Behind the Slopes: Running and Proposing a Burleigh Mountain Ski Resort What are the key elements involved in running and maintaining a successful ski resort, and how can we apply these principles to develop a proposal for a Burleigh Mountain Ski Resort?

Ever wonder what it takes to run a ski mountain? In this hands-on project, students will spend time split between two local ski resorts, one privately owned and one state owned, exploring the operations, maintenance, and management necessary to run a successful ski resort. Each day will focus on different aspects, including business operations, snowmaking, ski patrol, and terrain park management. Students will engage directly with professionals, gaining a behind-the-scenes look at how these key areas function. Using their insights, students will develop a proposal for Burleigh Mountain Ski Resort, considering environmental impact, financial planning, and community engagement. This project blends outdoor adventure with real-world business learning, offering an exciting and immersive experience that showcases the complexity and excitement of running a ski resort—from the slopes to the boardroom!

Day 1

Today the group headed up to Cannon Mountain to get a behind the scenes look at the operations of a ski mountain. We got to do some great skiing while also learning about chair lift maintenance, ski patrol training, and state laws that govern NH ski areas.

Jakob in front of the Tram station.

Tomorrow we will be studying terrain park design and learn all about the necessary guest services to run a successful ski resort. Stay tuned for more!

Day 2

Day two was another busy day of information gathering. We gave a lot of thought to the various constituencies that we needed to keep in mind as we designed our ski mountain. We visited with Ski Patrol and learned a bit about equipment maintenance.

Day 3

Today, the group spent the day exploring the mountain, gathering information on key operational areas that contribute to the resort’s efficiency and guest experience. We began by examining lift operations, documenting the number and types of lifts in service while assessing their overall efficiency in transporting skiers and riders up the mountain. Observations included how quickly the lifts cycled through passengers and any noticeable differences in speed or capacity among various lift types.

Next, we focused on snowmaking, taking note of the resort’s snowmaking infrastructure and how it influenced current snow conditions. We observed the placement of snow guns, the quality of the artificial snow, and how well it blended with natural snowfall. Moving on to ski patrol, the group assessed the presence of patrol teams throughout the mountain, noting their visibility and responsiveness. We also took stock of the number of runs open and the quality of safety signage, ensuring that trail markers, hazard warnings, and directional signs were clear and accessible to skiers of all levels. .

Day 4

Today the focus really turned towards how we could transform our own Burleigh Mountain to a ski slope. We pulled together all of our research from the week into presentations outlining what would be needed to make Burleigh operational. Some important considerations were snow making equipment, installation of a rope tow, snow grooming, and terrain design.

Day 5

Credits:

Created with an image by Drpixel - "People enjoying skiing and snowboarding in mountain ski resort "