NSAA Award Winners Honored At National Convention

The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) named the winners of its annual awards in conversion (growth), sustainability, marketing and safety. The awards were presented to ski area members with the most innovative and successful programs in each category at the association’s National Convention and Tradeshow in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday, May 14.

NSAA award finalists and winners are listed below, by category. You will find links to learn more about each finalist and see lists of previous winners. Click to navigate to each category:

Conversion Cup (growth and beginner conversion)
Golden Eagle Awards (sustainability)
Sustainable Slopes Grants
Marketing Awards
Safety Awards

“These annual awards allow NSAA to showcase some of the industry’s best work,” said Kelly Pawlak, NSAA president and CEO. “When skiers and riders visit their favorite mountain, few understand the efforts exerted behind the scenes to deliver exceptional experiences. Ski areas work year-round to improve operations and build their brand and community, with an eye on the future.”

Click here for photos of the awards ceremony and winners. Credit should read: NSAA/Jason Mallory. Please contact marketing@nsaa.org for caption information.

2022 NSAA Award Winners and Finalists

Winners indicated in bold

Conversion Cup
Sponsored by HEAD
Awarded to the ski area that demonstrates through quantitative results that they are turning beginner skiers and riders into repeat customers, and ultimately lifelong enthusiasts of the sport.

Palisades Tahoe, CA
Ski Saint-Bruno, Quebec, CAN
Snowbasin Resort Co., UT
Winter 4 Kids, NJ

Learn more about the finalists and view past Conversion Cup winners.

Marketing Awards
Sponsored by Doppelmayr

Best Overall Marketing Campaign

Boreal/Woodward, CA
Jay Peak Resort, VT
Mountain Creek Resort, NJ

Most Unique Campaign

Shawnee Mountain, PA
Snowbird, UT
Trollhaugen, WI

Best Social Media Campaign

Mountain Creek Resort, NJ
Seven Springs Mountain Resort, PA
Wild Mountain, MN

Best Use of Video

Alta Ski Area, UT
Granite Peak Ski Area, WI
Trollhaugen, WI

Learn more about the finalists and view past Marketing Award winners.

Golden Eagle Award for Sustainability
Sponsored by TechnoAlpin

Golden Eagle Award for Overall Environmental Excellence

Alta Ski Area, UT
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, CO
Snowbird, UT

Innovation in Sustainability

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, CO
Snowbasin Resort Co., UT
Sunlight Mountain Resort, CO

Climate Change Impact Award

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, CO
Vail Resorts, CO
Wild Mountain, MN

Hero of Sustainability

Bonnie Hickey, Bridger Bowl, MT
Kate Wilson, Vail Resorts, CO

Learn more about the finalists and view past Golden Eagle Award winners.

Sustainable Slopes Grants

In addition to the Golden Eagle Awards, NSAA and partner HKD Snowmakers awarded Sustainable Slopes Grants to five ski areas. Launched in 2009, this grant program provides cash and in-kind funding to support sustainability projects. To date, over $700,000 in cash and in-kind funding has been awarded to ski areas seeking to reduce their footprint and increase their environmental stewardship.

This year, NSAA distributed a total of $15,000 to three member ski areas to help make their sustainability initiatives possible. Grants will support both on-the-ground action and collaborative stewardship. The 2022 recipients are:

Big Sky Resort (MT) – funding start of multi-stream waste program
Cooper Spur (OR) – funding purchase of Earth Cube composting unit
Copper Mountain Resort (CO) – supporting regional Conservation Summit

NSAA thanks dedicated sponsor HKD Snowmakers for providing equipment to ski areas to make their snowmaking programs more efficient and sustainable. This year, HKD Snowmakers awarded in-kind grants to two ski areas: Massanutten Resort, VA, and Mount Pleasant of Edinboro, PA. These ski areas lead by example, incorporating sustainable practices and environmental stewardship into all aspects of their resorts, including snowmaking. Each ski area will be awarded over $30,000 of energy efficient HKD snowguns.

“I’d like to congratulate Massanutten and Mount Pleasant of Edinboro for implementing their vision of sustainability and climate protection, particularly as it relates to their snowmaking operations,” says Charles Santry, president of HKD Snowmakers. “My father-in-law, Herman K. Dupre, believed that it’s our obligation to leave the earth better than we found it, and it’s clear both of these resorts exemplify that philosophy.”