On Snow Observations

aka OSO’s

What is an OSO?

An On Snow Observation is a chance for you to connect with your supervisor on hill and for them to be able offer any support you may need in regards to your lessons.

Here are the areas they will be trying to observe and give feedback on. If you would like to set up an observation with your supervisor or a trainer that can help, reach out! 

TERRAIN CHOICE

  • Managing speed to ski/ride in control and move with traffic 

  • Terrain assists in the task being completed 

  • There is room to fail safely if a student makes a mistake 

  • Moving class through terrain safely (traverses, merges etc) 

CLASS MANAGEMENT

  • Awareness and management of hazards (people, snow conditions, traffic) 

  • Use of terrain (using 1/3rd of the run or less, stopping in appropriate places) 

  • Speed (students riding with a turn shape and in terrain where they can control their speed) 

  • Spacing (appropriate space between instructor and all students to avoid a collision and can still see all students) 

  • Clear Directions heard and followed (where to stop, behind & below etc) 

  • Observations being done safety (not looking behind too often, letting students go first, watching from the side of the run, video only taken when instructor is stationary - not moving) 

TASK

  • Is the drill/skiing formation, guided mileage etc adhering to the following: 

  • Appropriate for the snow conditions 

  • Demonstrations are accurate to what is being taught, appropriate to the students and necessary (not for the service of self) 

  • Helping to develop a skill or outcome 

  • Managed so it can be failed safely 

  • Instructor providing individual feedback 

  • Lesson/task pace is engaging for students 

GUEST SERVICE

  • Are we providing an environment where students can feel: 

    Welcome, Happy, Excited & Safe?  

OTHER OBSERVATIONS MAY INCLUDE:

  • Are you following appropriate lift loading procedures 

  • What is your physical and verbal communication like with your guests? 

  • Do you have situational awareness - are you adapting your lesson based on what's happening in your class and around you on the mountain? 

    If so, well done! And again, we are here for you, so please reach out if you ever want someone to come along on a lesson and share their tips and tricks! 

Recognising your Peers

It’s not just your supervisors who can recognise you for a job well done, you can recognise your peers too.

See them doing some awesome on or off the hill? Give them an On The Spot (OTS) recognition! Each OTS gets automatically forwarded to the person’s supervisor/manager so they can see what a great job they did.

  1. Log into Epic Employee

  2. Select “Nominate On the Spot” from the home screen

Here’s how:

3. You are required to provide the employees full name or employee ID (ask your supervisor to help you identify them if you’re not sure!)

4. You will also have to select which of Vail’s core values you are nominating them for

5. Finally, explain why you are nominating them.

6. Hit submit and feel good about yourself :)

Learn more about the core values