SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., Feb. 9, 2026—
Colleagues took time to connect sharing stories and highlights from the season. A banner winter across much of the East, marked by consistent cold temperatures for snowmaking, steady natural snowfall, and record holiday attendance at many ski areas, set an upbeat tone for the National Ski Areas Association Eastern Winter Conference. Roughly 621 industry professionals attended the event at Killington, Feb. 3–4, up from about 575 last year.
The trade show floor was busy throughout the event, with strong engagement between ski area operators, managers, and suppliers. Exhibitors included a wide range of construction firms and infrastructure suppliers, reflecting continued demand for investment in mountain operations and facility upgrades. Many conversations centered on expanding or modernizing snowmaking systems, a perennial focus in the East and an increasingly urgent one in western regions as well.
Labor solutions were also well represented on the show floor, with several J-1 and H-2B service providers on hand, eager to help operators navigate the evolving regulatory landscape and workforce challenges.
The Snow Angel Foundation was also active at the conference, sharing details of a new partnership with Bern Helmets. The collaboration will focus on guest-facing safety messaging, co-branded equipment, and resort-aligned initiatives aimed at reinforcing shared responsibility on the mountain.
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Educational sessions were well attended and spanned mountain operations, risk management, and marketing. Several sessions took advantage of the host resort’s expertise, offering closer looks at Killington’s snowmaking system and lift maze design. Risk management topics featured prominently, including sessions on OSHA inspections, snowmobile operations, lift safety, and operational best practices. HR-focused programming—such as guidance on difficult workplace conversations and a strong panel highlighting women in mountain operations—rounded out the schedule.
Tuesday evening featured the live announcement of the I AM a Snowmaker contest results at Killington Peak Lodge, where HTI hosted a dinner. Nearly 7,500 votes were cast for the six competing snowmaking teams, with Seven Springs, Pa., earning the top honor.
Wednesday morning began with the annual First Tracks breakfast. Fresh snow overnight and continued snowfall through the morning delivered ideal conditions, giving attendees fresh tracks and free refills to start the day.
With both the Western and Eastern Winter Conferences wrapped, the next NSAA-hosted event on the calendar is the National Convention and Trade Show, scheduled for May 4–7, 2026, in Carlsbad, Calif.
