A Discussion with Outgoing Gunstock GM Tom Day

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SAM Magazine—Gilford, N.H., Jan. 26, 2024—Tom Day, who began his career in the ski industry as a lift attendant at New Hampshire’s Waterville Valley in 1978, plans to retire from his post as general manager of Gunstock Mountain Resort at the end of the current ski season. Tom Day SAM recently chatted with Day for an informal “exit interview” about his career in the ski industry and what comes next.

From his beginnings as a lift attendant, Day eventually worked his way up to director of mountain operations at Waterville Valley. He was named vice president and general manager of the resort in 1997—a job he held until 2010, when he left for a decade-long stint in leadership positions outside the industry before returning in January 2020 to lead Gunstock, located in Gilford, N.H., near Lake Winnipesaukee.

SAM: Why did you decide to retire now?

Day: I’ll be 70 in February, and my wife thinks it’s time. If I was 65, I’d probably be here at Gunstock for five more years. But I’m a runner and a hiker. I’ve been sailing 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle. I have a house on an island in Maine. I have things I want to do while I’m still active and healthy, like hiking the Swiss and Italian Alps and skiing from town to town.

SAM: You had a well-documented battle for control of resort operations with the then-leaders of the Gunstock Mountain Commission in 2022, which culminated with a mass walkout by Gunstock leadership and public outcry that forced the resignation of several commission members. Did that experience play any role in your decision to retire?

Day: It had nothing to do with my decision. That just added fuel to my fire—we were going to win and they were going to lose. And the fact that everyone walked out with me just brought us all closer. The commission is great now; public meetings are more like an hour-and-a-half than four hours of arguing.

SAM: What have you enjoyed the most (or least) about your career in the ski industry?

Day: I’ve been in this business for 45 years and I’ve loved every minute of it. I enjoy the business and the people. This job is something different every day. Nobody likes it when it rains during Christmas week. But I love watching people develop—seeing those who were good become great. I enjoy chatting with guests on the lifts. I like the challenge of having to make all your money in 13 weeks, and working with people who are ready to put the pedal to the metal.

SAM: What are some of your proudest accomplishments during the four years you’ve been at Gunstock?

Day: We’ve made $12 million in improvements at the mountain—including a new maintenance shop, ski shop, lodge renovations, improved dining options, and a paved parking lot—and we didn’t have to borrow a dime to do it. We make a bunch of money now: we improved cash flow and revenues, and do less discounting. I’m leaving the ski area better than when I got here.

SAM: What do you think the future holds for the ski industry?

Day: We’re always going to have to adapt to climate change and weather. Good snowmaking helps, but there’s always going to be good winters and bad winters.

SAM: In this era of mega ski passes like Ikon, Epic, and Indy, how will independent ski areas like Gunstock thrive moving forward?

Day: By being what others aren’t. We didn’t want to do Indy Pass because we want to control our own destiny. Gunstock is a family mountain, a backyard ski area for locals, but also some more challenging terrain for expert skiers. We want to keep our pass prices reasonable, like our school program where 3,400 kids get season passes for $300. We introduce a lot of people to the sport, and a lot of them become either skiers or employees here.

SAM: What sort of person should the Gunstock Area Commission be looking for in a replacement for Tom Day?

Day: I’m part of the search committee, and I think the next leader at Gunstock needs to have a lot of energy and be able to recognize the culture that’s been developed here and realize that this is a little gem in central New Hampshire.

Report by Bob Curley