Steve Nicosia in a CMC Leadville SnowCat. Steve is the newest Terrain Park Builder at Woodward Copper. Steve Nicosia photo.

Woodward Copper's Newest Terrain Park Builder

The Ski Area Operations curriculum blends technical and hands-on training, and is recognized by local resorts for its comprehensive approach in preparing students for lifelong on-mountain careers. Steve Nicosia, a 25 year-old student from East Aurora, NY has been enrolled since fall 2017. One year into the two-year program, and he's landed a position as a Snowcat Operator and Terrain Park Builder for Woodward Copper.

"I definitely believe that CMC helped me get this position," says Steve, who is expected to graduate next spring, "Before coming to school, I had no snocat operating experience with minimal heavy equipment practice. Going to CMC gave me experience in a dozer, back-hoe, and a snocat."

Steve began working on the terrain park hand crew at Woodward Copper last winter, and hoped to move up to a snocat operator in his second season. This past spring, he demonstrated his capabilities while building the summer camp terrain park at Woodward.

"I am looking forward to riding the features that I install," says Steve, "and building a terrain park that is very well known. Some people come to vacation at Copper, specifically for their top of the line terrain parks. Many years, it is rated in the top 10 terrain parks across the U.S. by NewSchoolers, and I want to be a part of that."

Learn more about Ski Area Operations