FEATURE
gether when we’re not in class. And a
lot of us work together now that we’re
second years; we’re supposed to get a
job from November to April. So, I’m
working with a couple of my classmates
now.
“I do snowmaking now, and when
snowmaking’s done I’ll do grooming.”
Mallozzi notes that other graduates
have found work abroad with their
CMC-acquired skills. One grad now
works in France, and occasionally,
SAO students have chipped in with
some other notable events.
“There were a couple (former
students) grooming over at the PyeongChang
Olympics actually just last
winter,” he said. “And so, some of the
groomers get some pretty high-profile
gigs going on.”
Like any course of study, the SAO
program is not set in stone; it is a work
in constant progress, as trends and
technology change in the recreation
industry. To that end, the program’s
advisory board helps.
“We’re required to have an advisory
board which oversees and advises us
on what we should be teaching, pros
in the industry telling us what we
need,” said Gusaas. “It’s not just us, it’s
the industry asking us to provide.”
Said Mallozzi, “That’s been something
we’ve been trying to do, some
additional listening with our advisory
board and the industry to determine
just what skills are necessary in our
graduates to give them the skills to
perform the day-to-day operations,
but also they have the know-how and
the interpersonal skills and the technical
skills to move up the industry
and move through the ranks. If they’re
so motivated and have that ability.”
Interestingly, summertime is
perhaps figuring into the course’s
future plans.
“The advisory board’s been really
keen to push summer operations.
Given that year-round scene certainly
would benefit our students as well, so
they could ideally get two seasons of
work out of the deal and maybe even
find salary positions,” said Mallozzi.
“We’re really starting to look at
mini-excavator classes, where students
are moving dirt and actually
starting to carve and shape bike park
CMC Ski Area Operations Assistant Professor Jason Gusaas and student Colin Whitaker
discuss building features using a groomer at Colorado Mountain College’s backyard
terrain park at the Leadville campus
Ski Area Operations student Bruce Holmland, right, receive hands-on instruction with
SAO Assistant Professor Jason Gusaas
CMC Leadville Ski Area Operations Assistant Professor Jason Gusaas rides shotgun while
SAO student Dan Williams helps build the course for the annual Leadville Ski Joring &
Crystal Carnival Weekend. The event pairs horses and riders, pulling skiers down the
middle of the town’s main street.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ED KOSMICKI PHOTO COURTESY OF ED KOSMICKI PHOTO COURTESY OF LAUREN SWANSON
snowopsmag.com | SnowOps 25
/snowopsmag.com
