SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., April 20, 2026— National Ski Patrol (NSP) is surveying more than 300 ski area senior leaders to gather input that will help shape how the organization develops its education and training programs as well as its partnership efforts and revenue streams. It’s the first time in its 85-year history NSP has surveyed ski area leaders.

“NSP regularly gathers input from its membership through surveys, program evaluations, and ongoing engagement with patrols and instructors across the country,” NSP CEO Stephanie Cox told SAM. “This survey is unique in that it’s specifically focused on ski area operators. It’s an important step in ensuring we’re hearing directly from that part of the ecosystem and incorporating their perspectives into our thinking.”

The impetus for conducting the survey was multifold. Cox said NSP members have expressed a desire for the organization to modernize how training is delivered, how costs are structured, and “how we support instructors and patrols across very different types of ski areas.” 

“At the same time, we’ve seen a shift in how ski areas engage with NSP,” said Cox. “Operators are thinking more holistically about workforce development, safety infrastructure, and risk mitigation, and they’re asking thoughtful questions about how NSP fits into that system.”

The evolving operational landscape, including rising costs and bigger crowds during peak periods, was also a consideration in developing the survey. “As the industry evolves, we want our education and credentialing model to also evolve and keep aligning with what ski areas need today—and where they’re going in the future,” said Cox.

NSP is exploring different models to offer its services to ski areas. Currently, many volunteer patrollers pay for their own training and dues; a new volunteer patroller’s costs average about $1,800 a year. The survey asks for operators’ thoughts on the ski area paying an annual lumpsum for NSP’s services, but a specific model isn’t presented. According to Cox, “The goal is to explore models that are sustainable, predictable, and aligned with how the industry operates today.”

The Operator and Partner Survey remains open for the targeted ski area leaders to complete, and Cox said “engagement has been strong.” Once the survey closes and data has been analyzed, NSP plans to provide an executive summary to operators.