NEWSLETTER • October 16, 2026
Temperatures have been cooling down, and we officially began snowmaking on October 13! With opening day now just five weeks away, the excitement for the season is building.
Several of our Assistant Managers will be returning next week, and you can definitely feel the energy and anticipation growing across the team.
In this issue, you’ll find important pre-season requirements and details on updates to the I-9 process. We’ve also included some training inspiration from Patrick to help you get ready for a successful season ahead.
PRE-SEASON REQUIREMENTS
Before your first day, there are a few things you’ll need to take care of to get ready for the season.
You will be returned to active status in early November, approximately a week prior to your Welcome Back – Indoor Session. At that time you will receive another email from People Connect with login instructions to complete onboarding and LIFT Training.
Look at the list below and make sure you’ve checked everything off.
What do you need before your first day of work?
• Accept your Returner Offer Letter – FINAL Deadline is Sunday, October 26
• Complete all final onboarding tasks in Epic Employee, including the Form I-9 if required.
• Attend your Welcome Back – Indoor Session (registration link provided below)
• Complete Lesson Connect (LIFT) prior to attending your Indoor Welcome Back Session
• Complete Snow Pro Need to Know (LIFT)
• Complete Slope Safety (LIFT)
• Complete your Equipment Inspection
• Attend a Welcome Back – On-Snow Session – This session must be completed before your first scheduled shift, or no later than 7 days after your first scheduled shift. Your location leadership team will contact you with scheduling details.
I-9 REQUIREMENTS FOR RETUNING EMPLOYEES
Some returning employees may need to complete a new Form I-9 as part of this season’s onboarding process. If you have not completed an I-9 within the last three years it will be one of the final on-boarding tasks in Epic Employee.
The form I-9 consists of two sections. Section 1 is completed by entering your personal information and uploading photos of your identification and employment authorization documents using a computer or your mobile device. Once your documents have been uploaded, you will connect with an Equifax representative through a short video call to complete Section 2.
What documents do you need? Please have your original unexpired documents ready. You must provide either one List A document, such as a U.S passport, OR one list B document and one List C document such as a driver’s license and Social Security card. Please review the Official List of Acceptable I-9 Documents: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
Important deadline: The entire I-9 process must be completed within three business days of your active date. Missing this deadline during your onboarding process can result in auto-termination and a delayed start.
CERIFICATION TRAINING SCHEDULE
Training will run weekly starting 1/4/27 (no training president’s week).
Alpine – 9:30am to 4:00pm
Level 1: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Level 2: Tuesday, Thursday
Level 3: Wednesday
Snowboard – 9:30 am to 4:00pm
Level 1:Monday, Friday
Level 2: Thursday
Level 3: Wednesday
Training Thoughts
MORE THAN GETTING BETTER
Slowly but surely over the last decade or so there has been a shift in what a guest is looking to get out of a lesson. More often a guest comes to ski and ride school seeking more than just technical improvement; they want the whole mountain experience. They want to be a part of the community. They want the kind of day that, when they scroll through their photos, brings back memories and makes them smile and say: “Remember when we were in Tahoe?”
If we come from an understanding that our guests’ needs are changing, it’s a pretty good bet that we should be changing with them. It doesn’t mean that we need to throw away everything that we’ve learned after years in this industry. Exactly the opposite. We need to use that experience and knowledge. A shift in the way we approach connecting, engaging, and interacting with our guests will help us meet those changing needs.
How do we make that shift? It’s easier than you might think. Start by answering these three questions.
“What is my guest looking to achieve today?” I use the word achieve specifically, as it makes us dig a little deeper. Instead of the typical answers like “get better,” you may start hearing things like, “I just want to be able to do one run from the top of the carpet,” “I want to go to Nevada!” or “I want to ride in the trees.”
“What am I doing to help them achieve that?” This is where your experience shines. It’s in the technical content you choose, the way you know to give that extra run, or the way you recognize the fear your guest hasn’t shared.
“How am I connecting and engaging with my guest?” You can create that “mountain experience” by sharing that not-so-secret powder stash. You can build that feeling of community by sharing your local insight. Put it all together, and that’s your “remember Tahoe” moment.
So, as we get closer to the season and to teaching our first lessons, give these questions a thought or two. I promise, if you have these questions in mind throughout the season, you’ll build stronger connections, create that memory for the guest, and maybe find a little more fulfillment along the way.