The guest is Andy Shepard, Director of Community Engagement at Black Mountain, New Hampshire. Shepard dives into the rich history of the mountain, its significance in the skiing community, and the newly adopted co-op ownership model aimed at preserving the mountain as a community-centric skiing destination. The discussion emphasizes the importance of affordability, maintaining historical ski areas, and engaging the local community. Shepard also touches on similar initiatives and the broader implications for small ski area sustainability. The episode sheds light on upcoming changes and improvements at Black Mountain, aiming to create a viable model for other independent ski areas.

Topics

00:36 New Ski Boots and Patriots Talk

01:39 Skiing Season Updates

03:25 Michaela Shiffrin and Lindsay Vonn Discussion

04:55 Ski Resort Openings and Operations

06:40 Black Mountain's History and Significance

10:04 Interview with Andy Shepard

23:05 Exciting Developments at Black Mountain

23:25 Role and Responsibilities at Black Mountain

24:14 Challenges and Future Plans for Black Mountain

25:02 Exploring the Co-op Model

26:35 Comparing Nonprofit and Co-op Models

29:04 Community Involvement and Support

31:53 Changes and Improvements at Black Mountain

34:20 Ski Passes and Membership Plans

37:19 The Importance of Community and Sustainability

42:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts