Our Partners
The ski industry is about collaboration, so we do not work alone. There are many organizations in the outdoor space that strive to make skiing, snowboarding, and other outdoor recreation enjoyable for everyone. Our resorts must work closely with governmental agencies across all operations, and Ski California serves as the liaison between those agencies and the industry at-large. Most importantly, Ski California partners with several non-profit and philanthropic organizations that believe the outdoors must be maintained for and offered to everyone. Here is a list of some of the organizations Ski California works with to support our member resorts and those who seek enjoyment outdoors:
National Ski Areas Association
Ski California is a member of and works closely with the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) on a variety of issues including safety, sustainability, government relations advocacy, and education.
United States Forest Service
Most Ski California member resorts are located on public lands, which are owned by the United States and managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Ski resorts on public lands lease the land and pay annual fees to the Forest Service. Ski resorts are responsible for all the costs of doing business, including those related to improvements, permitting, environmental reviews, and managing the areas within their permit boundaries. While ski resorts make up less less one-half of one percent of all Forest System lands, they contribute a significant percentage of the fees received annually by the Forest Service. Ski California and its member resorts work closely with our Forest Service partners in Region 4 (Nevada) and Region 5 (California) as stewards of the land and providers of recreation.
Cal/OSHA Amusement Ride and Tramway Unit
Cal/OSHA oversees amusement rides and tramways within California, and has dedicated people who work with ski resorts on chairlift inspections, installations, and testing. Ski California and its member resorts regularly meet with the Tramway Unit to discuss current issues and trends in uphill transportation. Cal/OSHA also sends its employees to Ski California's annual Lift Maintenance and Operations Education (LMOE) Conference. Ski California also works with other divisions of Cal/OSHA on avalanche mitigation efforts.
Caltrans and California Highway Patrol (CHP)
Most skiers and snowboarders must use roads to get to Ski California member resorts. In the winter, traveling on these roads can be challenging. California is known for its heavy snowfall in the winter, which can wreak havoc on roads throughout the state. Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol are responsible for managing these roads and helping to keep them open during winter travel. Ski California and its member resorts work closely with these agencies to support safe travel during the winter.
High Fives Foundation
While outdoor recreation can be fun for all, it does not come without risks. Injuries do happen, and sometimes those injuries are serious and life-altering. The High Fives Foundation came to be because of one such injury. Roy Tuscany, founder and CEO of High Fives, suffered a spinal cord injury while skiing in a terrain park in California. Roy was paralyzed, but through hard work and yes, plenty of high fives, Roy regained the use of his legs and started skiing again two years later. He also founded High Fives and has helped hundreds of athletes overcome similar obstacles to those he faced. Ski California is a major supporter of High Fives, contributing $50 of every Gold Pass sold to the organization and funding safety programs annually for High Fives B.A.S.I.C.S. Program. Multiple Ski California member resorts also work with and support High Fives.
The Tahoe Fund
The Tahoe Fund was founded in 2010 to become a major source of private funding for environmental projects around the Lake Tahoe Basin with an emphasis on forest health, lake clarity, sustainable recreation, transportation and stewardship. Ski California regularly works with the Tahoe Fund to support these projects, including sponsoring the annual Lake Tahoe Summit and donating Gold Passes to fundraising efforts.
Move United
Move United uses sports to push what's possible so everyone, regardless of ability, has equal access to sports and recreation in their community. Established in 1956, Move United is an Affiliate of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Ski California works closely with Move United members, like Achieve Tahoe, to support their efforts to ensure people with disabilities have access to outdoor recreation.
Sierra Avalanche Center
While avalanches are much more common outside ski resort boundaries, Ski California and its member resorts know that some of their guests ski and ride in the backcountry. Avalanche and deep snow education is important no matter where you ski or ride. That's why Ski California supports the private-public partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization known as Sierra Avalanche Center. The Sierra Avalanche Center informs and educates the public about backcountry avalanche conditions in the greater Lake Tahoe area.
The League to Save Lake Tahoe
The League to Save Lake Tahoe protects and restores the environmental health, sustainability and scenic beauty of the Lake Tahoe Basin. It focuses on water quality and clarity for the preservation of a pristine Lake for future generations. Ski California supports the League to Save Lake Tahoe by donating Gold Passes to support the organizations fundraising efforts.