s Couloir will be closed for Kings & Queens starting on Tuesday, January 24th. The weather window for the event is February 4th-11th and our aim is to run the event early in that time frame.

The Junior IFSA Freeride Competition will be held in Toilet Bowl and Tower 3 this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (January20th-22nd). The viewing area will be cordoned off as usual, and Patrol requires all spectators to be inside the fenced off area at the base of the venue (southwest side of Amphitheater). If you bring your guests to watch any part of the event, even for a minute or two, move into the viewing area – please do not stop on Amphitheater to watch.

Training Updates

Training season is here! Over 30 staff have already passed their PSIA/AASI Level 1 exams this year- congratulations, all. We encourage you to check out upcoming training options via ProCard (click the Training tile on your home screen - see image below). Note that events on the PSIA/AASI Intermountain Calendar typically close to registration two weeks in advance. In addition to PSIA/AASI exams, MSS offers in-house specific training topics like Freestyle Friday, Team Ski (shred with your adult group supervisors), Performance Skiing and more.

Toggle your work schedule off to view upcoming clinics more easily. Check out Calendar View if the default List View is a lot to process!

JHMR recently hosted a cooperative PSIA-NRM/AMGA Ski Improvement Clinic. The brainchild of our own Laura Berger, JHMR alumna Theresa Gerdin, and National Team member Brenna Kelleher, this three-day clinic was the first cross-organization event of its kind. It was established to help aspiring AMGA ski guides with ski movement and movement analysis. As you can tell by the photos below, it was a success!

Health & Injuries

Injuries are up this year, and we hate to see our coworkers get hurt. Your MSS managers urge you to keep safety front of mind and to look out for your wellbeing actively each day. Please let your supervisor know if you feel worn-down and need a recovery day. Please see a bootfitter ASAP if your feet are complaining from so much time in boots. Little hotspots can develop into season-ending problems without proper care, and we typically do not see bootfit issues get covered by workers compensation.

Please use extra awareness when transitioning from groomed runs to off-piste: expect obstacles, some of which could be hidden. We still have nearly three months to go, so view the season as a marathon, not a sprint. Keep yourselves healthy so you can enjoy the full extent of midwinter and spring, too- it is much more fun on the slopes than on the sidelines!

Quick reminder that seasonal full-time staff are eligible for 3 paid sick days per season. Full-timers, to request a paid sick day, please email James after you clear your work schedule with your supervisor. If you are missing a private booking and had already contacted the guest, please also let the guest know that you are sick and MSS will assign a new instructor to the lesson.

Operational Updates

The Solitude North dining room is quite an oasis compared to the bustling base area. Their buffet lunch is an easy ski-in, ski-out option for you and your clients. You can make reservations on ProCard any day you’re booked with a private or a group lesson. Open your activity for the day and scroll down until you see the ‘lunch reservation’ link on the right-hand side of your screen. See you there!

Last cabin DOWN on Sweetwater is at 4:45 pm. You are also welcome to walk down.

Thanks for the feedback on the heated mats leading into the Building A ski storage area. We are still testing out the configuration, so we appreciate your patience!

Tram Etiquette

This is always a great time of year to review some tram guidelines.

• Tram loading via the MSS entrance (back dock) is blacked out from 9-9:30am and after 3pm.

• Our early MSS trams depart the dock at 8:24, 8:36, and 8:48 sharp. You must have a reservation with your party to load one of these trams.

  • Please have your group fully assembled prior to approaching the dock. Please use the area on snow in front of the dock to meet your group.

  • The instructor must enter the line first, checking in with the tram supervisor of the day. Have your party follow directly behind you. Do not walk onto the dock without checking in with the supervisor, or if an MSS supervisor is not present.

  • The mountain may not be open when you arrive at the top. Have your group place their skis and proceed into the cabin or onto the cabin deck. Let your clients know that it is not allowed to click into bindings until Mountain Hosts or Security announce that the mountain is open.

• For non-early loading, please be sure to have your group assembled before walking onto the dock. If your group becomes separated, wait outside the tram line rather than in it.

• Please pull the gates closed behind you as you load.

• Say hi and thank you to the tram operator whenever possible!

Thank you, all- enjoy a bit more space out on the trails during these final weeks of January!