SKI NY Lift Training 2025

Presenting the 2025 SKI NY Lift Maintenance Program

One of Ski Areas of New York (SKI NY) key responsibilities is to provide training and education to our membership.  Our past efforts include Disney Institutes, Public Relations with Reputation Strategies, NSAA Fall Education Series, Incident investigation with Mark Petrozzi and of course the annual EXPO. 

In 2011 we launched a multi session lift maintenance program that was geared to primarily to fixed grip chairlifts.  In 2018, we retooled the program to include advancements in lift technology.  Now we are including surface lifts, conveyors, detachable chairs, detachable gondolas, grouped gondolas, aerial trams, advanced electrical, advanced mechanical as well as the continuation of basic fixed grip training.  We are also continuing to use NSAA’s Lift Maintenance Resource Guide to help guide classes, so you send the appropriate maintenance employees

This program is not membership exclusive; we are extending an invitation to the entire New York State Ski Resort Community and neighboring states to participate. We want all to join us in sharing the knowledge and expertise of our instructors and attendees.  There is no cost to attend, and we encourage you to bring as many personnel as you like.

Resorts hosting classes this summer are Gore Mountain, Royal Mountain, Oak Mountain, Holiday Valley Resort, Hunter Mountain and Woods Valley.

During the class sessions this summer, we want to bring you up to date on the status of NY State Code Rule 32, ANSI-B77.1, and the NSAA Lift Maintenance Resource Guide.

A PDF of this with the class dates and description can be downloaded here.

The following are the classes and locations and dates for 2025:

Gore Mountain – June 24, 2025
Instructor: Jason Sedgwick and Crew
NDT Visual Inspection

Class Description:
Topics to include NDT procedures on various grips as well as visual inspection and the importance of doing visual inspection on different lift components.

Reservations contact:
Jason Sedgwick – jsedgwick@orda.org

Directions and Map:

Royal Mountain – July 8, 2025
Low Voltage Systems, Communications Lines, Relays and PLCs
Instructor: Jake Tennis

Class Description:
The class will discuss the evolution of control systems over the years in the industry. Topics to be covered will include relays, comm lines, and PLCs. Each of these topics are critical parts of low voltage control systems that all attendees shall have a better understanding of after the class. We will cover a variety of different types of control systems, weak points to look out for, ways to keep your system running healthy, and upgrades that can be done in the future.

Reservation Contact:
Jake Tennis – info@royalmountainskiarea.com
Directions and Map:

Oak Mountain – July 15, 2025
Carpet Lift Maintenance and Safeties
Instructor: Matt O’Brien

Class Description:
Matt O’Brien and staff will go through proper maintenance of a carpet lift. Also covered will be associated safeties that should be followed.

Reservations Contact:
Matt O’Brien – mjobrien83@gmail.com

Directions and Map:

Holiday Valley Resort – July 29, 2025
Return Bullwheel Bearing Replacement
Instructor: Jim Curtis

Class Description:
Holiday Valley will be doing a class on Return Bullwheel bearing replacement on a 1989 CTEC Fixed Grip Quad. They will also be going over nondestructive testing as well.

Reservation Contact:
Jim Curtis – jcurtis@holidayvalley.com

Directions and Map:

Hunter Mountain – August 4 – 5, 2025
Dynamic Load Test
Instructor: Ryan Leach

Class Description:
Lift maintenance staff at Hunter Mountain will perform a full acceptance / dynamic test on the Northern Express, a 2018 Leitner Poma high speed 6 passenger detach. Will perform a dry test on Monday, August 4th with the wet test to follow on Tuesday, August 5th. All class materials will be provided.

Reservation Contact:
Ryan Leach- ryan.leach@vailresorts.com

Directions / Map:

Woods Valley Ski Area – August 26, 2025
Finding and Resurrecting a Used Lift and Getting It Back In Service
Instructor: Tim Woods

Class Description:
Does the cost of a new lift have your head spinning?  This class will focus on finding, refurbishing, modifying, and reinstalling a used lift.  Construction will be ongoing this summer at Woods Valley so part of this class will in the field.

Reservation Contact:
Tim Woods – tim@woodsvalleyskiarea.com

Directions / Map:

SKI NY – SKIPA EXPO – September 15-17, 2025 (date/time TBD)
Mountain Coaster Maintenance Best Practices
Instructor: Toby Bonham – Greek Peak Mountain Resort

Class Description:
We will be discussing and demonstrating best practices for maintaining and operating mountain coasters at our ski areas

Reservation Contact:
Patrick Dunn – patdunn@iskiny.com – iskinyexpo.com

Directions / Map:

Please RSVP the ski area reservation contact person with the names of your attendees that plan to participate at least one week in advance of the class, two weeks is preferable.  The areas need to prepare for the numbers of individuals eating lunch.

Classes are expected to begin with coffee and snacks at 8:00 AM and introductions for the class at approximately 8:30 AM.  The class will end when all questions have been answered.

The typical program will be an all-day session lead by the host ski area lift maintenance department and others.  Lunch will be provided and there will be no cost to you no matter how many people you send!

This program will provide training and networking for your lift maintenance staff and ultimately all classes combined will cover all the material in the Peter Wood Ski Lift Functions, Maintenance and Regulations Manual.

This manual is our resource document for the program, and we encourage every lift department to own a copy.

The success of this program will be measured by the participation of our members. Of this I have no doubt that you will support this effort and send as many staff members as possible.

Not only will these letters be your source of announcement for the 2025 program, but we will have the schedule posted to on the iskinyexpo.com website in the training section. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to refer them to the Lift Maintenance committee:

Calendar: