The Dartmouth Skiway has recently named Peter Stransky as the new director of its snowsport school. According to Douglas Holler, the general manager of the Skiway, Stransky will be able to examine the snowsport school with a fresh set of eyes.
"Being part of the skisport industry, he has a passion for it, and he is trying to make the snow sport school a better place," Holler said.
Stransky comes with 25 years of experience at various New York and Virginia resorts. Within the Professional Ski Instructors' Association, he is a Level III-certified instructor and an alpine examiner for the PSIA's Eastern division.
Stransky succeeds Simon Mayer, who retired last spring after more than 30 years of service. According to both Stransky and Holler, every skiway has its own personality and niche. Stransky does not plan to make major changes to the Dartmouth Skiway because he wants to preserve the spirit that initially attracted him to work there.
"I like the philosophy that teachers can enjoy themselves while helping others do the same," Stransky said.
The community-based nature of the Skiway, according to Stransky, allows it to thrive.
"There are many regulars who learned how to ski here, and then their kids learned to ski here, and now their grandkids are learning how to ski here," Stransky said.
Although major changes are not likely, minor changes are not quite out of the question.
"We may build some other programs more in the group setting. Quite frankly, though, my goal is to not make a lot of change."
The Dartmouth Skiway promotes "big-mountain challenges in a family-friendly setting" on its website. That niche allows for regular customers who Stransky calls "super-friendly."
"We want to accommodate the local communities in some of the group activities that we might add," he said.
Stransky notices something definitely distinct about the Dartmouth Skiway, as compared to the many resorts where he has worked.
"The return rate of staff here is outstanding. There is a greater attrition rate at most large ski areas," he said.
Acknowledging the challenges facing slopes east of the Mississippi this year, Stransky plans to keep as many trails as he can open, and, above all, to preserve the community atmosphere of the Skiway.
"We believe that there are two kinds of people in the world: those that enjoy the skiway, and those that don't. We're trying to change the Skiway to make it a place that everyone enjoys," Holler said.
