Mountain peak is top of the world for ski resort executive

Jack Bean grew up on Mount Charleston. He loved the open spaces and the freedom that went with life at 11,000 feet.

That growing city down below in the valley? Never a lure.

“It was a young kid’s dream, really, living on the mountain. I was able to experience a lot more on the mountain than in the city.”

Bean also makes his living thanks to that mountain.

The 60-year-old father of two is the mountain operations director at Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort at the end of Lee Canyon Road, where 445 acres of skiable area are less than an hour from Las Vegas. It’s 18 miles from U.S. Highway 95, requiring visitors to ascend 5,600 feet where temperatures are usually 20 degrees cooler than those in the valley.

This time of year is about preparation for Bean. He works to ensure the snow-making machines are humming for the 30 trails. Scheduled opening day is Nov. 29. Four lifts can move up to 5,000 snowboarders and skiers per hour, while 16 trails have been added. The longest run is 3,100 feet.

Bean started working at the ski center 46 years ago as a busboy. Those days, he recalled the resort was strictly a ski business.

But times have changed. Bean said 70 percent of the visitors are snowboarders, while 30 percent are skiers.

“Snowboarding kicked in during the late 1990s. It evolved slowly in the beginning. At first, there wasn’t much done except allowing them to be here,” Bean said. “It was soon apparent that we had to provide the snowboard part. Now having the snow all the time allows us to build the features for the snowboarders, some of the jumps and the terrain features.”

Bean even caught the snowboarding bug.

“It kinda re-energized my thrill for the whole sport, actually,” Bean said. “I find it easier since I’m getting up in age now. Once I made it through the learning curve, I really enjoyed the deep powder. It’s a lot easier on your body as a snowboarder.”

Bean’s work on the mountain is a family affair. Son Josh works as the resort’s slope-maintenance director.

Bean is used to heights — whether on the mountain or on Las Vegas Boulevard.

For outside work, Bean worked 23 years as a heavy-equipment operator, working on a crane that erected some of the Strip’s big hotel-casinos.

But home will always be Mount Charleston.

“You can say the mountain is in my blood,” Bean said.

Question: How has the changing technology of skiing and snowboarding impacted the way you conduct operations at Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort?

Answer: Everything that we do at LVSSR now is really computer-driven — lifts, power generation, snowmaking. It’s been a challenge, but I love the opportunity to embrace new technology and its benefits to operate the resort more efficiently.

Question: What is the biggest driving factor in the growth of the resort?

Answer: I think it’s important to embrace the youth coming to LVSSR and follow the trends they are interested in to adapt accordingly. You can see an example of LVSSR keeping on point with trends with our updates to the terrain park and really embracing snowboarding.

Honestly, moving along with resort trends is the primary reason I put my skis away 14 years ago and started snowboarding.

Question: What it’s like now to operating the resort compared with the earliest time when you operated the ski area.

Answer: Since I have been at LVSSR in some capacity for over 40 years, which are the dark ages, there have been so many advancements in operating ski resorts. At LVSSR, grooming and the snowmaking in 2013 compared (with)years ago are like night and day. These advancements have changed the way resorts are run, especially at LVSSR as we were once totally reliant on Mother Nature. As I’m sure you could guess, Mother Nature doesn’t often lend well to having a predictable season.

Now, LVSSR is guaranteed a season and can control the amount of snow we have so we can open by a certain date.

Question: What’s the most expensive part of operating the resort and why?

Answer: Definitely snowmaking, it’s an expensive process but it is a necessity to operate the resort.

Question: What is the latest trend in the ski industry for operating a resort like this one?

Answer: From an operations perspective, we are always working hard to convert the first-time skier or snowboarder at LVSSR to continue to develop their interest in the sport, making it more of a lifestyle, becoming season pass holders and introducing others to the resort.

Question: What would you say is the single-most important change or improvement you have done to the resort’s operations and why did you make it?

Answer: We have added a lot of significant improvements over the years to LVSSR’s operations, but two really stick out in my mind. The first, and probably most important one, was installing the new snowmaking equipment because it ensures that we have a proper, scheduled and snowy season for our visitors. The second is adding the Howitzer gun that allows us to be at the very forefront of the nation’s avalanche mitigation programs.

Question: What do you think will be the biggest future change in running the resort’s operations?

Answer: Any changes that we implement in the future will be based on staying on top of the trends, much (as) we did when we embraced the youth and snowboarding.

Currently, we are seeing a lot of buzz around twin-tipped skiing, but it is a bit too early to tell. I can say that if it does, I might trade in my snowboard for twin-tipped skis. Also, it’ll become a year-round operation in the summer, too. We’re looking into getting into mountain biking, wall climbing, zip lining and alpine coasters.

Alan Snel can be reached at asnel@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5273. Follow @BicycleManSnel on Twitter.