Terrain Park Summit
2026 MSAA Terrain Park Summit
February 24 & 25, 2026
Pine Knob Ski Area
Clarkston, MI
Developed specifically with terrain park managers and terrain park staff in mind, this intense event will include both classroom and on-snow presentations. Each session is designed to help give you the knowledge and tools needed to run a top-notch park.
- Overview of Updated Freestyle Terrain Resource Guide
- Leadership Training
- Jump Feature Construction & Maintenance
- Hands on Rail Construction & On-hill Rail Installation
- Using AI to Help Your Park Operations
- Incident Investigation & Jump Measurement
Event Schedule
MSAA Terrain Park Summit, Feb. 24 – 25, 2026
| Day One, Tuesday, Feb 24 | ||||||
| 10:00 am – 10:15 am | Opening RemarksIndoor | Introductions and Welcome Remarks | ||||
| 10:15 am – 11:00 am | Session #1Indoor | Jeopardy – Freestyle Terrain Resource Guidehistory, current state, ASTM, signage, PEEPS, PEAKS, FTRG as a resource not a manual | ||||
| 11:00 am – 11:10 am | Break | |||||
| 11:10 am – 12:15 pm | Session #2On-hill | Walk through of PK Parks and its OperationsTopics- Overview of LS park operations | ||||
| 12:15 pm – 1:30 pm | Session #3Lunch and Learn Indoor | Managing the terrain park as a business: setting clear goals; designing park layouts that serve your guests; establishing appropriate feature ratios; and applying best practices for build scheduling, testing, maintenance, snowmaking, budgeting, signage, guest education, and marketing.The session will also focus on integrating ski school and education programs (Kyle), including how to set up training environments that give instructors and guests what they need while maintaining appropriate separation from the main park. Examples of effective ski-school park setups and successful programs from around the country will be shared. | ||||
| 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm | Session #4Indoor | Park Layout WorkshopExercise-based park layout discussion, what goes where, why, building for all (inc adaptive) usersUse flip chart paper for each table to draw/design their park, use RC groomers or models to understand scale. Each table needs to not just layout a park, they need to specify who the target user is, where the signage and fencing goes, describe size and type of feature (how is it intended to be used?), etc. (pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks). Groups must determine who is the park manager with final decision. Entire group votes for their favorite park. | ||||
| 2:45 pm – 3:00 pm | Break | |||||
| 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Session #5On Hill | Open to Ride: Opening the terrain park with the Pine Knob crew, this session will walk through the full process of preparing, inspecting, and opening a park for public use. It will highlight best practices for pre-opening preparation, feature inspection and testing, documentation, and final sign-off—providing a practical, step-by-step look at how to ensure the park is safe, compliant, and ready for guests. | ||||
| 4:15 pm – 4:30 pm | Break (snacks) | |||||
| 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm | Session #6In-shop & Indoor | Rail Construction Best Practices design, build, weld, Safety best practices incorporated, treat like a ‘tailgate talk’, sign in sheet, PPE, exposures -Limited @ 25, sign up in advance-Bring your own PPE (hood, sleeves or long sleeve shirt, steel toe boots, safety glasses, clothing appropriate for welding) | Using AI to Help Your Park Operation (1 hr)How to leverage AI tools to help create policies, procedures, training materials, and make you more efficient, include PEEPS, PEAKS, developing an audit tool | |||
| 7:00 pm – ? | Dinner | Night Riding at Pine Knob (waivers necessary) | ||||
| Day Two, Wednesday, Feb 25 | ||||||
| 7:00 am – 8:00 am | Breakfast | |||||
| 8:00 am – 11:00 am | Session #7On-hill | Rail Installation Best PracticesNeed two rails – set one for hand, one for cat, treat like a ‘tailgate talk’, sign in sheet, PPE, exposures | Jump Feature Construction Safety and maintenance best practices, on-snow, with groomer and tools (chainsaw, tranny shovels, rakes), treat like a ‘tailgate talk’, sign in sheet, PPE, exposures | |||
| 11:00 am – 11:15 am | Break | |||||
| 11:15 am – 12:15 pm | Session #8On-hill | Incident Investigation & Jump Measurement (8 am start) (scenario-based)Start indoor, 60 mins, all groupMove outdoors, break up into two groups (1 x Mike, 1 x Jeremy, 1 x Incident group)Small groups- need 2 jumps, compare results De-brief on process, transition features (adapting existing to fit your needs) | ||||
| 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm | Sessions #9Lunch & Learn | Legal & Risk – What you Need to Know This session will focus on the importance of documentation, and how it plays a role in both the pre and post loss process. | ||||
| 2:00 pm – 2:15 pm | Break | |||||
| 2:15 pm – 3:15 pm | Session #10Indoor | Park Operations AMA (ask me anything)Bring your questions for our panel of speakers and others | ||||
| 3:15 pm | End | Closing Remarks Open Ride – Hit the Slopes! | ||||
Each attendee brings swag from their own resort to give away/share.`
Thank you to our 2025 MSAA Terrain Park Summit Sponsors
